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West Kingdom
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Scroll Icon  The Order of a Grand March

"My Awards Go Jingle, Jangle, Jingle ..." -- Master Gerhardt von Nordflammen


The purpose of this page is not to explain in great detail how to perform a Grand March, but to list the sequence in which those in a Grand March will march, as this sequence is not identical to the Order of Precedence of the Kingdom.

A Grand March is usually done to the Ranking Royalty1 at an event, with the purpose of introducing the populace to that Royalty. It should be noted that except for rare occaisions a Grand March should be discouraged -- the amount of time and volunteers necessary to pull it off, particularly at a Kingdom level event is huge2. Therefore, the Ranking Royalty will not March, but should be seated in the Thrones. A herald (or multiple heralds) should be present to announce everyone in the Grand March.

Below is the precedence for a Grand March, assuming that it is for the King and Queen of the West:

  1. Crown Prince and Princess of the West (if Marching)
  2. Princes and Princesses in order of creation of the Principality:
    1. The Mists
    2. Cynagua
    3. Oertha
  3. Great Officers of the Kingdom of the West (or the Principality if held at a Principality event) -- the sequence is probably not too important, but would start with Seneschal, Marshal, and Vesper Principal Herald, from there ... well ... work it out.
  4. Visiting Royalty (in precedence (order of Creation) -- Note that any Princes and Princesses of these Kingdoms would March in precedence after all Kings and Queens (the list starts at number "2" as the West is first ...):
    1. East
    2. Middle
    3. Atenveldt
    4. Meridies
    5. Caid
    6. Ansteorra
    7. Atlantia
    8. An Tir
    9. Calontir
    10. Trimaris
    11. Outlands
    12. Drachenwald
    13. Æthelmarc
    14. Artemesia
    15. Ealdormere
    16. Lochac
    17. Northshield
    18. Gleann Abhann
    19. Avacal
  5. Sometimes branches are allowed to March as whole (i.e., the Seneschal (or Baron/Baroness) may lead the processional for their branch, with banner bearers, branch herald, and populace -- these would March here)), or Landed/Territorial Barons and Baronesses of the West may be allowed to March, if so, the Baronies would be in this order (the order of creation of the Baronies):
    1. Allyshia
    2. Eskalya
    3. Tarnmist
    4. Westermark
    5. Winter's Gate
    6. Fettburg
    7. Darkwood
    8. The Far West
    9. Rivenoak
    10. Selveirgard
  6. Bearers of Armigerous Awards may March in the Following Sequence -- and should normally only March once, ordered by date of recognition (see the current Order of Precedence if you need help -- that will be accurate):
    1. Dukes and Duchesses
    2. Counts and Countesses
    3. Viscounts and Viscountesses
    4. Members of the Orders of Peerage (Chivalry, the Laurel, the Pelican, Defense, the Mark) in order of each member's addition to the Order (see the Order of Precedence -- note that all five Orders are equal, and therefore the date admitted to the Order comes into play)
    5. Awards that Grant Grants of Arms (The Royal Missile Company, The Western White Scarf, The Western Gold Scarf, the Scarves of Achievement)
    6. Grants of Arms
    7. Leaves of Achievement (Order of the Leaf of Merit, Order of the Rose Leaf, Order of the Ash Leaf) and Western Lily
    8. Barons and/or Baronesses of the Court
    9. Awards that Grant Awards of Arms (not counting Leaves and Baron/ess: Kingdom A&S Champion(s), Kingdom Equestrian Champion(s), Order of Missile Champions, Order of the Western Prima Spada, others)
    10. Awards of Arms

1"Ranking Royalty" refers to the Royalty at an event of the highest Rank. For example, at a Kingdom event, the "Ranking Royalty" would be the King and Queen of the West. At a Principality event, the "Ranking Royalty" may be the King and Queen, if present, otherwise, will be the Prince and Princess of that Principality. This can be fun -- if the Crown Prince and Princess are present, they may be seated with the King and Queen (and not "required" to March), or may March if they wish. A lot of what happens is "Royal Whim". If the March is being done at a Baronial event, the "Ranking Royalty" may be the Baron and Baroness, or They may be seated with whomever is higher in the chain.

2The last time this was done at a Kingdom event was at Purgatorio, August A.S. XXII (1987), on the Sunday of the event, and took most of the day -- at least 6 hours ... everyone was exhausted by the time it was complete.