The summer Æthelmearc Æcademy, hosted by the Shire of Stormsport on July 4, featured martial activities of all kinds plus classes on topics from scribal and music to equestrian and metalcasting. Though somewhat lightly attended, no doubt due to many people having family conflicts on the holiday weekend, it was an enjoyable event. Here’s an overview of what you missed!

The day was sunny and pleasantly warm with an occasional light breeze; perfect weather in a beautiful site. The all-day sideboard created by THL Ottilige Von Rappoltsweter consisted of light fare of fruit, vegetables, eggs, and cheese, combined with meats including grilled chicken and meatballs. Classes sponsored by the Æcademy ran from 11am to 5pm, as did every kind of martial activity one could want, provided by the War College.

At the brief morning court, Their Majesties sent THLady Zoe Akropolitina on vigil for the Order of the Pelican, and Baroness Oddkatla Jonsdottir announced the revival of the Æthelmearc Artisans’ Exchange, in which artisans craft items which they give to other artisans, and receive handcrafted items from other Æthelmearc artisans in return. After court, gentles scattered to the classes and martial activities of the day.

Heavy Combat

After some warmups, the rattan list held an Atlantian Speed Tournament which was won by Baron Vladisla Nikulich. That evening at court, after receiving his prize of a length of rattan and a basket hilt, he announced that he wished to pass it along to the fighter who most inspired him that day. Baron Vlad called Lord Robert MacEwin of Thornhill and praised his ferocity in the melees, especially since Lord Robert is a youth who only recently authorized to fight as an adult.

There was also a Warlord Tourney won by His Majesty, King Timothy.

Following the tourneys there was melee practice, including both field and woods battles. Sir Steffan Ulfkellson, Kingdom Warlord, had the fighters work in a variety of configurations, including spears vs. shields.

Rapier

Mistress Dorinda Courtenay oversaw the Rapier list with assistance from Countess Elena d’Artois, Master Donnan MacDubhsidhe, Lord Markus Skapr Grimmson, and Lord Jacob of Dunmore. It included a classes taught by Master Donnan and Mistress Fredeburg, single combat practice, and small unit melees.

In addition, three new fencers received their first authorizations: Lord Padraig O’Branduibh, THLord Ian Kennovan, and Lord Thorfinnr y Elsfiord.

Archery

The archery tournament run by Lord Alrekr Bergsson was won by Master Jacopo di Niccolo. He passed along the prize to Linette of Arindale, the only youth archer who participated, for her determination and enthusiasm.

There was also Atlatl practice run by THLady Anlaith ingen Trena.

Equestrian

The Kingdom Equestrian Championships were held in the morning; horses and riders were all glad the weather was so cooperative, and THL Meadhbh inghean ui Bhaoighill set up a challenging course based on the Devonshire Hunting Tapestries. Several riders from the Midrealm were in attendance, one of whom brought word that their King would happily take home all horses at the end of the day. Our good King Timothy replied that His Majesty of the Midrealm was welcome to any horses that He, Timothy, was himself able to ride. As His last riding experience was on one of the war steeds of Morgan Elandris – an occasion that did not end well and involved low hanging tree branches – the Midrealm riders left with no equine booty.

All of the riders competed together in friendship, and the ground crew, headed by THL Rhiannon Elandris, made sure that the course was re-set and all weapons were handed up with speed.

Mistress Shishido Tora Gozen won the King’s Equestrian Championship, while THLord Morien MacBain was named Queen’s Equestrian Champion.

In the afternoon, several participants tried using weapons, including thrown spears, from the back of a cart pulled by the doughty Red.

In court that evening, Mistress Gozen took Lady Maeve ni Siurtain as her Equerry, after which Lady Maeve was admitted to the Golden Alce.

Youth Combat

Four youth fighters participated in sparring matches at the Æcademy. Ulf, the current Division 2/3 Kingdom Youth Champion, authorized up from Division 2 to Division 3, while Karl, the son of Don Clewin Kupferhelbelinc and Mistress Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen, authorized as a new Division 1 fighter. Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope wishes to thank Mistress Fredeburg and THLord Bluestar for their assistance in marshaling the youth list.

Thrown Weapons

Lord Edward of Freeholt oversaw the thrown weapons range, which had about 10 gentles visit to fling metal at tree stump targets over the course of the day.

Classes

Classes  for this summer’s Æcademy were enhanced by the site’s unique space. Large, covered outdoor pavilions with plenty of tables and benches allowed for some loud and messy offerings. As Mistress Alicia Langland, Chancellor of Æthelmearc Æcademy, said, there were a: “…fabulous array of classes, taught by some of the best teachers in the Knowne World, offered for … enlightenment and entertainment.”

• Lady Aaliz de Gant, Groundcrewing at equestrian events;
• Countess Aidan ni Leir, Viking Age Womens Beads and Paternosters, Rosaries and Payres of Beades;
• Lord Alessandro Devereaux, Basics of the Japanese Sword;
• THL Anlaith ingen Trena, Atlatl practicum;
• Mistress Antoinette de la Croix, Painting white flowers and Scribal Arts: Shading/Drapery;
• Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope, Pennsic Choir Sneak Peek and Fixing Mistakes on Scrolls;
• THL Beatrice de Winter, Hangmen, Headsmen, and other Fun Ways to Die and Everybody Dies;
• Lady Brigette de Sainte Mere-Eglise, Hammered Dulcimer;
• Don Donnan MacDubhsidhe, Meisterhau in practical use;
• Lady Edana the Red, Baby Steps for Beginner Illumination and Beginning Pewter;
  

  Students in Lady Edana’s Beginning Pewter class (Photo credit: Mistress Hilderun)

  

  Pewter coins from Lady Edana’s class… just need a little clean-up! (Photo credit: Mistress Hilderun)

• Baroness Elisabeth Johanna von der Flossenburg, The Cranach Gown;
• Meisterin Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen, German Sword and Buckler;
  

  Meisterin Fredeburg’s German Sword & Buckler class (Photo credit: Mistress Hilderun)

• Master Gille MacDhnouill, Introduction to Green Woodworking and Islamic Science;
• Lord Ian Campbell of Glen Mor, Inlaid Floor Tiles;
  

  Lord Ian teaches his Inlaid Floor Tiles class (Photo credit: Mistress Hilderun)

  

• THL Kieran MacRae, Knotwork for Knovices and Developing a Flourished Hand by Bocskay;
  

  THL Kieran MacRae shows THL Anlaith a Flourished Hand by Bocskay (Photo credit: Mistress Hilderun)

• Baron Langdon of Greymorne, Chests, Boxes, straps and locks;
  

  Baron Langdon assisting with Lady Edana’s Pewter class (Photo credit: Mistress Hilderun)

• Lady Maeve Ni Siurtain, Fashion Parade—A Trip through the History of Horse Barding;
  

  Horse Barding Fashion Show (Photo credit: Mistress Hilderun)

• Lady Margaret of Enniscorthy, Period Card Games: Losing Loadem;
• THL Meadhbh inghean ui Bhaoighill, Heraldry for Horses;
• Baroness Oddkatla Jonsdottir, How to Look Like You Have Stepped Out of a Renaissance Painting;
• Lady Ottilige van Rappoltsweiler, Roman Food and Dining: A Roman Picnic;

• Master Remus Fletcher, Shawm and Rauschpiefe, and The Cornett and the Serpent: Renaissance Brass?;
• THL Rhiannon Elandris of Glyndrvdwy;
• Lord Rycharde Kempe, The Elizabethan Stage Jig;
• Mistress Shishido Tora (Gozen), Riding to the obstacle;
• THL Sionn, the Lost, European dance in the 15th and 16th centuries; and
• Baron Torvaldr Torgarson, The Skalds.

Court

The pageantry of Their Majesties’ processional into court was greatly enhanced by the generosity of the equestrian community, which loaned several of their horses to the cause. THLord Kieran MacRae trumpeted King Timothy and Queen Gabrielle in, while Master Remus Fletcher provided additional music throughout court.

Mistress Alicia Langland, Chancellor of the Æcademy, was joined by the Kingdom A&S Officers, Master Fridrikr Tomasson and Mistress Orianna Fridrikskona, in thanking all of the teachers. She then called forth Master Langdon Greymorne, acknowledging him as a Fellow of the Æcademy for his support of teaching and the arts.

After recognizing Their Equestrian Champions as noted above, Their Majesties called forward Mistress Ysabeau Tiercelin. Queen Gabrielle praised the work of the Æthelmearc Gazette and bestowed a Court Barony on Mistress Tiercelin as its founder and managing editor. She was presented with a coronet made by her “apprentige” Lord Magnus de Lyon and a box for the coronet made by her equerry THLord Rhiannon Elandris.

After bestowing a number of other awards on deserving gentles, King Timothy and Queen Gabrielle called forth gentles who were present at the event who They had chosen as Champions for the Heavy Unbelted, Rapier, and A&S Champions’ War Points at Pennsic. Their Majesties emphasized that these are partial lists of Champions, and more will be named soon.

Unbelted Heavy Weapons Champions will include THLord Bluestar, Baron Vladisla Nikulich, THLord Jussi Laplein, Baron William Freskyn Murray, THLord Ian Kennovan, Lord Markus Skalpr Grimsson, Baron Friderich Schwartzwalder, THLord Morien MacBain, and Stefan (Guilford) Einarson.

Rapier Champions will include Don Clewin Kupferhelbelinc, Mistress Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen, Sir Kadan Chákhilgan Ger on Echen, Countess Elena d’Artois, and Mistress Dorinda Courtenay.

A&S Champions will include THLord Kieran MacRae and Lady Sumayya al Ghaziyah.

Their Majesties also recognized THLady Zoe Akropolitina as a companion of the Order of the Pelican, with Sir Sextus Plinius Callidus speaking for the Chivalry, Duchess Tessa the Huntress speaking as a Royal Peer, Mistress Dorinda de Courtenay speaking as a Mistress of Defense, Mistress Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen speaking for the Order of the Laurel, and Sir Alonzio of the Peacemakers speaking for the Order of the Pelican. Master Tigernach mac Cathail placed the ancestral Pelican medallion around her neck, and Sir Alonzio with his wife, Mistress Alexandra dei Campagnella, placed a Pelican cloak around her shoulders. After Mistress Zoe swore her fealty on the sword of state, she was greeted with hugs from the Order of the Pelican and cheers from the populace.

This event report was a collaboration by the Æthelmearc Gazette staff.