Honored Marshal of An Tir

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History of the Award

Each May Crown the An Tir marshal community recognizes one of its own for their dedication and outstanding performance of crucial work which allows others to enjoy the martial activities which are a vital part of the SCA. This is an honor for that individual, but also a symbol of the labor so many volunteers contribute in ways the populace may not always see: setting up fighting areas early in the morning, supervising practices well into the evening, standing for hours in all kinds of weather, and working in far corners of the site or outside of events doing administrative tasks.

The tradition of the An Tir Honored Marshal began at Ursulmas 2007 when HL Daffyd de Doake and HL Wulfwyn Aethelwulfsdottir approached King Sven and Queen Signy about creating this recognition. They agreed and Daffyd and Wulfwyn began crafting one of their specially painted marshal staves as a token. To this day it is the only one which has the full-face version of the populace lion.

As May Crown 2007 approached Daffyd and Wulfwyn consulted with Their Majesties about who should be the first recipient. The Honorable Lady Althaia filia Lazari was chosen.

Criteria for the Award

Since that time, as each May Crown draws near, the current bearer of the staff and the Kingdom Earl Marshal solicit input from the diverse martial community in An Tir to determine who the new recipient should be. Once the decision is made, it is shared with Their Majesties for their approval. The criteria are:

  • All marshals regardless of which discipline they work in, or what part of the Kingdom they live in, should be considered. (Current office holders at the regional, principality, and Kingdom level are ineligible while they are in their post however, as we want to focus on those doing the daily hands-on work.)
  • Someone does not have to be the “best marshal ever” to be recommended. We are searching for someone who is competent, dedicated, and always striving to do better for the combatants and spectators for the joy of the work itself.
  • It is preferable, but not required, that the recipient be present at May Crown to accept the recognition.
  • The brief ceremony is done at Their Majesty’s discretion. Most often this is on the erics while the two finalists for Crown Tournament prepare to present themselves to the populace.

The Honored Marshal award carries no title or rank within An Tir, only recognition from a grateful community, and the beautifully painted staff to use until it is passed to the next recipient. However, the roster of names is recorded on the An Tir Order of Precedence, and is embroidered on the carrying case for the staff.


The roster of the Honored Marshals of An Tir:

  • 2007-08 HL Althaia filia Lazari, Barony of Dragon’s Laire. Armored and rapier marshal.
  • 2008-09 HL Meri of the Bears, Barony of Three Mountains. Armored and youth combat marshal.
  • 2009-10 HL Peregrine Falconer, Barony of Borealis. Armored, youth combat, and siege marshal.
  • 2010-11 HL Althaia filia Lazari, Barony of Dragon’s Laire. Armored and rapier marshal. Equestrian ground crew.
  • 2011-12 HL John de Percy, Shire of Wyewood. Archery and armored marshal.
  • 2012-13 HL Taradan Banmarca, Shire of Midhaven. Equestrian marshal.
  • 2013-14 HL Tamar Rustavelli, Shire of Mountain Edge. Adult and youth armored combat marshal
  • 2014-15 HL Johanna Trewpeny, Barony of Adiantum. Target archery marshal.
  • 2015-16 Don Warwick Drakkar, Barony of Lions Gate. Rapier, cut & thrust, and armored marshal.
  • 2016-17 Master John MacAndrew, Shire of Hartwood. Target archery marshal.
  • 2017-18 Countess Ilaria Veltri degli Ansari. Barony of Stromgard. Equestrian Marshal.
  • (Note: The titles and other information is recorded as it was at the time the person was recognized, and may well have changed since.)

Additional Info

The Barony of Dragon’s Laire has had a similar tradition of recognizing a marshal from their own community each year since 1993.

If you would like to learn more about marshaling, you can look at the resources on the An Tir Combat shelf (http://www.antir.sca.org/Pubs/index.php#combat.shelf ) or ask a current marshal if you can shadow and learn from them. Formal classes are also offered periodically to improve everyone’s education, but are not required in order to be authorized.

Come and join us volunteering in a way which gets you a front row seat for amazing athletic competitions!

Entry written by Maestra Althaia filia Lazari in May 2014.

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