Order of the Seraphic Star

History

The Order of the Seraphic Star, most senior of all baronial service awards in the Kingdom of the West¹, was founded by Baron Pwyll pen Tyrhon on January 9, 1971, A.S. V to recognize outstanding contributions to the Barony of the Angels. The Crown-chartered Order is organized along the lines of traditional European orders of chivalry, with active membership limited to twelve at any given time.² The newly-adopted sign of the Order, which will be publicly shown at Caid Twelfth Night, is a stole-like mantle of pearl-grey moire faced with scarlet. Eventually, the star of the Order will hang from the front edge.

Membership in the Order is conferred by the Baron of the Angels, who serves as Prefect of the Order,³. Companions of the Order, up to three at a time, are customarily admitted at Caid Twelfth Night⁴, though there are charter provisions to permit the admission of one additional member at mid-year, provided that the total number does not exceed twelve. The Prefect of the Order is not himself a member during his tenure, but assumes a special membership status upon leaving the post of Baron.

Unlike most orders, Companions of the Seraphic Star actively continue service to their barony as a group--not just as individuals. This is most apparent in the Albert Fund, the name of which, if not the purpose, is probably familiar to most subjects of Caid. Albert, for whom the fund is named, is the toddler son of Demetrius Christianson of Athens, a member of the household of Viscount Sir Christian of Orange. Albert was born nearly four months prematurely and, because of oxygen difficulties in his incubator, is now almost totally blind. The fund was established to help defray Albert's educational expenses, and now contains over $200 in trust. The source of the funds had been the sale of the fighting waivers and baked goods at local events, and the donations of the good people of Caid to the Maneki-Nekko⁵ cats. (Printed in the December 1976 issue of the Crown Prints)

Between 1978 and 2004, the Order languished but was restored by Baron Jason Thomas the Wanderer and Baroness Morgaine FitzStephen. Since then, the Baron and Baroness of the Angels admit new members after current members have been polled and the results reported to them by the Principal of the Order. Admission usually occurs at Angels Yule in December, and occasionally at Angels Anniversary in Sept/Oct.

¹It is actually the first Baronial Order created in the SCA.
²This has since changed, as evidenced by the list of recipients below.
³The current Principal of the Order is Baroness Gabrielle nicChlurain.
⁴New members are now inducted at Angels Yule.
⁵Donation collection was designated by the presence of a maneki-neko, the white, gold and green Japanese "welcome" or "lucky" cat statue with one paw raised.

Titles

No title is associated with this honor.

Token/Regalia

As noted in the article, a grey and red stole with a star dependent from the center is an insignia of the Order.

The badge of the Order is: (Fieldless) A mullet of six points argent surmounted by a set of seraph's wings Or, which was registered in April 2013, although the name of the Order was registered much earlier, in April 1981.

Current Members of the Order

• Charles Edward Alexander Everman (01/31/1971)
• Christian of Orange (01/31/1971)
• Friedrich Eric Helmut von Rheinhausen (01/31/1971)
• Pwyll pen Tyrhon (01/31/1971)
• Sarkanyi Gero (01/31/1971)
• Randall of Hightower (01/31/1972)
• Rhiannon of the Mystic Isle (01/31/1972)
• Edmund Renfield Wanderscribe (01/31/1973)
• Sieglinde von Krause (01/31/1973)
• Bevin Fraser of Stirling (01/12/1974)
• Catriona nicChlurain (01/31/1974)
• Tyra Stewart of Moray (01/19/1975)
• Gabrielle nicChlurain (01/31/1977) Currently Principal of the Order
• Sine nicChlurain (01/31/1977)
• Cedric the Dark (01/14/1978)
• Eyana bat David (01/14/1978)
• Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani (09/11/2004)
• Huette Aliza von und zu Ährens und Mechthildberg (09/11/2004)
• John ap Griffin (09/11/2004)
• Lavendar of Lorne (09/11/2004)
• Margare of the Silver Dragonfly (12/18/2004)
• Natalya de Foix (12/18/2004)
• Soraya Evodia (09/10/2005)
• Sarah Telyn (12/09/2006)
• Jared Alexandre Blaydeaux (09/29/2007)
• Tomaso da Barbiano (12/13/2008)
• Cormac Mór (12/18/10)
• Hroar sviðandi (12/18/10)
• Morgaine FitzStephen (12/18/2010)
• Alewaulfe the Red (09/04/2011)
• Catharine Hawkwod da Barbiano (12/17/2011)
• Æoelwig Æoelfwigson (12/17/2011)
• Robert John of Cedar Wood (12/15/2012)
• Fu Ching Lan (12/15/2012)

More Information

Awards of Caid

Patent: Chivalry, Laurel, Pelican, Defense, Royal Peerage. Grant: Grant of Arms, Argent Blade, Chiron, Crescent, Gauntlet, Golden Lance, Lux Caidis. Armigerous: Award of Arms, Court Barony, Arcus, Argent Arrow, Chamfron, Crescent Sword, Dolphin, Duellist, Harp Argent. Non-armigerous: Acorn, Argent Star, Augmentation of Arms, Chanson, Corde de Guerre, Crescent and Flame, Crossed Swords, Furison of Caid, Legion of Courtesy, Ordo Cordis, Royal Recognition of Excellence, Signum Reginae, Sigillum Regis, Signum Regni, Vanguard of Honor. Honors: Arts and Sciences Pentathlon Champion, King's Champion, Personal Heraldic Title, Queen's Champion, Right Noble, Rose. Closed: White Scarf, Landmark, New Battered Helm. Other Information: Alternate Titles, Award Cords, Award Types, Closed Award, Polling Order, Rare and special award.

Angels