Seneschal

The Seneschal was the senior steward in charge of all ceremonies and domestic arrangements as well as the administration of justice in a large medieval household.

The word is Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin “seniscalus”, from a Germanic compound of words meaning ‘old’ and ‘servant’.

The Seneschal Badge (above) is “Gules, a key fesswise Or” and is recognition of the fact that, traditionally, the Seneschal was entrusted with “the keys to the castle”.

The Seneschal is the legal business representative of The Barony of Montengarde.

Seneschals sign all contracts; make sure that things are done pursuant to the restrictions of all modern laws, Corpora, and Kingdom law; work with the Chatelaines to handle all public relations; and normally conduct the monthly business meetings/curia.

In modern terms, the Seneschal is the Chairperson of the Board, the Greater* Officers are the Board of Directors, and the Lesser** Officers are the Operations Management Team.

* Greater Officers are those positions that the SCA requires groups to have in
order to meet the legal guidelines defined by SCA By-Laws.

** Lesser Officers are those positions that are not officially required by SCA By-Laws
but that make the day-to-day operations of the group so much easier.