Merry Christmas!

Benjamin Britten, a British composer, took some Medieval poetry and set it to music, calling it the "Ceremony of Carols".  Below is a video of a selection of these works being performed by the Indianapolis Children's Choir.

Ceremony of Carols


Merry Christmas, and Best Wishes for the New Year!

December 16-31, Random Events in History

Things have been a bit hectic, and I apologize that this post is late.

December 16

1431 AD - King Henry VI of England crowned King of France
1598 AD - Final battle of the 7-Years war between Korea and Japan is fought
1617 AD - Spain founds the provinces of Argentina (Rio de le Plata) and Paraguay (Guaira)
1631 AD - Mt. Vesuvius in Italy erupts destroying 6 villages and killing 4,000
1653 AD - Oliver Cromwell sworn in as Lord Protector of England
1707 AD - Last recorded eruption of Mt. Fuji in Japan

December 17

546 AD - the Ostrogoths conquer Rome by bribing the Byzantine garrison
1526 AD - Pope Clement VII publishes the decree forming the Inquisition
1538 AD - Pope Paul III excommunicates King Henry VIII of England

December 18

1271 AD - Kublai Khan renames is empire "Yuan", officially marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty in China

December 19

1154 AD - King Henry II crowned King of England

December 20

1192 AD - King Richard the Lionheart captured in Vienna
1522 AD - Sulelman the Magnificent accepts the surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who
                  evacuate to the island of Malta and eventually become known as the Knights of Malta
1600 AD - The Rinuccini/Cacini opera "Euridice" is published
1606 AD - Virginia Company settlers leave London for Jamestown, Virginia
1669 AD - The first jury trial is held in Delaware, American Colonies

December 22

1135 AD - Norman nobles recognize Stephen of Blois as the English King

December 23

962 AD - Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo in Syria
1620 AD - French Huguenots declare war on King Louis XIII
1672 AD - Giovanni Cassini discovers Rhea, a satellite of Saturn

December 24

563 AD - The Hagia Sophia (church) in Constantinople is dedicated for the 2nd time after being destroyed
                 by earthquakes
1476 AD - 400 Burgundian soldiers freeze to death during the siege of Nancy

December 25

597 AD - England adopts the Julian calendar
800 AD - Charlemagne crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III
1066 AD - William the Conqueror crowned King of England
1100 AD - Boudouin I of Boulogne crowned King of Jerusalem
1223 AD - St. Francis of Assisi assembles the first Nativity scene
1492 AD - Columbus' ship the Santa Mario runs aground and sinks on Hispaniola (Haiti)
1553 AD - Spanish conquistadores are defeated by Mapuche rebels and the governor of Chile is executed
1599 AD - City of Natal, Brazil is founded

December 26

795 AD - St. Leo III begins his reign as the Catholic Pope
1198 AD - French Bishop Odo von Sully condemns "Zottenfeest" or "The Feast of Fools", believed to
                  be an incarnation of Saturnalia and therefore immoral
1492 AD - First Spanish settlement, La Navidad (modern Mole-Saint-Nicholas), founded by Columbus in
                  the New World
1620 AD - Pilgrims from England arrive at Plymouth Rock, in what is now Massachusetts
1620 AD - The crimes of Elizabeth Bathory, "The Blood Countess" are uncovered

December 28

1065 AD - Westminster Abbey in London is consecrated
1308 AD - The reign of emperor Hanazono begins in Japan
1732 AD - First known ad for "Poor Richard's Almanack" appears in the Pennsylvania Gazette

December 29

1170 AD - Assassination of Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury inside Canterbury Cathedral
                  by followers of King Henry II.  He subsequently becomes a martyr and saint for both the
                  Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches
1503 AD - France is beaten by Spain in the Battle of Carigliano
1708 AD - The Great Alliance occupies Gent

December 30

1317 AD - Pontifical decree "Sancta Romania" against spiritualists
1460 AD - Battle of Wakefield in the Wars of the Roses
1621 AD - English King James I cracks Protestation of Parliament
1689 AD - Purcell's and Tate's opera "Dido and Aeneas" premieres in Chesea
1703 AD - Tokyo hit by an earthquake which kills 37,000 people

December 31

406 AD - The Rhine at Mainz is attacked by 80,000 Vandals
535 AD - Byzantine general Belisariaus completes the conquest of Sicily
870 AD - Skirmish at Englefield, in which Ethelred of England defeats the Danes
1229 AD - James I of Aragon enters Medina Mayurqua (now Palma, Spain) thus consummating the
                  Christian conquest of the island of Majorca
1502 AD - Cesare Borgia (son of Pope Alexander VI and brother to Lucretia) occupies Urbino
1600 AD - British East India Company is chartered
1687 AD - The first Huguenots depart France for the Cape of Good Hope
1695 AD - A window tax is imposed in England, resulting in numerous shopkeepers bricking up their
                  windows to avoid paying the tax

December 9-15, Random Events in History

This week's installment of a sampling of events occurring throughout history for this week of December.


December 9

1212 AD - Frederik II crowns himself the Roman Catholic King

1640 AD - Settler Hugh Bewitt is banished from the Massachusetts Colony after declaring himself free of
                  original sin

1658 AD - Dutch troops occupy the harbor city of Quilon (Coilan) in India


December 10

1520 AD - Martin Luther publicly burns papal edict demanding he recant

1582 AD - France begins use of the Gregorian Calendar


December 11

1282 AD - Llywelyn ab Gruffydd, the last Welsh Prince of Wales, is assassinated

1572 AD - Spanish troops begin the siege of Haalem

1620 AD - 103 pilgrims on board the ship Mayflower land at Plymouth Rock in what is now Massachusetts


December 13

1294-AD - St. Celestine V abdicates as pope after only 5 months

1577 AD - Sir Francis Drake sets sail from England to go around the world

1636 AD - the Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes 3 militia regiments to defend against the Pequot
                  Indians--recognized today as the founding of the United States National Guard

1642 AD - New Zealand is discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman

1643 AD - the Battle of Alton is fought in the English Civil War


December 14

1287 AD - Storms cause St. Lucia's flood, which collapses the Zuyderzee (Netherlands) seawall, resulting
                  in the death of an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 people in the 5th largest flood of recorded history

1547 AD - Mary Stuart succeeds her father, James V, and becomes Mary Queen of Scots at 6 days old

1656 AD - Artificial pearls are first manufactured in Paris of gypsum pellets covered with fish scales


December 15

1256 AD - The Mongols capture and destroy the Hashshashin stronghold at Alamut in present-day Iran

1612 AD - The Andromeda Galaxy is first observed through a telescope

1664 AD - the British colonize what is now Connecticut

Tapestry of Life

In this age of phones that take high-definition photos, there are generations of people who can't imagine there being a time when there was no fast, simple means of pictorially recording events.  From drawings on cave walls to paintings or bas relief in tombs and religious buildings, to photography--man seems to have a need to show the importance of certain events or people in his life.

In the Medieval era, this was done primarily through paintings, which were typically commissioned by a wealthy patron (an individual or an entity, such as the Church), but not always.

The earliest tapestries were believed to be Greek and produced in the 2nd-3rd century.  The Egyptians produced a form of tapestry called kepati, and the Chinese, as early as the Tang Dynasty in the early 7th century, produced  cut silk tapestries called kesi

Generally considered to be the oldest known European tapestry is the Cloth of St. Gereon (right), dating back to the early 11th century.  It's purpose was ornamental, and both the patterns and the weave show oriental or Byzantine influence.



Below is another famous piece, the Bayeux Tapestry.  It is not considered technically a tapestry, but an embroidered cloth since it is stitched and not woven.  It depicts scenes leading up to the Norman conquest of England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings, and is approximately 70 meters long.  Some historians believe it was commissioned by the Bishop Odo, half-brother to William the Conqueror, and was believed to have first been seen at the dedication of his cathedral on July 14, 1077.



Bayeux Tapestry
Photo courtesy of  hans_s/Foter.com/CC BY-ND

By about 1300, with improvements in looms, tapestries became much more common.  They were often used by the Church to depict biblical scenes for the commoners, who were illiterate and unable to read texts. Tapestries also came into common use by the nobility as art, or to commemorate and display family heraldry or significant events.  One of the most commonly-reproduced tapestries is "The Lady and the Unicorn" shown below and which dates back to the 15th century:




The last example of European tapestry art is one of several "Wawel" tapestries, held by the Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland.  Most if not all were commissioned by Sigisimund II Augustus, king of Poland. 


              

         The Wickedness of the Human Race Before the Flood.  Made in Brussels circa 1553

 

An example of Chinese kesi appears below.  Later, around the 15th or 16th century, some of these tapestries were embellished with brushwork and colors.  It's difficult to believe, with such intricate detail as these show, that they were woven on a loom.

 

 Cut silk of the Song Dynasty

In Europe, the popularity of tapestries declined with the advent of the French Revolution, not only because many of the artisans were located in France, but also because they came to symbolize the opulent decadence of the ruling class.  Antique tapestries, at least those prior to the 19th century and which are not in museums or private collections, are not that easy to come by.  However, in this digital age, even the most complex tapestries are simple to produce--just in case you have an event in your life you'd like to commemorate or display. 

Happenings in History for December by Date

Following is a random sampling of events throughout the Middle Ages, most for Western Europe.

December 1

800 AD:  Charlemagne judges accusations against Pope Leo III of perjury and adultery
                which are dismissed.  2 days later, Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne emperor

1640 AD: Portugal regains independence from Spain after 60 years of Spanish rule

December 2

1409 AD:  The University of Leipzig opens
1697 AD:  St. Paul's Cathedral opens in London

December 3

1557 AD:  The first Covenant of Scottish Protestants forms
1586 AD:  Potatoes from Columbia are first introduced into England
1621 AD:  Galileo invents the telescope

December 4

1110 AD:  City of Saida in Syria surrenders to the Crusaders
1154 AD:  Hadrian IV is elected pope, the only Englishman to become pontiff
1259 AD:  Treaty of Paris signed between King Henry III (England) and Louis IX (France)
1619 AD:  38 colonists from England disembark in Virginia
1674 AD:  Father Marquette, a French priest, builds the first building in what is now Chicago

December 5

1360 AD:  The French franc is created
1408 AD:  Emir Edigu of the Mongolian Golden Horde reaches Moscow
1456 AD:  35,000 people die when an earthquake strikes Naples, Italy
1492 AD:  Columbus discovers Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic)

December 6

1240 AD:  The Mongols occupy and destroy Kiev
1534 AD:  Quito, Ecuador is founded by Spain

December 7

43 AD:  The Roman orator, Cicero, is assassinated
185 AD:  Emperor Lo-Yang of China sees supernova

December 8

1659 AD:  The city of Cuidad Juarez is founded in Mexico

The First Crusade

Fifty years ago, if you asked someone the purpose of the Crusades, he would almost certainly have said it was to take back control of the Holy Land.  Nowadays people will tell you that it was to expand Western European imperialism by whitewashing it with religion.

I started taking a look at this, and was surprised at the very pragmatic reason for the summons of the First Crusade, which took place between 1095 an 1099.

The "western" world, that is, the civilizations outside of the Orient, was divided between Latin Christendom, Islam, and the Byzantine Empire.  The Byzantine Empire was the direct heir of Imperial Rome, assuming it's military and legal structure while removing the locus of the empire from Rome to Constantinople, which had been founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 330 AD. 

From the time of the 5th Century, a flow of pilgrims from Europe travelled into Jerusalem. In 1001 AD, the Byzantine emperor made an agreement with the Fatimid Caliph, ruler of the Islamic world, for the protection of Christian pilgrims.  An uneasy but peaceful co-existence between the three civilizations continued until the Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantines in Manzikert in 1071 and went on to conquer Asia Minor, which had been under Byzantine control. 

This victory and the subsequent establishment of several Muslim states within Asia Minor disrupted the pilgrimage (and trade) routes between Europe and Jersualem and also led to and exacerbated several crises within the Byzantine Empire.  When Alexius I (1081-1118) became the Byzantine Emperor, he succeeded in restoring unity within the empire, and he requested aid from his allies in Western Europe to help expel the Seljuk Turks from Asia Minor.  Thus began the First Crusade.

A Brief Thought About Medieval Music

My daughter is a choral singer, and in her high school, the choir puts on and performs in a madrigal dinner every year around Christmas.  She also sings in the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, and this year, they are going to be singing some Christmas music in Middle English.  I looked at the music, and this made me wonder about music in the Middle Ages.  How did it morph from the initially simple, liturgical vocal music to the complexity of Bach and others? 

In Western European culture in the early Middle Ages, most “formal” music was centered on the Church, and took the form of Gregorian Chants, which are believed by some to have been codified by Pope Gregory I at the end of the 7^th century.  This example of Gregorian chanting was recorded in 1930.  Gregorian chants are still sung today, often as part of relaxation music, and usually have some type of minimal accompaniment.  Relaxation recordings may also have such chants superimposed over nature sounds.

 In the late 1200’s a style of secular music was developed called Italian Trecento Madrigal, unaccompanied vocal music for two, or more rarely, three voices.  An example of this form can be found here: Italian Trecento madrigal  .  The other common form of secular music was that provided my minstrels or troubadours, which was essentially a lyrical performance of poetry.

Renaissance madrigal music, which took its name but not its style from the Italian Trecento Madrigal, was not established until the early 16^th century.  This music was again typically unaccompanied vocals, featuring anywhere from two to six voices.  Later, in the early part of the 17^th century, madrigal music began to merge with opera and was eventually replaced with the operatic aria.  This madrigal piece is from the early 17^th century:  Sing We at Pleasure.

 The most common instruments in the 13^th and 14^th centuries were the guitar, the shawm (which was redesigned into the oboe in the middle of the 17^th century), the cittern (pictured), and the recorder, which most of us in the United States were forced to learn to play in music class in grade school.

 

Cittern

By the 17^th century, more musical instruments had been developed, such as the cornetto/trumpet, the lute, the violin (developed from an earlier, larger instrument called the viol), the harpsichord, and the flute.  The development of these instruments made possible the composition of more complex music.

 For those of you who think that history is a waste of time and roll your eyes when someone trots out Santayana’s quote about those who can’t remember the past being doomed to repeat it, it seems to me that much of today’s popular hip-hop music is…..a more or less lyrical performance of poetry.

Scabbard, Anyone?

In case anyone was wondering where I've been, refer to an earlier post where I talked about the imminent release of the video game "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag."  I will confess to spending an inordinate amount of time pirating in the West Indies recently, hence my absence here.

That aside, I was speaking to someone the other day about swords.  I do have some--3 historically accurate reproductions, 1 sharp, and 2 dull.  A good sword was a significant investment, one a soldier's life depended on.  The scabbard he used to carry it was as decorated and individualized as he was inclined--and could afford--to make it.

Having the swords is fine and dandy, but of what use are swords that you can't carry?  Why go to the trouble of getting an historically-accurate reproduction of a particular-era sword if one is then going to mock it by sliding it precariously beneath the same belt holding up one's skinny jeans?

So, not being very skilled at crafts, the hunt began to find a scabbard that was as least reasonably historical in style and craftsmanship and which would be durable enough to function beyond merely hanging on a wall, as well as protect my swords.

Enter a gentleman by the name of Russ Ellis, who operates an outfit called Triton Scabbard Works.  I told Russ what I had, along with a vague idea of what I was looking for.  He offered me options, both in style and price, and I wound up with two custom-made, hand-crafted scabbards.  For anyone interested in seeing additional examples of Russ' work, visit his website.



Black Leather Scabbard
Over Wooden core

The sword is a typical Norman sword as was commonly carried in the 11th century.  Below are pictures of one of the scabbards crafted by Mr. Ellis.  This one was done in black-dyed leather and includes the belt.  A detail of the protective metal cap and the stitching on the back of the scabbard appears below.


 
























There is a decorative medallion below the hilt that on most swords of the era would most likely have been made of pewter, but wealthy men would have medallions of silver.  Highlighting this medallion are two strands of braided silver wire.  More elaborate scabbards would have had additional detail in the leatherwork itself--braiding or embossed designs.

 

The remaining decorative work involves the buckle, and the belt cap, which again would be pewter, silver, or possibly brass.

 

 

A Sampling of Events for October in the Middle Ages

What follows is a totally arbitrary sampling of various events that occurred in the month of October throughout the Middle Ages:

October 1

In 1189 Gerard de Ridefort, Grandmaster of the Knights Templar, is killed during the siege at Acre.

October 2

In 1492, King Henry VII of England invades France
In 1535, Jacques Cartier discovers Montreal, Canada
In 1552, Kazan is conquered by Ivan the Terrible

October 3

In 1283, the first known execution by hanging, drawing, and quartering is performed.  The unfortunate individual was Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Prince of Gwynedd, Wales.

October 4

In 1537, the first complete, English-language Bible is printed

October 5

In 1450, King Ludwig IV orders the expulsion of Jews from lower Bavaria
in 1550, the city of Concepcion is founded in Chile
In 1582, the Gregorian calendar is introduced in many Catholic countries

October 8

In 1480, a standoff between the Mongol Akhmat Khan and Grand Duke Ivan III of Russia leads to the later retreat of the Mongol Horde

In 1604, "Kepler's Nova" is first sighted

October 9

In 1000, Leif Erikson discovers "Vinland," believed by many to be modern New England
In 1192, Richard the Lionheart leaves Jerusalem in disguise

October 11

In 1138, a massive earthquake strikes Aleppo, Syria

October 12

In 1216, King John of England loses the Crown Jewels in The Wash, possibly near Sutton Bridge in Fosdyke

In 1609, the children's rhyme The Three Blind Mice is published in England

October 13

In 1307, King Philip IV of France convicts the Templars of heresy

October 14

In 1066, William the Conqueror wins the Battle of Hastings and takes control of England
In 1322, Robert the Bruce defeats King Edward II of England at Byland, and obtains the recognition of Scottish independence
In 1586, Mary Queen of Scots goes on trial for conspiracy

October 15

In 1520, King Henry VIII orders bowling lanes built at Whitehall
In 1581, the first ballet is staged in Paris, commissioned by Catherine de Medici
In 1582, many Catholic countries switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar

October 16

In 1384, Jadwiga is crowned King of Poland, even though she is a woman

October 17

In 1415, Jewish autonomy in Palestine ends
In 1483, Tomas de Torquemada is appointed Inquisitor-General of Spain

October 18

In 1009, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is hacked down to bedrock by the Fatimid caliph
In 1356, Basel, Switzerland is destroyed by an earthquake
In 1386, the University of Heidelberg is opened

October 19

In 1512, Martin Luther becomes a doctor of theology

October 20

In 1097, the first Crusaders arrive in Antioch
In 1603, a Chinese uprising in the Philippines fails after 23,000 people are killed

October 21

In 1096, Sultan Arslan defeats the first Crusaders in Nicea

October 23

In 1091, the London Bridge is destroyed by a tornado

October 24

In 1260, the Cathedral of Chartres is dedicated

October 25

In 1415, the French heavy knights are defeated by English army's Welsh archers at the Battle of Agincourt
In 1492, Christopher Columbus' ship the Santa Maria lands at the Dominican Republic

October 26

In 1492, the first known use of lead pencils
In 1524, Spanish troops give Milan to France

October 27

In 1275, the city of Amsterdam was founded (traditional)

October 28

In 1492, Columbus discovers Cuba and claims it for Spain
In 1538, the Universidad Santo Tomas Aquino, the first in the New World, is established

October 29

In 1268, the last of the Hohenstaufen dynasty of Kings of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire was executed by Charles I of Sicily
In 1390, the first trial for witchcraft was held in Paris

October 30

In 1270, the Eighth Crusade and Siege of Tunis ends
In 1503, Queen Isabella bans violence against the Indians
In 1534, the English Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, ousting the Pope as head of the English Church and instating King Henry VIII

October 31

In 1541, Michelangelo finishes painting "The Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel

Saint Werewolf?

Like vampires, werewolves are a tremendously popular character from horror stories, and consequently, Halloween.  Also like vampires, werewolves have seen a significant makeover since the days of Lon Chaney, Jr. in "The Wolf Man."  Werewolves didn't used to be heartthrobs ala Jacob Black (Twilight) and Derek Hale and Scott McCall (Teen Wolf).

Stories of werewolves, or at least, men changing or being turned into a wolf, have existed since the since Byzantium, or even since the times of Ancient Egypt if you wish to consider the jackal-headed god Anubis as part of that lore.  Stories of wolves with human characteristics or men acting as wolves were also common in a broad range of cultures, including Norse, French, Celtic and Germanic cultures.

I was surprised to discover that there is actually a Christian saint that, in the early centuries of Christianity, was said to be a dog-headed man.  The early legends of St. Christopher portray him as a dog-headed man who converted to Christianity, leaving behind a beast's nature and learning how to talk like a man.  Only in later centuries did the image of St. Christopher change to be an old man with a child on his shoulders.  Here is an image of an icon of St. Christopher from the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens:

If you would like to read a translation from Latin of the original legend, Click Here.  November 17 is the next full moon phase, just in case you wanted to leave a bowl of dog food on the porch.

Midnight, October 28/29, 2013

What is the significance of this date?

That depends on who you are.  It happens to be the release date in North America of "Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag," the latest in the Assassin's Creed game franchise by Ubisoft. 

I am looking forward to this release with cautious excitement.  Cautious because I fell in love with the original "Assassin's Creed" and "Assassin's Creed II, but was disappointed in the next major installment of the franchise.

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a hardcore gamer.  My introduction to video gaming came back in the days before there were video game systems and I played on a (gasp) desktop computer.  My game of choice in those days was the Thief franchise, initially by Looking Glass Studios, continued by Ion Storm, and then purchased by Eidos Montreal.  That game was set in a mythical city called, unimaginatively, "The City" with the technological level that was pseudo-medieval--sort of like steam punk meets the Dark Ages.  But despite it's shortcomings (the graphics were atrocious, even for then) the game was heavily story-driven and well-crafted.  And hey, I like stealth games.  It's sequel, "Thief II," did not disappoint, although "Thief III," the first one to be released on a gaming system platform, had an interface I didn't like very much and, even more damning, a story that seemed sketchy and ad-hoc.

After "Thief," nothing really came along to excite me until "Assassin's Creed."  I'm not going to give spoilers to the game here, just in case someone who's been off the grid isn't familiar with it, but the game's premise is based on an invention called the Animus, which allows an individual to relive ancestral memories in virtual reality. The most intensive action sequences of the game take place in The Holy Lands during the Crusades circa 1191-1192.  The game proceeds to blend history and fantasy in a world brought to life by incredibly vibrant and realistic graphics.  No one knows what the backstreets of Acre or Jerusalem or Damascus actually looked like, but the developers' imaginations have created a pretty credible environment, all things considered.  Now throw in English, French and Teutonic crusaders.  The villains of the piece are, not unpredictably, the Knights Templar.  The hero, Desmond/Altair is an assassin who belongs to an order whose sole existence seems to be to thwart the Templars. 

The developers neatly sidestep religious controversy by avoiding making religion the crux of the conflict.  What does serve as the conflict is power--and an artifact capable of giving whoever controls it almost unlimited power.

I truly enjoyed the hours I spent immersed in cities such as Jerusalem, complete with landmarks and buildings that existed at the time.  It was fascinating to get to eavesdrop on such historical figures as King Richard.  It's no surprise, then, that when Ubisoft released the sequel, "Assassin's Creed II," I greeted it with great enthusiasm.

The villain is still the same, the Templar organization, set this time in Italy in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.  Again, the graphics are eye-popping, and the mix of historical detail with fantasy is done with enough finesse that the atmosphere is absorbing.  What fan of the Middle Ages could resist getting to interact with such historical figures as Cesare Borgia, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Leonardo DaVinci?  Or to walk the streets of Rome or Venice as Ezio, the disenfranchised son of a powerful family that belongs to the same order of Assassins that has been battling the Templars since 1191?

But time in the gaming world marches on, just as it does in real life.  The next major release (a pair of sub-sequels to "Assassin's Creed II" were released that both continued Ezio's story), "Assassin's Creed III," moves us to the New World in 1775.  And for me, this release was a departure.  With the Templars supposedly mixed up in the American Revolution, the game seemed to lack the cohesiveness of a solid story line that held the play together.  The real storyline was taking place in the present, while most of the action as a player was taking place in the past. For me this created a disconnect that was not easily overcome.

Now we come to the upcoming release of "Assassin's Creed IV." Set in Nassau and the West Indies in 1715, our hero is now a pirate fighting against--naturally--the power-and-control-hungry Templars.  If the game is story-driven, it will be another triumph of immersion in a pseudo-historical world.  If it the story is weak, the game will degrade to a yet another hack-and-slash action game. 

See you on the other side....

Halloween in the Middle Ages

It seems to me that many people have difficulty envisioning the Middle Ages as anything other than dark, closed, and bleak.  I can see how, when looked at from a modern perspective, it can appear that way.  For a large segment of the population, death wasn't a specter--it was an unwanted cousin that hung about in the neighborhood, waiting for only a bad harvest, a simple injury, or an outbreak of illness to come pay a visit.  But the Middle Ages were not as utterly grim, dark, and joyless as it is popular to think.

I don't believe human nature has changed much in the last thousand years.  What better reason than a difficult and uncertain existence to make the most of every opportunity for celebration?  For the Celts, their celebration of Samhain, marked the end of summer, harvest, and the year on November 1 of our modern calendar.  For them it marked the break between the fruitfulness and life of summer, and the scarcity and death of winter.  They believed that on the night before the new year, the line between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred, and the souls of the dead returned to earth.  The presence of these spirits made it easier for the Druid priests to make predictions about the upcoming year, and for people so heavily impacted by the vagaries of the natural world, such predictions were hugely important.  Anything believed to make those predictions easier was a cause for celebration.  These celebrations included the lighting of large bonfires, where crops and animals were burned as sacrifices.

In the 1st century A.D. Rome conquered most of the Celtic-held lands of Ireland, the British Isles, and France.  Interestingly enough, Rome had it's own day of homage to the dead, Feralia, which took place in late October.  Rome was smart enough to allow it's conquered territories to maintain many of their native beliefs and rituals, and it was simple enough over the next four hundred years to combine the similar rituals and celebrations with Rome's own.

In the early 7th century, Pope Boniface IV established the feast of All Martyrs Day.  By the mid-8th century, Pope Gregory III sought to eliminate the celebration of pagan holidays by replacing them with Christian-based ones.  He moved the All Martyrs Day feast to November 1, and expanded it to include all saints, as well.  The celebration echoed many of the rites of Samhain, including bonfires, processions, and dressing in costume as saints and angels.  And probably devils, too, though I suspect the Church may have frowned upon that.  In Middle English, this holiday was called Alholomesse, or, All Hallow Mass, which eventually came to be known as All Hallow Eve(n), and our "Halloween."

Maybe this year I'll go as a Druid priest. I hope they liked chocolate.

The Haunted (Maybe) Island of Poveglia

There is an interesting article by Ransom Riggs in "Mental Floss" about an island a stone's-throw from Venice that is rumored to be haunted.  The article has numerous pictures of the location.

The island is believed to have been one of three islands initially established in the Middle Ages as quarantine zones.  In fact, Ransom Riggs actually credits our use of the word "quarantine" from the Italian words involving the length of time that merchant visitors to Venice were sequestered from the city:  Quaranta giorni, or "forty days."

Venice has been pinpointed as one of the primary sources of the spread of the plague, the vectors being the fleas infesting the rats that boarded the ships while they harbored in infested ports.  Outbreaks followed the trading routes out of Venice and other major trading ports into mainland Europe. Venice was no stranger to outbreaks of the plague, experiencing twenty-two outbreaks between 1361 and 1528.  No surprise, then, that the city took strict measures to try and protect itself.  Unfortunately, since knowledge of germs and diseases and how they spread was incomplete or incorrect, these measures were only partially successful.  The outbreak in 1576-1577 killed 50,000 people in Venice, a third of it's population at that time.  Mortality rates were even higher inland, where quarantines were not established.  In 1680 another outbreak occurred, and in the course of 17 months, 80,000 Venetians died.

Back to the island of Poveglia.  It is believed that Poveglia was one of the islands where incoming travelers were quarantined, and during plague outbreaks, an island to where citizens exhibiting early symptoms of the disease were deported.  The island has never been officially explored, although other quarantine islands have been, and mass graves have been discovered there. 

Why hasn't Poveglia been the site of any archaeological activity?  Perhaps because the island has served other purposes throughout the years, including being the site of an insane asylum.  The institution, which Venetian officials deny was an insane asylum, was closed down in 1968, and the island has been essentially abandoned ever since.

The fact that the island has been ignored, and probably because it's difficult to find anyone willing to take casual visitors there, has excited the imagine of ghost enthusiasts.  The mystique of the island is also possibly exacerbated by the fact that Venetian officials downplay the more lurid portrayals of Poveglia's past.  I hope that someday archaeologists will at least survey the island, because it's obviously a part of Venice's history.   To see the photos of Poveglia, and read Ransom Riggs' article, click here.

Doomsday Castle

I'm not sure exactly why, but apparently National Geographic is airing a reality show, "Doomsday Castle."  The show features a family who is building a castle.  The head of the family is a "prepper", but before you give in to visions of some video-game addict who is convinced of the advent of a zombie apocalypse, Brent Sr. believes that our country (and others) is susceptible to and would be devastated by a large-scale EMP detonation that would cripple the country by knocking it off of the power grid.  He wants to protect his family from the panic and lawlessness that would inevitably result by using a fairly tried-and-true-method: the castle.  Castles were used by kings and nobility for hundreds of years to protect themselves and their holdings from hostile attacks, so he may be on to something.

I, too, have occasionally wondered how people in our country could function if they were deprived of all their electronics.  Be that as it may, I think I'll have to check this series out, if for no other reason than to see how they go about building their castle. 

If you would like to learn more about the series, click here.

When History Becomes Legend

Halloween will soon be upon us, and with it, a host of the perennial favorite--vampires.  Of course, vampires have gotten something of a makeover from the creature first popularized by Bram Stoker, first courtesy of Anne Rice, and then Stephenie Meyer.
 
I have heard references off an on through the years that there was a historical figure that was used as the basis of Bram Stoker's Count Dracula--a Romanian prince named Vlad Tepes (or "the Impaler.")  Beyond that tiny reference, I never really thought about it.  And then, just by chance, or perhaps because of the advent of Halloween, I ran across a masters dissertation written by Michael Vorsino, presented to his University of Texas professors in May 2008, which contradicts this popular assertion.

I found this paper interesting on two levels: first, because it provided a brief biography of Vlad in the socio-economic, socio-political, and religious context of his era (1431-1476); and secondly, because the paper discusses what information the author uses to support his assertion that Bram Stoker merely used a few known details about Vlad Tepes' life to flesh out a character he had already created, and to perhaps grant it some superficial authenticity and realism.  Whether you necessarily agree with Mr. Vorsino's thesis, or not, it does serve as a reminder to be cautious when making judgments about history, or assumptions about writer's or other artists' sources of inspiration.

For those interested in reading the paper, click here.

A Man's Home is His Castle

I was surprised to discover that there are castles for sale, even today.  Real castles, not modern-built, historically accurate reproductions.  Below is a picture of one such castle, photographer credit not available.

The photo is courtesy of Patrice Besse's website.  Patrice apparently specializes in marketing castle properties, and this is one of the properties available.  If you have some extra cash lying around and would like to see what else Patrice has to offer, click here.

I personally would love to obtain one of these castles, just to steep myself in the history there, to "breathe the same air" and touch the same stones that the people who lived there centuries ago did.

I Learned Something New

I happened to run across a title of a new book, "Religious Men and Masculine Identity in the Middle Ages," edited by Drs. Pat Cullum and Katherine Lewis of the University of Huddersfield.  It includes eleven papers ranging from just prior to the Middle Ages to the 15th Century and is the result of a conference held at that university in July of 2012.

In the brief discussion of the book's release, the point was made that the Catholic Church prior to 1100 did not require all clergy to be celibate.  As my religious background is not Catholic, I was wholly unaware of this.  Apparently only monks took a vow of celibacy, but around 1100, the Catholic Church began a shift toward requiring that all clergy follow the celibacy model.  Not surprisingly, there was resistance to the idea, but not because celibacy in and of itself was considered bad.  These clerics made the argument that they provided the example of godly living for the common man, which included marriage.  The other argument was that, as few men could achieve celibacy, requiring such vows was setting them up to sin.  Apparently it was considered a very lofty calling to which to aspire, and one beyond attainment for many men, which is why not all religious men entered the monastery.

Hmmm, I love it when I learn something new!

Reality Show Meets History...More or Less

Next weekend the local Renaissance faire is opening here in my area.  I'm hoping that this year, the jousting returns.  I've been to Medieval Times, a dinner-theater place that has a handful of locations throughout the country, including Dallas and Chicago, and it's great theatrics.  I've also had the opportunity of seeing real jousting.  No, not through time-travel, although that would be a dream come true for me. 

For two years at this local fair, I've had the pleasure of watching Shane Adams and his troupe perform in essentially historical accurate armor, from the back of heavy horses, with real lances.  As a breeder of Clydesdale horses and a Middle Ages enthusiast, it couldn't have gotten any better for me.  I was disappointed at not getting to watch him and his fellows last year, unaware that he was in the midst of filming the debut of a reality series for The History Channel entitled "Full Metal Jousting."

I thought the series was well done, and was appreciative of the concern demonstrated for the horses and the contestants alike.  I've heard rumors that the show will be repeated this year, and while I hope that doesn't mean I have to miss seeing them in person yet again, I'll certainly look forward to seeing a second season of the show.

Eleanor of Aquitaine

The view of women in Medieval society has been largely shaped by seeing it through a modern lens.  As a result, I think we tend to ignore certain subtleties in that society.  In particular, the popular view of women at this time is that they were powerless and downtrodden--which is true by today's standards, but I don't think it's entirely accurate.

First, only a small number of people in the Middle Ages had any real power, which here I will define as options (choices) and influence over others.  This was the case whether they were male or female.  Only farther up the wealth and societal ladder does the question of power really begin to have much of a context.  Women were used as bargaining chips in securing advantageous alliances or in acquiring lands (from which wealth and power derived.)  She benefited from such a marriage as well, providing her with a standard of living that was equal to or greater than she had been raised with, and which was above that of many women.  As long as she was able to provide her husband with an heir, her place was generally secure.

These times were a time for warfare, and while her husband was away, the woman had control over her husband's holdings.  She assumed his authority in his absence, and had control over the purse, as well.  Once out of her father's household, many women acquired significant power, albeit behind the scenes through influence over her husband or the men around him.

Consider Eleanor of Aquitaine.  Born in 1122, she inherited the duchy of Aquitaine (in France) directly from her father, and was thus ruler of Aquitaine in her own right.  A month after her marriage to Louis of France, he became King of France, and she actually accompanied him on the Second Crusade.  Her marriage to Louis VII failed, very likely because she failed to provide him an heir, and despite the efforts of the Pope, Louis was determined to divorce her.

In 1152 she married Henry Fitz-Empress, the Duke of Normandy through his mother (a daughter of King Henry I of England) and the Count of Anjou through his father.  After the deaths of both Henry I and his successor, Stephen, Henry Fitz-Empress became Henry II, King of England, and Eleanor became queen.  Two of her sons became King of England after Henry II's death, and Eleanor also continued to take an active role in ruling Aquitaine.

While her son, King Richard I, was on crusade, his brother John allied with France and tried to take the throne.  It was Eleanor who helped to maintain the support of those in England for Richard, defeating John.  After Richard's death, Eleanor's grandson, Arthur of Brittany, tried to seize the throne, and it was Eleanor, aged 80, who held out against his forces until John could muster a force to defeat him. 

It was Eleanor's strength, in part, that held England together during Richard's reign.  He spent very little time in England and had little interest in administering the affairs of the country.  And it was Eleanor's power and influence that helped enable John to defeat Arthur of Brittany and assume the throne after Richard's death.  

For the Love of English

My daughter came home from school the other day complaining about her English class.  Of course I gave her the "parent" speech about all learning has merit, which it does, but at her age I didn't believe it, either. I remember when I was in high school, we read Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" in Middle English, and there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I was thinking about this, and decided to take a brief look at the changes in English over time.  All countries, including France, Germany, and Russia to name a few, seem to have undergone a similar linguistic evolution.  This evolution seems to follow a pattern of multiple dialects of a basic language, regionally-based, which then undergo various phases of standardization, usually in response to ecclesiastical or commercial needs.

I wanted to choose something simple, but which had longevity so the same piece could be looked at over time.  I ran across various incarnations of the "The Lord's Prayer" which I thought I would share you.

Old English, which is essentially Anglo-Saxon and was initially more of a spoken than written language, was spoken in England from roughly 500-1000 A.D.

Fæder ure

ðu ðe eart on heofenumsi ðin nama gehalgod
to-becume ðin rice
geweorþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofenum.
Urne ge dæghwamlican hlaf syle us to-deag
and forgyf us ure gyltas
swa swa we forgifaþ urum gyltendum
ane ne gelæde ðu us on costnunge
ac alys us of yfle.

This version of Middle English is from John of Wycliffe circa 1380-1389.  The letter "z" here represents a character no longer used, but which represented a guttural sound somewhere between a "g" and a "y".

Oure fadire that are in heuenes
halwid be thi name
Thi kingdom cumme to
Be thi wille don
As in heuen and in erthe;
Ziv to vs this day oure breed oure other substance
And forzeue to vs. oure dettis
As we forzeue to oure dettours;
And leed vs nat into temptacioun
But delyuere vs fro yeuel. Amen

This later Middle English version is from Tyndale's Testament dated 1526:

O oure father which art in heven,
halowed be thy name.
Let thy kingdom come.
Thy wyll be fulfilled, as well in eth
as hit ys in heven.
Geve vs this daye our dayly breade,
And forgeve vs oure treaspases
euen as we forgeve them which treaspas vs.
Leede vs not into temptation,
but delyvre vs from yvell. Amen.

Spelling was not a constant, from region to region or even writer to writer, but words and syntax also changed.  For example, the "and forgyf us ure gyltas" in the Old English, "gyltas" being "guilt."  In the early Middle English guilt has become "dettis" or "debts".  By the mid-sixteenth century this has become "trespass."

It's Good to be the King---or is It?

So said Mel Brooks repeatedly in his "History of the World, Part I."  And, in many ways, he was right.  Kings had power, money, and certainly did not live in deprivation or starvation.  Instead, kings (and queens) had other things to worry about.   Before you roll your eyes and think, "I wish I had their problems," consider that intrigue was a given, and seems to have been constant, given just the handful of examples below:

Edward the Martyr of England (c962-978) was calling on his stepmother and his half-brother at Corfe Castle in Dorset.  When he arrived, those who greeted him stabbed him to death as he dismounted from his horse.  The murder was committed at the orders of his stepmother, Elfrida.

Edmund II of England (c989-1016), was said officially to have died of natural causes, but was believed by some chroniclers to have been murdered.  There is evidence to support that an assassin hid under the king's privy, and while Edward was seated, stabbed him twice through the rectum and into the bowels.

Richard II of England (1367-c1400) made an enemy of Henry Bolingbroke, his cousin.  When Richard later found himself deserted by his supporters, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London by Henry, who later claimed the throne.  Richard was moved from the Tower of London to Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire, where several of his supporters tried to free him and murder Henry in the process.  In return, Richard was left to die at the castle, most likely of starvation.

James I of Scotland (1394-1437) and his wife were attacked by a group of assassins on February 20, 1436.  James fled into an underground vault where he was cornered and stabbed to death.  Among the conspirators were an old friend, and James' grandson, Robert.

These are just a few of the known instances of regicide, as opposed to the executions of deposed or overthrown rulers.  Many others died in battle or as the result of wounds sustained in battle, and yet more under questionable circumstances where murder was suspected or rumored but could not be proven.  Several were able to discover plots against them in time to turn the tables on their enemies.  Even Edward VII of England was the victim of an assassination attempt in April 1900, and rumors still swirl about the death of Princess Diana.

Good to be the king, perhaps, but you might want to sleep with one eye open.

Was There A Female Pope?

There has been argument for centuries over whether or not a woman posing as a man--John Anglicus--became Pope in the 9th century.  The argument is fascinating because both sides can present circumstantial evidence to support their claims.  However, like most scholarly debate about people and events from a millennium ago, it's unlikely that there will ever be any definitive proof one way or the other.

All sides agree that "Pope Joan" as she is called would have had to disguise herself as a man in order to ascend through the ranks and ultimately become the Pope.  There are documented instances of cross-dressing in the Middle Ages, within and outside of the Catholic Church.  There is a professor of  medieval studies at Southern Methodist University, Valerie Hotchkiss, who has written about several women who pretended to be men, became monks, and some actually achieved sainthood. 

Of course, the most well-documented and well-known case is that of Joan of Arc, though her case is atypical.  On only one occasion did she dress in male clothing with the intent to deceive: before she began her military campaign on behalf of Charles VII she had to be smuggled through enemy territory to reach him.  Beyond that, she dressed in male clothing and armor because all of the ties necessary to secure the armor and garments actually offered her greater protection against rape than a woman's dress.  In fact, when she was imprisoned and guarded by British (male) guards, she continued to wear male clothing for that reason, even though that was ultimately the charge that was used to justify her conviction for heresy.

Returning to the female Pope Joan, the tale of her papacy, which supposedly was just over two years in length, ends in disgrace.  Manuscripts describe how, in the midst of a papal procession in Rome, she began suffering abdominal pains and, to the horror of those around her, gave birth.  Some manuscripts say she and the infant were stoned to death; others say she was cloistered in a convent and the child, a son, eventually became bishop of Ostia

So, do we believe writings that do not begin to appear until the 1200's regarding a female pope, or do we believe the fact that there are no documents contemporary to her papacy, or anything from the Vatican's secret archives, supporting the assertion that a female was ever elected Pope?  Was it possibly a case of a woman successfully masquerading as a man who was able to ascend in the Church hierarchy to some degree, perhaps as a secretary to a cardinal, and the story became embellished over the years?  Or were there no "official" or secret documents because any evidence was destroyed out of fear that the truth would prove the Church was fallible, thereby destroying it's divine authority? Or was it merely allegory, a cautionary tale to warn women of the dangers of discontent with their role in medieval society?

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A Little Thank You to ARMA

Sometimes in the course of writing, I find myself writing about something of which I have little firsthand knowledge.  This was certainly true during my last project, which involved sword-fighting.  I will confess that I have swords--three of them, if you don't count one purely decorative one--but I haven't had a whole lot of opportunity to fight with them (though there are a few people walking around who should be grateful that I refrained from doing so.)

Filmmakers have choreographers who assist them in coming up with swordplay scenes that are visually exciting, and which last as long as the drama of the scene requires.  It's a little more difficult to convey such drama in writing, especially if all you're going to write is five minutes-worth of, "thrust, parry, thrust, parry, slash, evade...." Besides, I wanted the scenes to be grittier, more realistic. Ah, thank you, ARMA!

ARMA, the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts, is a very serious player in the growing world of Western martial arts, which refers to the personal combat weapons and styles that were in use in Western Europe prior to the large-scale adoption of firearms in the 16th century. Eastern or Oriental martial arts are such disciplines as judo, kendo, and karate, and these are what most people think of when they hear the term "martial arts." Being tied to cultural and spiritual beliefs and traditions as well as to military ones, Oriental martial arts have been passed down as living knowledge from generation to generation to the current day.  Not so for Western martial arts, a discipline that was essentially abandoned once firearms came to predominate in battle.

Groups such as ARMA have researched existing historical texts on hand-to-hand combat used in Western Europe during the Middle Ages up into the 16th century.  Some of these texts and training manuals are extremely detailed in both description and illustration.  Based on them, and through practical application, this and similar groups have resurrected these martial arts, and continue to train and teach them to enthusiasts. 

Through a number of short videos made by ARMA in particular, I was able to study the various moves.  I was then able to adapt them for the scenes I was writing, and it appears to have worked very well, lending a crispness and a clarity to those scenes that I would probably not been able to achieve, otherwise.  Once again, thank you, ARMA.

 

Something to Do, September through October

Okay, my friends.  I know many of you think of Renaissance fairs are populated by out-there folks who maybe have a somewhat slippery grasp on reality.  We all have our escapes--whether it's playing the latest app, or Farm Town, or Call of Duty.  Come now, don't be unfair. 

Renfaire enthusiasts range from folks who want to be able to just do something a little different for a day to members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), an international society of living history enthusiasts who attempt to recreate portions of medieval life and living as authentically as possible.  Many of these fairs attract outstanding performing talent and artisans of medieval and not-quite-so-medieval crafts.

Following is a listing of renaissance fairs operating in September and October that expect or have previously had an attendance of over 1,000.  I have provided the names of the fairs because they all have websites with details about ticketing, hours, and special events.  Many even list talent or artisans that will be appearing there.  If you've never attended one, it is certainly something you should experience.  As a side note, many southern states in the U.S. have events that run during the months of November through March.  May through August are popular months for these events throughout the U.S. and Europe.

         UNITED STATES

ALABAMA

Florence, AL - Alabama Renaissance Faire, 4th weekend in October, attendance 38,000
Mobile, AL - Mobile Renaissance Faire, Nov 10-12th, attendance 6,500

ARKANSAS

Texarkana, AR - Texarkana Renaissance Faire (New), October 5-7th, est. attendance 500

CALIFORNIA

Sonora, CA - All Hallows Fantasy Faire, Oct. 18-20th, attendance 3,000
Folsom, CA - Folsom Renaissance Faire & Shakespeare Festival, Oct. 19-20th, attendance 7,000
Escondido, CA - Gold Coast Escondido Renaissance Faire, Oct. 26-27th, attendance n/a
Taft, CA - Great Western War (War Through the Ages), Oct. 9-14th, attendance n/a
Grass Valley, CA - KVMR Celtic Festival & Marketplace, Sept. 27-29th, attendance n/a
Hollister, CA - Northern California Renaissance Faire, Wknds Sept. 14 - Oct. 13, attendance 150,000
San Diego, CA - Tournament of the Phoenix (New, Jousting Tourney), Oct. 18-20th, est. attendance 3,000

CONNECTICUT

Norwich, CT - Connecticut Renaissance Faire, Wknds Sept. 21 - Oct. 20th, attendance 11,000

GEORGIA

Columbus, GA - Southern Pirate Festival (New), Oct. 20th, est. attendance 1,200

IDAHO

Emmett, ID - Idaho Renaissance Faire, Oct. 12-13th, attendance, 2,000

INDIANA

Fishers, IN - Fishers Renaissance Faire, Oct. 5-6th, attendance, 15,000

IOWA

Sioux City, IA - Sioux City Riverssance Festival, Oct. 5-6th, attendance 9,000

KANSAS

Wichita, KS - Great Plains Renaissance Festival, Sept. 21-22nd, attendance 18,000
Kansas City, KS - Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Wknds Aug. 31 - Oct 14th, attendance 200,000

MARYLAND

Annapolis, MD - Maryland Renaissance Festival, Wknds Aug. 24 - Oct. 20th, attendance 290,000

MASSACHUSSETS

Carver, MA - King Richard's Faire, Weekends Aug. 31 - Oct. 20th, attendance 150,000

MICHIGAN

Holly, MI - Michigan Renaissance Faire, Weekends Aug. 17 - Sept.29th, attendance 250,000

MINNESOTA

Shakopee, MN - Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Wknds Aug. 17 - Sept. 29th, attendance 280,000

MISSISSIPPI

Ocean Springs, MS - Ocean Springs Renaissance Faire, Oct. 19-20th, attendance 8,000

NEVADA

Las Vegas, NV - Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival, Oct. 11-13th, attendance 40,000

NEW MEXICO

Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Renaissance Faire, Sept. 21-22nd, attendance 6,500

NORTH CAROLINA

Huntersville, NC - Carolina Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace, Wknds Oct. 5 - Nov. 4th, attendance 170,000

OHIO

Harveysburg, OH - Ohio Renaissance Festival, Wknds Aug. 31 - Oct. 20th, attendance 175,000

PENNSYLVANIA

West Newton, PA - Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival, Wknds Aug. 24th - Sept. 29th, attendance 50,000

TEXAS

Plantersville, TX - Texas Renaissance Faire, Wknds Oct. 12 - Dec. 1st, attendance 450,000

VIRGINIA

Salem, VA - Green Hill Medieval Faire & Highland Games, Sept. 28-29th, attendance 2,000
Radford, VA - Radford Highlanders Festival, Oct. 12th, attendance 10,000


          GREAT BRITAIN

Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire - International Living History Fair, Oct. 25-27th, attendance n/a
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Robin Hood Pageant, Oct. 26-27th, attendance n/a        

Have You Seen This Man?

I was truly excited when archaeologists recently found the body of King Richard III of England in an excavation of a parking lot in the vicinity that had been known to be the location of the Greyfriars Church in Leicester, England.  King Richard III had been killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field, which was the decisive battle of the War of the Roses.  Richard had been king for only two years, and unpopular at that:  there were two rebellions against him in those two years. 

It appears that his unpopularity resulted in the post-mortem humiliation of his remains, and then he was, according to the archaeologists who found him, hastily buried in a grave that was too small for him in the Greyfriar's Church.  Knowledge of his burial there was lost until his recent discovery--just over five hundred years.

There is another King of the British Isles whose remains have never been found.  King James IV of Scotland was killed in the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513, after being forced to choose between his alliance with the French and with Britain when his wife's brother, King Henry VIII of England, decided he wanted to re-annex Angevin lands (Anjou, France). 

After the disastrous battle, where it's estimated that anywhere from four to fourteen Scots died for every Englishman killed, James' body was taken to Berwick, Scotland, embalmed, and placed in a lead coffin for transit to London. Placed at the monastery of Sheen in Richmond, James' body awaited King Henry's decision about burial.  The orders were never given, and the body appears to have remained in a storeroom until twenty years later when, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, it disappeared.

Did James ever get an actual burial?  Since the monastery was dissolved by Henry's decree, and since he surely knew that his brother-in-law's remains were there, it would seem likely that James was eventually buried, though perhaps not with all the office of a king.

Parody of a Parody

I ran across this the other day, and could not resist sharing it.  I'm assuming that most of you are familiar with Monty Python and their iconic spoof of the legend of King Arthur, "The Holy Grail."  While avid Medievalists cringe at the view of the Middle Ages popularized in movies, Monty Python manages to highlight the ridiculousness of many things--including the very narrow vision that creates those stereotypes.

This link is to a movie trailer made by Stephane Bouley.  It is a movie trailer positioning Monty Python's movie as serious historical cinema, a clever move that the members of Monty Python would no doubt thoroughly applaud.


Monty Python Spoof Trailer