One of the parts of the SCA experience that I and many others take seriously is the experience of being in vassalage to another individual. This bond, inspired by the feudal bond that typifies the Middle Ages to many people, is often displayed in the SCA by the vassal wearing a specially colored belt. Although these belts have not been registered by the Laurel Queen of Arms, the custom is very strong in many kingdoms. However, to the best of my knowledge, the SCA practice of assigning all vassals a specific sort of belt depending upon what their relationship is to their masters does not appear to be a mediaeval practice. In the interests of improved authenticity, I present this essay on displays of allegiance.

Tabard

The tabard of a herald is a symbol of his service and his station among the followers of a lord. Typically, a herald wears his lord's coat of arms on his tabard. I do not know of any other follower who would wear a tabard of his lord's coat of arms, because of the herald's special relationship to his lord.

Liveries

Liveries are clothes given by a lord to his followers. This practice is certainly mediaeval-the first use of the word dates to the fourteenth century. Sometimes, liveries are complete suits, but one OED entry mentions a lord giving out hoods as his liveries. In practice, they are often dyed in the tinctures of his coat of arms. A lord would expect his followers to wear his liveries when they are in attendance upon him, especially if he is to make a public appearance with them, such as an appearance in court before the throne. Also, in England, certain guilds or companies were granted special liveries by the kings, and the members of the guilds wear them on state occasions, like the election of the Lord Mayor of London.

Badges

Badges are a little more familiar to the average SCAdian. Anyone can register a badge, after all. The first appearance of the word in the OED dates to the fourteenth century. The badge's use to show allegiance also dates certainly to the fourteenth century. Although one could wear both the liveries and the badge of one's lord, it was also not unheard of just to wear his badge on one's normal clothes.

Livery Chains

Livery chains are a specialized combination of the above forms of displays of allegiance. The lord gives his follower a chain of silver or of gold links, sometimes elaborately formed into one of his badges, and, often, as a pendant from the chain, yet another badge. Usually, livery chains are reserved for the lord's most important followers; in many cases, the members of his order of knighthood. For example, the dukes of Burgundy gave livery chains with their badge of the golden fleece to members of their order, the Golden Fleece.

Chiefs of Allegiance

These were used especially in the Italian Peninsula, dating from the start of the conflict between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions there, and getting more complicated as the wars over the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies heated up at the close of the Middle Ages. Typically, a chief of allegiance was the coat of arms of the leader of one side or another (in the Guelph v. Ghibelline fight, that of the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor, and in the Sicilian conflict, that of the French ducal house of Anjou, or of Aragon), added as a chief to an already existing coat of arms. Also, individuals who had a special relationship with an order of knighthood, such as the Knights of Malta, would sometimes have a chief of the coat of arms of the order added to their coats of arms.

Cadenced Coats of Arms

This was not unknown in the Holy Roman Empire. Some vassals would take their lord's coat of arms, and add a brisure to them (what SCA heralds would call making a single CD). However, the only example I have read of this practice consisted of the vassals of a bishop, who adapted the coat of arms of the bishopric for this purpose.

Conclusion

In short, many attractive options exist for the mediaevally minded squire, protege, or apprentice to show his or her loyalty to his or her chosen lord or lady. The most generally applicable and least onerous methods are badges and liveries. Apprentices might well think of taking up liveries, just like the members of the liveried guilds of London. For certain personae, mostly those from the Holy Roman Empire and the Italian Peninsula, the chief of allegiance or the vassalic cadenced coat of arms may be more appropriate. Also, I hope as more and more fighters decide to add a personal pursuivant to their retinues, that I see more and more of my fellow heralds in the tabards of private individuals, as well as our more SCA-traditional attire.