Historical Re-enactment: Battling in your Own Backyard
February 7, 2008
by Branwen
When I was about seven years old, I was taken by my grandparents to a small medieval fair.
By this age I had developed a fondness for castles and all things medieval; a fetish inspired by watching movies such as The Last Unicorn, The Sword and the Stone and Quest for Camelot, repeatedly as little ones tend to do. I was also developing an interest in history and that continues to this day.
It was small but well-organized fair, set on an open piece of land, with what I thought of at the time as an “odd sort of hall” on it, in Glenfield, Auckland. It was odd, because it looked like a regular hall, but it had large sliding doors. As we drew closer to the location of the event, a morbid air floated about me like thick early morning fog. It was raining, and images of the fair being packed away and nothing for me to try or do were running through my head.
To my utter glee the pitter-patter on the roof of the car faded away as we pulled into the car park. Forgetting anything I had ever been taught about road rules and safety in car parks I leapt out of the car before the vehicle had the chance to stop to see what this fair could offer me.
First Flying Lesson
After getting rumbled by disgruntled grandparents, the first thing I was able to try was apple bobbing. Determined to snatch an apple up between my small jaws, I approached the task with all the gusto you might expect of a young lass who wanted the elusive fruit that got Eve into so much trouble. The end result was my whole head in the tub, but unlike Eve, the apple got away.
Firing a crossbow was an interesting experience. The small range was William Tell themed with plywood and painted cut-outs of the characters from the famous story; though I don’t seem to remember hearing about a pumpkin being placed on the boy’s head. The man overseeing the range had his hands on my shoulders pressing me to the ground. Even with this extra support, we were sent stumbling back as I fired, the bolt over shooting the pumpkin because my angle was all wrong. It didn’t even give me the satisfaction of burying its head in the back board. The idea is the quarrel should fly, not the archer! But it was an unforgettable experience.
The moment which lit the kindling that would become the fire of my lifelong interest in participating in Medieval Re-enactment was wielding a sword for the first time.
The Blade of Epiphany in the Hands of a Child
The group that had organized the event had laid out massive amounts of armor and weapons on wooden trestle tables in the hall. Responding to nothing more than a childish whim I begged the armorer, a brawny man garbed in full chain mail and sporting shining gauntlets (I bet he wouldn’t fly backwards shooting crossbow), to let me hold a weapon.
“Alright,” he said. “What would suit you me little lady?”
Old fashioned speech and accents are often used by participants of historical re-enactment and living history events to liven the atmosphere. This is also effective at defining what roles people are playing out, where the character comes from, what their class or profession is. In dialog, whether it be for acting or writing, a character’s accent and style of speech will define and add much to who they are. For storytellers, participating in re-enactment and Shakespearean drama is good dialog practice for when it comes to writing historical and fictional novels as it helps to establish the historical period in the mind of your audience.
I remember rushing off in an attempt to find the most vicious-looking weapon I could amongst the swords, maces, shields and armor-laden tables. I wanted something huge, something grotesque…something to scare my grandmother with.
A gauntlet covered hand fell on my shoulder, spun me around and shoved a short sword into my chest. “OH NO. SOMEBODY CALL 911!” Obviously, I survived to tell this tale of misadventure.
Even through the stifling bliss I was experiencing at this moment I realized something profound. It’s one thing to watch sword fights in cartoons and movies, but as I held this weapon before me, staring down the length of the blade shimmering in the sunlight as it crept into the hall through parting rain clouds, it became so much more.
I was wielding a piece of cold steel, and anybody could be on the receiving end! I was small, but with this in my hand I was so much bigger! At that moment I grasped the idea of one man killing another. The gruesome weapon I wanted to wield with such enthusiasm and eagerness was intended to inflict pain and suffering upon another person.
This blade was once ore buried in the earth. Through a process of extraction, smelting, shaping and beating it had been given a new purpose. In doing so, a blacksmith had brought the elements of air, carbon, steel and fire together to craft this blade. Its forging would perhaps have supported a growing family.
I can’t help but appreciate the knowledge carefully passed through generations of blacksmiths who helped others establish and protect their communities and lifestyles, in order to make society safe and civilization possible.
Survival is a powerful motivator and learning how to use weapons of iron and steel lead to the development of combat techniques. These are found detailed in manuals that cover the cut and thrust styles that have become part of re-enactment and martial combat sports. The desire to acquire true skill lead to the development of drills and practice with blunt and mock weapons that today is part of modern re-enactment training. As I am discovering, this becomes a passion.
With the taking of this blade I didn’t only grasp the true intent of its creation and the devastation I could cause. I had acquired enriched understanding of the working of past societies and how similar and different the past and present could be.
Though a very small thing - this day changed the way I saw things forever.
I believe this sudden change of thought and the lasting impression it has left on me is the true inspiration behind my desire to participate in historical re-enactment and it has enhanced my passion to learn more of our history. I’m continuing to seek ways to experience that same sense of discovery that day inspired.
A few years later, my interest in historical re-enactment would be further encouraged by my desire to write stories set in ancient times.
So that’s some of my history, but when did historical re-enactment begin?
Re-enactment: Then and Now
We have always been surrounded by the core elements of re-enactment.
From something as simple as impersonation, to the dramatic plays held in theaters, retelling past events through action can be considered re-enactment.
Re-enactment is not just storytelling; it’s about keeping our cultural heritage and legacy skills alive; a reminder of where we were and where we are today.
Theater is an extraordinary form of re-enactment; though often fictional, theater seeks to teach its audience a valuable lesson and/or provide them with an entertaining dramatization of fictional or historical events.
We find historical re-enactment in the amphitheaters of the Roman Empire.
The ancient Romans were well-known for their gladiatorial spectacles; in particular those that went on in the Flavian Amphitheater or by its more common name - the Coliseum. Romans often themed their gladiatorial matches on past battles but, unlike today’s demonstrations, there was real bloodshed. Flooding the arena with water enabled the re-enactment of famous and historical sea battles.
Some medieval tournaments were known to take on historical themes, such as those set in ancient Rome. Many tournaments also had supervision and rules put in place to prevent unnecessary injury and death. This can be compared to the inter-combat marshaling that happens in re-enactment combat spectacles today.
My research assistant contacted Jack Pickup Jr at Allexperts.com who was kind enough to provide us with information that re-enactment or living history in its modern form first appeared in the 1960s. Large scale or organized re-enacting before then seems to be not much more than an annual gathering of locals dressing up to commemorate an anniversary of an historical event, often with local significance.
American Civil War re-enactment is a prime example of this.
Started as an annual get together and display, it has developed into a permanent pastime, drawing spectators and fueling tourism. Once established people began to explore ways to recreate Civil War camp living conditions and warfare in more exciting and authentic ways.
Living history has become an innovative and entertaining way of educating people by providing vivid experience and tangible insight into the workings of ancient life and combat. It doesn’t involve a drawling lecture from a history teacher or reading books but having an actual experience of the past.
Historical re-enactment has a strong following and it’s growing. In the UK alone, there are over 20,000 people involved with re-enactment societies.
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an organization that focuses on the dramatization of the more fantastic aspects of pre-17th century Europe.
A member, Mike, informed us that the SCA humbly began as a birthday party located in Berkeley, California in 1966, by a group of science fiction and fantasy fans who wanted a medieval themed party. A group got together later to discuss the idea of medieval recreation and contemplated forming a group, which exists today with over 30,000 paying members worldwide.
The Abbey Medieval Tournament takes place over two days during winter in Queensland, Australia. The first was held in 1988 with 30 re-enactors performing to a crowd of 300. Nineteen years later the tourney sports a whopping audience turnout of 19,000 people. More than 1000 re-enactors, stallholders, and performers (including musicians, jugglers, belly dancers and other exotic entertainers) took part in the 2007 festival. Hundreds of volunteers helped coordinate and organize the tournament. It has become Australia’s most popular living history event.
If one looks closely into any nation with a rich historical background you will be sure to find a number of people, usually with a keen interest in history, involved in re-enactment.
Seeking the Truth vs. Entertainment Value
Some historical re-enactment groups and organizations carry out in-depth research on living in the past and medieval fighting styles. A hobby and interest grows into a quest for and discovery of truth.
Other groups don’t always try and obtain a high level of authenticity. Some focus more on entertainment and much of the time may alter certain aspects of things to make it more romantic, dramatic and exciting, but in no way real. This may counteract what many historical re-enactors hope to achieve; an informed crowd.
Hollywood has a bad reputation for giving people the wrong idea of what ancient life and warfare was like, or what actually took place at certain points in history. Movie makers can sacrifice both important facts and various cultural trivia to make the plot line or visuals more pleasing and more ‘entertaining.’
Many re-enactment groups strive to look and be as authentic as possible to prevent distraction from the powerful atmosphere that living history endeavors to recreate. Despite this, two things must be considered first: safety and enjoyment.
It must be safe for those participating in combat and safe for the audience. There is no reason with today’s organization and regulations that arrows should stray into the stands or that an angry mob of peasants would set fire to the tournament grounds.
The participants should be having fun and provide those watching with an experience they will carry with them for years to come.
The next part in this series is coming soon. Subscribe to be notified of new releases. Learn about historical re-enactment and become a better writer!
Email this article to a friend - or a nemesis, it doesn't bother us.
Subscribe now to receive notification of new Free Articulator articles like this one.
Fantastic to see this series (on which I know you have worked with such diligence) make it to the front page of the Free Articulator, Branwen!
Vivid descriptions, some fantastic insight into fond memories, and some most amusing scenes that had me laughing out loud.
Keep it up! Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Nice article Branwen. I’m glad to see your published; you deserve no less. You’re a fantastic writer and I look forward to seeing more.
[...] a pool of apples and flying crossbowmen! A writer recalls her first time at a medieval Tournament.http://www.freearticulator.com/creativity/2008/branwen-historical-medieval-re-enactment-pt1/Medieval TimesEnjoy a journey into medieval times on these guided tours offered by a knight, a [...]