Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournament
Glossary of Terms
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Earl: Derived from the early Anglo-Saxon, the office of Earl was to administer a shire. Over time, the number of these administrators was reduced, but the holdings by each earldom increased, such that by the time of Edward I the title was the highest ranking nobility in England next to the princes, until Edward III supplanted the title by creating a duchy for his son the Black Prince in Cornwall. Equivalent to the county on the continent, English earls were often styled as such when they went abroad, in reality carrying similar duties and prestige.
Within the SCA the title is reserved for those gentles who have served once as king of an SCA kingdom. See also count.
Ell: A measure of a length of cloth containing approximately 45" or one and a quarter yards, the precise length varied depending upon the location, ranging from 37" to 48". During the 14th century, the term ulna referred both to ells and yards.
Embattled: See crenellations.
Emir: Military commander or chieftain in a Saracen army.
Emperor: Title of the sovereigns of the Holy Roman Empire, adopted from the old Roman imperator, meaning the power of the sword. The title was reincarnated under Charlemagne for the use by the inheritors of his empire. In the medieval context the person who would act as emperor would be elected, unable to use the title until they were anointed in the coronation ceremony.
Emprise: A challenge of war. During the Hundred Years War, knights from England and France would meet at a designated place to fight for the honor of their king and kingdom. These structured encounters were much like the friendly pas d’armes, save that blood was drawn and men often slain. Also denoting the quest of a knight errant, where the young knight would wear some token of his quest such as a bracelet, greave, or eyepatch until some feat of arms was accomplished.
Emprise de la guele de la Dragon: {}
Erec: The 12th century romance by Hartmann von Aue, telling the same story as Chrètien de Troyes’ Erec & Enide. There was apparently a good deal of competition between the two poets, but today the works of Chrètien are far more familiar.
Erec & Enide: The Arthurian romance by Chrètien de Troyes that examines the tension between love and the duties of chivalry (defense of others, maintenance of the knightly reputation, and exercise in arms).
Eric: SCA misnomer for the lists.
Errant: A knight, usually a bachelier, who departs to seek adventure and thus earn renown and possibly riches so that he might settle, marry, and earn his living. In history most errants would pursue wars or tournaments as the chief methods by which they might earn renown; in the romances such knights would battle incredible beasts, rescue ladies, and defend princes and kings, who would often return their service with largesse, bestowing upon them lands and titles. The most celebrated historical errant would have to be William Marshal, who went from being a minor son with little inheritance to Earl of Pembroke. In legend there were many famous errants, including Tristan, Yvain, Lancelot; most of the famous Arthurian knights sought fame through errancy at one point or other.
Within the Company of Saint George, the errant is an applicant to the company who is charged by the company to bring renown to themselves, the company, their consorts and their kingdom by great acts of chivalry.
Escheat: The result of an incident that causes a fief to revert because a lord or tenant dies without an appropriate heir whose qualifications are generally noted in the original grant.
Escheator: The shire officer, in England, who was responsible for the administration of land grants and feudal rights relating to land and fiefdom.
Escutcheon: The shield upon which a device is commonly displayed, the common ‘heater’ shape.
Esquire, Escuyer: French for Squire. See also Chronique: The Journal of Chivalry #8.
Essoin: A legal excuse for not being in court, such as being on pilgrimage, illness, king’s service, etc.
Estoc: A thrust, delivered with dagger or sword, forbidden in most tournaments from the 12th century onward.
Excalibur: King Arthur’s sword, also known in Geoffrey of Monmouth as Caliburn. There is no historical evidence for or against such a sword, and the role of the blade varies wildly in the romances. In the most common appearances, the Lady of the Lake gives the sword to Arthur, though in modern renditions the sword is often taken from the stone, a twist on the blade of Balin of the Two Swords, which Merlin placed into the stone, eventually drawn by Galahad (Malory). Before dying, Arthur instructed Bedevere to throw the blade back into the lake, when a hand caught it and took it beneath the waves. In the Vulgate Cycle, Arthur requires this service of Girflet, who twice tries to fool Arthur into believing that he has so dispensed the blade, but is caught both times, eventually following the command and throwing it as instructed. The sword was given to have various magical powers: healing, etc., as was the scabbard, which was to make Arthur impervious to mortal blows so long as he retained it in his possession.
Excellency, Your: Honorary address for a count, earl, graf, , baron, viscount, or bishop.
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