Earl Marshal
The Earl Marshal is responsible for overseeing the conduct of all martial arts activities, including but not limited to: tournament lists, wars, combat archery, and fencing, as well as such related activities as scouting and target archery. The Earl Marshal bears primary responsibility for promoting both the safety and the authenticity of the martial arts in the kingdom, but works with other officers in their areas of mutual interest.“ (Corpora, Article VII.D)
In Ealdormere, all group marshals report to the Earl Marshal. The Earl Marshal supervises the other Kingdom marshals, mediates disputes over rules and conduct, and implements changes to the Rules of the List. The Earl Marshal directly supervises both melee combat and tourney combat. He or she runs Crown Tournament.
Deputies
As the Earl Marshal is not always experienced in activities other than armored combat, the following are deputies of the Earl Marshal.
- Fencing Marshal
- Archery Marshal
- Thrown Weapons Marshal
- Marshal of Minor Combat
- Fencing Minister of the Lists
Earl Marshal in History
In Medieval England, the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Constable were the officers of the king's horses and stables. When chivalry declined in importance, the constable's post declined and the Earl Marshal became the head of the College of Arms, the body concerned with all matters of genealogy and heraldry. In conjunction with the Lord High Constable, he had held a court, known as the Court of Chivalry, for the administration of justice in accordance with the law of arms, which was concerned with many subjects relating to military matters, such as ransom, booty and soldiers' wages, and including the misuse of armorial bearings.
Similar positions responsible for the monarch's horses and stables, including connected military operations, existed outside of England.
