Crown Prince and Princess
Prince and Princess of the Outlands
The Prince and Princess of the Outlands are the heirs to the Crown of the Outlands in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). They are chosen through Crown Tournament, a chivalric combat held twice annually. Upon winning Crown Tournament, the victor and their consort assume the titles of Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and typically serve in this capacity for three months before their coronation.
Titles and Forms of Address
In the Kingdom of the Outlands, the Prince is also referred to as the Dread Lord of Argonia and the Princess as the Dread Lady of Argonia. These titles are unique to the Outlands and stem from a blend of humor, regional identity, and SCA custom.
The terms "Dread Lord" and "Dread Lady" are not titles in the strict heraldic sense, but rather forms of address, used similarly to "Your Highness." In fact, the most common form of address for the Crown Prince and Princess is "Your Highness" or "Their Highnesses."
For example:
In reference: "Our Dread Lord, Prince Gunwaldt" or "Gunwaldt, Dread Lord of the Outlands."
In address: "My Dread Lord" or "My Dread Lady"
Formal address: "Your Highness" or "Their Highnesses"
Origins of the Title
The title "Dread Lord of Argonia" dates back to A.S. XX, when the Outlands was still a Principality of Atenveldt. Then-Prince Artan macAilin (known at the time as Argon Skullcrusher) and his companions humorously coined territorial names such as Cathonia, Johannia, and Argonia to reflect their personas.
Later, as King of the Outlands, Artan proclaimed at Pennsic War that all lands south of the Barony of the Citadel of the Southern Pass were now part of Argonia—a bold, if tongue-in-cheek, territorial claim. This sparked a friendly conflict with the Kingdom of Ansteorra, culminating in the Battle of Scorpion's Hollow, where the Outlands emerged victorious with support from Calontir.
Inspired by historical examples such as the Prince of Wales and Prince of Asturias, Count Artan later proposed that the heirs to the Outlands throne should likewise bear a unique regional title. In 1988, Count Johann was described as Prince of Argonia. Later, an old version of Principality Law was found to list "Dread Lord" as a legitimate form of address for a prince. Combining this with the earlier Argonia naming tradition, the heir to the throne became known as the Dread Lord (or Dread Lady) of Argonia.
Duties and Role
The Crown Prince and Princess fulfill many ceremonial and leadership duties during their reign as heirs. These include:
- Representing the Crown at events across the kingdom
- Supporting kingdom officers and initiatives
- Preparing for their upcoming coronation
- Making awards and recognitions at the discretion of the Crown