Peer

A peer in the SCA is a person who has received a Patent of Arms (with a few possible exceptions for some Royal Peers.) They are not necessarily enrolled in an order of peerage, but enrollment is usually the norm.

For many years, there were three polling peerage orders (the Great Orders of Peerage): Order of the Laurel, Order of Chivalry, Order of the Pelican - aka Laurels, Knights/ Masters of Arms, and Pelicans. The fourth order, the Order of Defense, was added in 2015. In some kingdoms, the Order of the Rose is a polling order, but is not generally considered one of the Great Orders.

A triple peer is a person who holds membership in the three of the Great Orders: Chivalry, Laurel and Pelican. A double peer, obviously enough, is one who holds membership in two of the orders. Presumably, with the addition of the Order of Defense, we will soon see quadruple peer]]s.

There are also Royal Peers, who receive their Patent of Arms in return for time spent on the throne. Royal Peers appear above other peers in the Order of Precedence.

In some Kingdoms, such as the Middle and Ansteorra, Patents of Arms do not automatically accompany the Royal Peerages. What effect this has is uncertain, since it does not actually affect the Order of Precedence. Some Kingdoms do not give out any Royal Patents, some do on a case-by-case basis.

All Peers are expected to be the role models in the SCA, upholding the values of chivalry and committing themselves to service to the realm.