4.0 Honors and Awards

4.1 Knighthood:
The following criterion for Knighthood recognizes the effort of our brightest and our best. It exemplifies our understanding that Knighthood is an ideal representation of what most players strive towards. Despite many thinking that a white belt will elevate them past their own foibles and fears, the path of Knighthood is a continuous journey. Those people marked with such achievement are now considered the teachers and mentors ofr those wishing to follow the road towards such endeavors. It falls within their duty to aid those players within Amtgard who wish to strive to become better participants. In the modern "real" world, knighthood is awarded for a variety of reasons (winning a Nobel prise, organizing an effort to feed the starving, etc.). It is hoped that Amtgard will take a page from this more enlightened perspective.
4.11 The Monarch of a Kingdom may knight people into any of the four orders. Although not required, candidates for Knighthood should have achieved the criteria listed and have the approval of a majority of Knights of that order. Note that the achievement of criteria set forth does not automatically grant Knighthood. Also note that the traditional positive knightly virtues will go a long way towards achieving the white belt.
4.12 The orders of Knighthood:
4.121 Knights of the Crown:
a. a civil order for serving in the highest echelons of the group
b. colors: white trimmed with gold
c. suggested criteria: Masterhood of the crown.
4.122 Knights of the Flame:
a. a service order for contributions to the group
b. colors: white trimmed with red
c. suggested criteria: Masterhood of the flame.
4.123 Knights of the Serpent:
a. an achievement order for excellence in the arts and/or sciences
b. colors: white trimmed with green
c. suggested criteria: Masterhood of the serpent.
4.124 Knights of the Sword:
a. a military order for fighting skills and battlefield prowess
b. colors: white trimmed with silver
c. suggested criteria: Masterhood of the sword.
4.13 Only those Knights who have been a member of the Circle of Knights (Guild of Knights) for twelve or more weeks may play a paladin or anti-paladin. Exception - if for any reason a person loses his/her knighthood, they also lose the ability to play paladin or anti-paladin.
4.14 A Knight may choose to take a Squire, MaA, or Page.
4.141 A knight may never have more squires than separate orders of Knighthood that he/she has achieved.
4.142 The garb of a squire is a red belt.
4.143 The garb of a MaA is a black Belt.
4.144 The garb of a Page is a yellow Belt.
4.15 A Squire may take any number of MaA or Pages.
4.16 Nobility (with the noble title of Lord or above on the order of precedence) may take any number of Pages.

4.2 Masterhood in the Service Guilds and Orders:
4.21 Awarded by the Monarch for achieving the criteria set forth.
4.22 Denotes excellence in contributions to the group in the area listed (see explanations of the orders themselves).
4.23 Specific types of Masterhood:
4.231 Dragon- 10 orders of the Dragon
4.232 Hydra- 10 orders of the Hydra
4.233 Garber- 12 garber credits.
4.234 Lion- any combination of orders of the Lion and orders of the Griffon that add up to 10.
4.235 Owl- 10 orders of the Owl.
4.236 Reeve- 12 weeks experience as a reeve.
4.237 Rose- 10 orders of the Rose.
4.238 Smith- 12 smith credits.
4.239 Warrior (designated title: Warlord) - 10 orders of the warrior.
4.23A The Monarch may create other titles and forms of Masterhood.
4.24 Specific types of Knight Masterhoods:
4.241 Masterhood of the Crown; suggested prerequisite for Knight of the Crown
4.2411 To achieve this, one must earn 100 points combined of the following criteria:
Kingdom Monarch: 40
Prime Minister: 30
Royal Consort and Kingdom Champion: 25
Duke: 20
Ducal Chancellor: 15
Ducal Consort and Ducal Champion: 10
Barony Position: 5
Shire Position: 3
4.2412 Note also that one position must be Duke or King.
4.242 Masterhood of the Serpent, the suggested prerequisite for Knight of the Serpent
4.2421 To achieve this, one must earn Masterhood in one Serpent related category, 4 or more awards in a different Serpent related category, and 2 or more in another
4.2422 Serpent related categories are: Dragons, Owls, Garbers, and Hydras (ex. 10 Dragons, 4 Owls, 2 Hydra).
4.243 Masterhood of the Flame, the suggested prerequisite for Knight of the Flame
4.2431 To achieve this, one must earn Masterhood in one Flame related category, 4 or more awards in a different Flame related category, and 2 or more in another.
4.2432 Flame relates categories are: Lions, Roses, Smiths, Flames (ex. 10 Lions, 4 Roses, 2 Flame).
4.244 Masterhood of the Sword, the suggested prerequisite for Knight of the Sword
4.2441 To achieve this, one must earn 4 or more Griffons and at least 2 Sword Titles, one of which must be Warlord.
4.2442 Sword Titles include: Warlord, Weaponmaster, War Master, and Defender.

4.3 Orders:
4.31 Order of the Dragon
given by: Monarch, Consort
given for: outstanding achievements in the arts (garb, art, music, literature, etc.)
limitations: none
4.32 Order of the Flame
given by: the Monarch
given for: given to a group of people (company, household, etc.) for outstanding contributions to Amtgard.
limitations: only one may be given in each Monarch's reign
4.33 Order of the Griffon (Gryphon)
given by: the Monarch
given for: courage, chivalry, and honor on the battlefield
limitations: none
4.34 Order of the Hydra
given by: the Monarch
given for: entering enough Crown Qualifications events to qualify for the Crown tourney/election
limitations: each person may only receive one Hydra per Crown qualifications
4.35 Order of the Jovious
given by: the Monarch
given for: outstanding attitude
limitations: only one may be given in each Monarch's reign
4.36 Order of the Lion
given by: Monarch, Consort
given for: displaying outstanding traits of service and loyalty to Amtgard
limitations: none
4.37 Order of the Mask (Masque)
given by: the Monarch
given for: outstanding portrayal of persona
limitations: only one may be given in each Monarch's reign
4.38 Order of the Owl
given by: Monarch, Consort
given for: outstanding achievements in the sciences (armor, construction, seigeworks, etc.)
limitations: none
4.39 Order of the Rose
given by: Monarch, Consort
given for: beneficial service to Amtgard
limitations: none
4.3A Order of the Walker in the Middle
given by: the Monarch
given for: exemplification of the ideals and conduct of reeves
limitations: a person may never receive more than one of these
4.3B Order of the Warrior
given by: the Monarch
given for: fighting ability (see the criteria below)
limitations: higher levels are increasingly difficult to attain, and orders must be gained in succession

4.3C Order of the Zodiac
given by: the Monarch
given for: outstanding contributions in any one month
limitations: only one may be given each month
4.3D Garber Credit
given by: Monarch, Consort
given for: Making nice garb for others, armor construction, flag construction, making superior garb for oneself.
limitations: none
note: Garber Credits may be awarded in addition to orders of the Dragon
4.3E Smith Credit
given by: Monarch, Consort
given for: Sponsoring a major Amtgard event, publication, or workshop, or any other comparable service to Amtgard.
limitations: none
4.3F Note: as with the order of the warrior, orders of all types, when awarded at higher levels, should be harder to earn (i.e. a person's 7th order of the dragon should be harder to attain than his or her 2nd order, etc.).

4.4 Titles of Nobility and Lesser Titles of Honor (awarded by the Monarch):
4.41 Title: Grand Duke
equivalents: none
suggested criteria: serve the kingdom two terms as Monarch.
4.42 Title: Arch Duke
equivalents: none
suggested criteria: one term each as a kingdom and Duchy (or Kingdom pro-tem) Monarch
4.43 Title: Duke/Duchess
equivalents: Doge, Dux, Herzog, Duc, Duque, Duca, Pfalzgraf, Shogun, Bretwalda
suggested criteria: serve the kingdom six months as Monarch
4.44 Title: Count/Countess
equivalents: Earl, Comes, Comite, Graf, Jarl, Conde, Comte, Conte, Graaf, Orkhan, Shireman, Dey, Kaliph, Khidiw, Cuauhtlahtoque, Contessa
suggested criteria: serve the kingdom six months as Royal Consort
4.45 Title: Marquis/Marquise
equivalents: Markgraf, Marchioness, Margrave, Mark, Markis, Margraf, Marques, Marchese, Margravine, Marquee
suggested criteria: serve in each of the following positions of a kingdom- Monarch, Consort, Prime Minister.
4.46 Title: Viscount/Viscountess
equivalents: Vicomte, Viconte, Visconte, Vizconde, Visconde, Walfgraf, Pasha
suggested criteria: have held both the following positions of a kingdom- Champion, Weaponmaster
4.47 Title: Baron/Baroness
equivalents: Thane, Daimyo, Khan (Kahn), Emir, Barun, Barao, Barone
suggested criteria: serve the kingdom six months as Prime Minister.
4.48 Title: Baronet
equivalents: Freiherr, Lesser Thane, Sheik, Seignur, Nawab, Begum
suggested criteria: serve in a pro-tem position for any of the following kingdom positions: Monarch, Champion, Prime Minister, Consort.
4.49 Title: Lord/Lady (lesser title)
equivalents: Halfweard, Loverd, Laferd, Pan, Laird, Kyrios, Dom, Don, Sherif, U Sayid, Agah, Rabban, Chieftan
suggested criteria: Monarch's discretion (service to Amtgard).
4.4A Title: Defender (lesser title)
equivalents: ---
suggested criteria: serve the kingdom six months as Champion.