Palatine Barony

A few baronies in the SCA are referred to as palatine. These include:

• The Palatine Barony of the Western Seas (Caid; Hawaii),
• The Palatine Barony of the Far West (West; the Pacific Rim, including Japan, South Korea, Guam, Thailand), and
• The Palatine Barony of Allyshia (West; Humboldt County, California).

As any other SCA barony, they may contain cantons, strongholds, ports, and/or colleges.

The underlying idea behind a palatine barony is that it is to allow branches that are far removed from the main populations of their kingdoms to have a cycle wherein their populace can compete for the privilege of ruling lands. In this case, baronial succession is determined by tournament, and in at least two of the above-mentioned examples, this tournament takes place twice each year, alternating between a heavy fighting or rapier tourney and an arts & sciences tourney.

The victor of the tourney and his or her inspiration become the new Coronet.

See also Branch.