Kingdoms of the Known World

The SCA is divided into administrative regions which it calls Kingdoms. Smaller branches within those kingdoms include Principalities, Regions, Baronies, and Provinces, and local chapters are known as Cantons, Ridings, Shires, Colleges, Strongholds, and Ports. Kingdoms, Principalities, and Baronies have ceremonial rulers who preside over activities and issue awards to individuals and groups. Colleges, Strongholds, and Ports are local chapters (like a shire) that are associated with an institution, such as a school, military base, or even a military ship at sea.

All SCA branches are organized in descending order as follows:


 * Kingdom: area ruled by a King and Queen (typically covering several U.S. states or Canadian provinces, and can be as large as countries or collections of countries). Minimum members required 400.
 * Principality: area within a kingdom ruled by Prince and Princess (large area sometimes comprising entire states). Minimum members required 100.
 * Region: equivalent of principality without ceremonial representative
 * Barony: area administered by a Baron and/or Baroness, the ceremonial representative(s) of the Crown. Minimum members required 25.
 * Canton: local branch reporting through a barony (local chapter, which may be on the way to becoming a shire)
 * Province: equivalent of barony without ceremonial representative
 * Riding: local branch reporting through a province
 * Shire: local branch reporting directly to a kingdom or principality. Minimum members required 5.
 * College: institutional branch based at a school, research facility, etc. (may be a part of a larger local group or report directly to a principality or kingdom)
 * Stronghold: institutional branch based at a military installation (may be a part of a larger local group or report directly to a principality or kingdom)
 * Port: institutional branch based at a military installation in situations where groups of members will be detached for long periods, as with ships at sea (may be a part of a larger local group or report directly to a principality or kingdom)