Roses
The Order of the Rose for the SCA was founded January 6, 1968 (A.S. II) by Queen Sheryl of Thespis (now known as Countess Amina Sherana de Talavera) to honor those who had been Queen or who had been the lady to a fighter who had won one of the first tourneys when there were no queens. Today, this Order exists throughout the Known World.
In the Caidan Coronation ceremony, when the reigning Royal Consort steps down and becomes a Countess or Count, the newly-crowned Consort presents their predecessor with a yellow rose, which was the traditional symbol of a queen in the SCA. As the new Countess or Count received a golden rose when they stepped up, and now receives it as a token of inclusion in the SCA-wide Order, with the words, "Be welcomed into the Order of the Rose, whose token this is."
One of the most important events the Order of the Rose sponsors is the annual Valkyrie Rose Tournament.
Period Historic Precedent
In feudal times, a red rose was a symbol of fealty and a token of annual rent. but around the years 1040 - 1051 CE, the Roman Catholic Pope Leo IX annually exacted a golden rose from the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Alsace. As the custom developed, this rose was a single blossom made of pure gold tinted red and later set with gems and scented with musk and balsam. It was blessed by the Pope on the fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, and presented to the individual, church, sanctuary, or city government deemed most deserving by the Holy See. The first woman so honored was Joanna I, Queen of Naples, in 1368, but other women were honored afterwards as well. English queens who received the Golden Rose included Queen Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII, in 1555; and Henrietta Maria, queen consort of Charles I, in 1625.
Order of the Rose
Queen
HRM Iseabail is consort to HRM Sven Örfhendur, who won Crown on March 2, 2024. TRMs ascended the Throne on July 13, 2024.
Crown Prince Consort
Caidan Duchesses
Ladies who have reigned at least twice as Queen of Caid.
A'isha bint Shamir (Resides in Gleann Abhann)
Arianna ny Shane (Resides in the East Kingdom)
Cassandra Zoë Paganel (Resides in the West)
Ceinwen ferch Rhys ap Gawain (Resides in Ansteorra)
Déshivé Luciana d'Avignon (Deceased)
Diana de Savigny (Deceased)
Kolfinna kottr (Deceased)
Neptha of Thebes (Resides in the West)
Tahira Acilia Drusilla
Caidan Rose Counts and Countesses
Those who have reigned once as Queen or Royal Consort of Caid.
Alysandra the Whyte Moor (Resides in the East Kingdom)
Amsha al Sirhan (deceased)
Basilissa Artemidorou (also known as Issa)
Berengaria of Hythe (Resides in An Tir)
Carynsa Leland of Roseberry (resides in An Tir)
Catalina Oro Sol (Resides in Lochac)
Eleanor di Michelozzo Gianfigliazi (Resides in Ansteorra)
Ilaria Veltri degli Ansari (Resides in An Tir)
Karina de Elephantide (Resides in Avacal)
Kissa Irminwhit (Resides in Meridies)
Larissa Alwynn Clarewoode Duchess (Atenveldt) (Resides in Ansteorra)
Lyn of Whitewolfe, Duchess (Atenveldt)
Nuala níc Ailín (Resides in Atenveldt)
Caidan Viscountesses
Ladies who reigned as Princess of Caid when it was a Principality of the West Kingdom are also members of the Caidan Order of the Rose.
Bevin Fraser of Stirling, Countess (West) (Resides in Atlantia)
Royal Ladies from Other Realms
As a courtesy, all former Royal ladies who live in Caid are invited to join the Caidan Order of the Rose while they reside in our realm.
Patrice d'Cilla, Duchess (West) - Dreiburgen
Amina Sherana de Talavera, Countess (West); founder of the Society's Order of the Rose - Angels
Andrea of Clear Mount, Countess (West)
Catheryn Cameron Stewart Morgan, Viscountess, Drachenwald - Gyldenholt
Whilja de Gothia, Viscountess, Drachenwald
Ruarai Moriarty, Viscountess, Cynagua (West)
These ladies have resided in Caid but have since moved to other realms.
Jane Corwin, Countess (Calontir) (Moved to the West in 2014)
Jimena Montoya, Viscountess, Mists (West) (Lives in the East as of 2011)
Violante do Porto, Countess (West) (Lives in the Middle)
Activities
Tea in Honor of the Royal Consort
Traditionally, the Royal Consort is honored by the Order of the Rose in Caid at an afternoon gathering hosted by the current Consort's predecessor. This is a time for the Order of the Rose to reminisce about Caid's history and share their assembled wit and wisdom with the Consort's Champion.
Wreaths for Crown Tourney
The Order of the Rose prepare the rose and rosemary wreaths which are bestowed upon the victor of the Lists and his/her consort. At Closing Court, the Order of the Rose come forward and present roses to the assembled royalty.
Consort's Champion Procession
Customarily, the Queen invites all the members of the Order of the Rose present at the Consort's Champion Tourney (the day after Coronation) to process around the field to greet the Consort's new subjects.
Elevation Ceremonies
When a Consort becomes a Countess, Count, Duchess, or Duke, they are entitled to a procession which often includes Order of the Rose whom the Consort chooses to accompany them and participate in the ceremony.
Regalia
One of main projects that the Caidan Roses oversee is the care, refurbishment, and retirement of the Kingdom Regalia. The Kingdom Regalia Officer is Viscountess Lorissa du Griffin.
Caidan Tournaments
- Hosting the Valkyrie Rose Tournament at GWW.
Crown Prints Prize Tourney
The Ladies of the Rose support the efforts of the Chronicler's Office by providing raffle baskets that cover a wide range of SCA interests.
Staff
The following are the Order of the Rose who have accepted the responsibility for various activities related to the members of the Order in Caid.
Rose Liaison
The Rose Liaison handles all official business relating to the Order of the Rose in Caid, especially correspondence, as well as regalia storage and delivery.
- Duchess Bridget Lucia MacKenzie at rose@sca-caid.org
Rose Webwright
The Webwright updates the Caidan Roses web site and this wiki page. Please send all pictures and corrections to her.
Rose Wreaths
Organizer of the assembly, materials and constructions of the wreaths for Crown tournaments.
Valkyrie Rose Tourney
Organizer of the Caidan Valkyrie Rose Tourney held at Great Western War:
- Outgoing: Duchess Faizah al-Zarqa at rosetourney@sca-caid.org
- Incoming: Countess Trifona Anastasiia Dodovicha
Kingdom Regalia
- Countess Lorissa du Griffin at regalia@sca-caid.org
New Caidan Crowns Project
Knowing the surpassing skill of Caid's artisans, it was the desire of the Order of the Rose to highlight them through the creation of an additional set of Crowns to complement those already part of the Royal Regalia. In December 2012, the design submitted by Maestra Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani was chosen, and Master Otuell Gowe began work on the new Crowns. Based on an authentic "plaque" design, the new crowns were completed in 2014.
The Otuell-Flavia crowns based on an authentic plaque design
Observations about Current Crowns and Coronets
History of Caid
The Compendium Caidis Editor-in-Chief THL Lachlan Cromarty and his team of editors are working tirelessly to detail Caid's history in words and pictures here on the wiki. If you wish to become part of the effort, contact him at caidhistory@sca-caid.org. As of 01/07/2017, Baroness Catharine Hawkwod da Barbiano will step up as Caid's first official Historian. She may also be reached at that email address.
Photos
(L-R) Duchess Natalya de Foix, Duchess Felinah Tifarah Arnvella Memo Hazara Khan-ad-Din, Viscountess Jimena Montoya, Comptesse Albra Katerine Marie Isabelle Bautiste, HRM-West Ginevra da Ravenna, Countess Trifona Anastasiia Dodovicha, HRM-Caid Iðuna breiðrazi, Duchess Chamayn of Castile, Comitesse Una Orcadiana, Countess Leonora Morgana, and Viscountess Lorissa du Griffin
