Knights of Valor

Knights of Valor
PURPOSE OF THE KNIGHTS OF VALOR

The Purpose of the Order of the Knights of Valor is to promote chivalry and provide special recognition to those members of the Royal Order of Chivalry who wish to participate in full rattan stick combat. Any ROC member may join and participate but must have a full suit of armor for use with rattan. (See Tournament section of handbook.) The Order of the Knights of Valor is not structured for individual households and therefore, there are no separate meetings. All members of the Order of the Knights of Valor are subject to their individual households. The Order of the Knights of Valor is just a form of higher recognition for fighters of the Royal Order of Chivalry.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all pages, squires and knights that are at least 18 years of age or older and own a full of armor capable of rattan combat. Capability of armor is determined by the Knight Captain. Membership is gained by completing the following requirements;

In order for a member to continue his membership he must participate in the rattan combat competition of at least three events per year. A Combat Waiver must be signed and notarized yearly for a member to participate in combat. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the member being placed in a non- active status. If the rate of attendance declines or remains low the member will be excluded from the activities of the order and must reapply to continue. If a member is excluded all titles within the order shall be removed and reapplication will place the member at the lowest level of recognition.(With the exception of Grand Master.) At all events members are required to sign in with the Clerk before competing in the rattan combat.

TITLES OF RECOGNITION

When a knight of the Royal Order of Chivalry becomes a member of the Order of the Knights of Valor he is given a Title of Recognition for use within the Order of the Knights of Valor and the Royal Order of Chivalry. Pages and squires remain pages and squires until promoted. However, pages and squires are entitled to wear the cloak of the Order, unadorned, except squires, who may suspend their cloak with a silver chain. Completion of the following criteria does not give the right to the use of the title. The Titles of Recognition are given by the Knight Commander of the Order and as such, he may bestow any of these titles upon any member at his discretion. The different Levels of Recognition are as follows:

Knight Companion

The Knight Companion status is given to all new Knights of the Order. Knights Companion make up the body of the Order's Members. Knights Companion are required to obtain the cloak of the Order within six months of membership. They may suspend their cloaks with a gold chain and are entitled to display their device over the left breast of the cloak of the Order.

Knight Bachelor

The Knight Bachelor status is given to those Knights Companion who have participated in at least five rattan combat competitions. They may suspend their cloaks with a gold chain, are entitled to display their device over the left breast of the cloak of the Order and may trim their cloaks in silver.

Knight Master

The Knight Master or Master Knight status is given to those Knights Bachelor who have displayed exceptional chivalrous behavior, have participated in at least six rattan combat competitions since becoming a Knight Bachelor and have won at least one of those six competitions. They may suspend their cloaks with a gold chain, are entitled to display their device over the left breast of the cloak of the Order and may trim their cloaks in gold.

Knight Grand Master

The Knight Grand Master status is given to those Master Knights who have displayed exceptional chivalrous behavior, have participated in at least eight rattan combat competitions since becoming a Knight Master, have won at least four of those eight competitions and have been actively involved in the Royal Order of Chivalry for events other than Tournaments. Grand Master are entitled to wear a white cloak, suspended by a gold chain, trimmed in black and gold and with their personal device over the left breast of the cloak. Grand Master is a lifetime title. The Crown Prince of the Royal Order of Chivalry is given this title upon his Coronation.

TITLES OF OFFICE

In addition to the Titles of Recognition there are also Titles of Office. Titles of Office are appointed positions for the purpose of running the official business of the Order. These titles include the following;

Knight Commander

The Knight Commander is the National Head of the Order of the Knights of Valor. He is appointed by the Crown Prince and must either be the present Earl Marshall of the Realm or a previous Earl Marshall of the Realm. His term shall last as long as the Crown Prince deems necessary. The Knight Commander's symbol of office is a silver great helm affronte'.

Knight Captain

The Knight Captain is the State Head of the Order of the Knights of Valor. He is appointed by the Knight Commander, and confirmed by the Head of State. He shall serve a term set forth by the Knight Commander, and must be confirmed each year of his service by his Head of State. He must be at least a Knight Bachelor and must have served the Order faithfully for at least two years. The Knight Captain is entitled to place the symbol of his office above his personal device on his cloak. The Knight Captain's symbol of office is a silver gauntlet.

Clerk of the Order

The Clerk of the Order is the secretary of the Order and is responsible for records of membership and attendance at events. He is appointed by the Knight Commander and thus serve a term designed by the Knight Commander. He must at least be a squire to be eligible for this position. The Clerk is entitled to place a silver quill pen over his personal device on his cloak.

The Cloak of the Order

The Cloak of the Order shall be a circle cloak made of black cloth and suspended with either leather ties or black cloth ties, unless the wearer is entitled to suspend his cloak with a form of ornamentation, such as a silver or gold chain. Centered on the back of the cloak shall be placed the symbol of the Order. The symbol may be painted, sewn or embroidered and must be an approximate size of 30” (horizontal arm point to horizontal arm point) X 36” (vertical arm point to vertical arm point). The same symbol placement applies to the white cloak of the Grand Master. Knights Companion and all others above may place their personal device over the left breast of their cloaks. The personal device may also be painted, sewn or embroidered and should not exceed, for shields; 6” X 8”, and for badges; 7” diameter circle. Trim on the Cloak of the order is restricted to those Knights who have earned the right to ornament their cloaks and shall not exceed 2” in width.

HOME

Standard Disclaimer