View source for Order of Defense

The '''Order of Defense''' is an [[SCA]] [[polling order]] of [[peerage]] that rewards members for their prowess in SCA [[rapier]] and [[cut and thrust]] [[combat]], commonly termed as SCA [[fencing]].

== Heraldry and Regalia ==

The [[device]] proposed on Feb 2, 2015, for the order by the [[Laurel Sovereign of Arms]] is a [[badge]]:

:''([[Tinctureless]]) Three [[rapier]]s [[in pall]] [[inverted]] tips [[crossed]]''

The Laurel also proposed a change in spelling of the [[name]] to the ''Order of Defence''.

The proposed [[regalia]] for the order is;

:''([[Fieldless]]) A white [[livery]] [[collar]], bearing the badge of the Order of Defence''

== History ==

In [[2014]], the SCA [[Board of Directors]] conducted a survey amongst SCA [[member]]s relating to various proposals on new SCA-wide martial-based [[award]]s. This included whether fencing should be included within the martial skills considered for new members of the [[Order of Chivalry]] or whether a new [[peerage]] should be created for fencing or any other non-rattan martial art. On Jan 17, [[2015]],  they announced that fencing could no longer be considered an ancillary activity in the SCA, but fencing was not a valid path to the Order of the Chivalry. Nor would they create an additional "non-rattan" martial order.

On Feb 2, 2015, the [[BOD]] approved the creation of the Order of Defense and asked the [[Laurel Sovereign of Arms]] to register a name and device for the order. The SCA [[corpora]] still needed to be altered. The intention was for the order to be started on May 1, 2015.

== External links ==
  
* http://sca.org/BOD/announcements/rapierpeerage.html - Jan 17, 2015, BOD announcement disapproving fencing being included in any martial peerage order.  
* http://socsen.sca.org/advisory-opinion-regarding-the-possible-inclusion-of-non-rattan-fighters-into-the-order-of-the-chivalry/ -  Jan 29, 2015, BOD announcement about non-rattan combatants and the Order of Chivalry
* http://socsen.sca.org/creation-of-the-order-of-defense/ - Feb 2, 2015, BOD announcement creating the order.
* http://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=100&loi=2915 - Feb 2, 2015, heraldric proposal for the badge, name and regalia

[[category:SCAism]][[category:awards]]