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As stated before, I plan, but don't guantee, to post a set for a different knight each week. I made the surcoats and shields and fixed up the helmets to match original crests.
This week is Ritter Goerg von Frankenstein...yea...you heard a lot about the monster, but there was a family of knights. First heard of in 500 AD- the word means "stone of the Franks." First use of the name Frankenstien was in Cologne in 948AD. Castle Frankenstein is situated on top of a hill in the village of NiederBeerbach. It was erected by Lord Conrad II in 1240. Ritter Georg Frankenstein, son of Philip von Frankenstein was supposed to have fought a dragon terrozing the area. He did kill it, but he died of wounds from the dragon. (Remember, a large lizard, like the Komodo dragon) could have been similar to the one he fought. They both died in 1531. Other Frankensteins were knight's commanders. In 1662, the family patriarch, Lord Johannes I von Frankenstein decided to sell the lordship. In 1673, Johann Conrad Dippel bought the castle and eventually adopted the Frankenstein name, even though he wasn't a "Frankenstein." He was an alchemist and dabbled in various unorotdox experiments...and it was HE and NOT a FRANKENSTEIN, that the book and moviews were based on. He was famous for inventing the dye: Prussian Blue.
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very cool thanks
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Very interesting, especially the tie-in with the books/movies. Thanks for posting this. :)
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Well done! You have a great deal of energy. :)
Here's a link to a myArmoury topic by Thomas R. who belongs to a WMA group that trains and occasionally camps within Castle Frankenstein. How much fun would it be to show up for a practice in your creation! 8)
How to carry your swords (http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=20882&highlight=frankenstein)
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Amazing! Well done Sir John! Very nice article!
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Nicely done, Sir John...if I may make a suggestion- show us the kit as modeled by you!
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Do you mean the kit "on" me?...too hot right now for that.
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This week's knight: Sir Balian the youger (1143-1193). It follows Balin as he takes over the Baronship of Ibelin in Jureselum. After the King of Jurseleum dies he is chosen to be the new one. He has some conflicts with some of the crusading knights, but in the end he tried to defend Jeurseleum from capture, but fails. Once the kingdom falls to the turks, he makes a deal and many of the people are released and not killed. The movie follows history closely except for a few things. The seige lasted 4 weeks not 2 days...but then movies have to compress time. I thought the movie was good and portrayed Sir Balin as the sterotype "True knight."
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Pretty cool there, Sir John.
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This weeks Knight: Sir Godfrey de Bouillion. (1060-1100):The second son of Eustache of Boulogne-sur-Mer. At an early age was adopted by his childless uncle, Godfrey, Duke of Lower Lorraine. At the age of 17, his uncle died and he succeeded tp the March of Antwerp, and all his uncles possessions, which included the Castle Bouillion, from which he took his name.The coat of arms of the family was a gold shield with a white potent cross. In 1880 he fought in the battle of Moelsen, and in 1884 with Henry IV in Italy. As a reward for his services, Henry IV gave him the Duchy of Lower Lorraine. In 1095 Pope Urban called for a Crusade and Godfrey was one of the first to voulunteer. There, he was knighted in 1097. He partcipated in many other battles and took an active part in the seige of the Holy City in 1099. Godfrey was offerred the title of "King of Jurusalem" but he turned it down named instead: The Warden of the Holy Seplecure. He died a year later in 1100.
(KIng Baldwin III of Jurusaleum used a plain white flag for the arms of the Kingdom...King Amalrich added the yellow cross to the flag, and it wasn't until the mide 13th century that the four smaller yellow crosses were added to the flag of the kingdom.)
In 1312, Jacques de Longuyon first wrote of the 9 Worthies (heroes personifying the knightly virtues.) Godfrey was included in this list.
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Godfrey's sword still hangs in a museum in Jerusalem...you could call him the 'Original Crusader'. By the by, Sir John...I do not believe Godfrey would've worn a helm such as the one you have pictured...it would appear to be a few centuries later than his period. Just a thought.
(http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv64/ebonpaladin/Armor/Sword/SwordofGodfreydeBouillon.jpg)
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nice display. thanks for posting that sword pic!
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Hmm, that is a nice way to display a sword. Maybe I need to invest in some custom shadow boxes or something. :)
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There was a sword display box for sale very recently on the Armour Archive or myArmoury, I can't remember which.
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A nice replica of that would be awesome
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Didn't see it on AA, Lord Rodney.
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Excellent and fascinating stories Sir John! :)
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Well, I just pick a helm and use it with the surcoat. If I didn't, I'd have a lot of the same helmets, and all my helmets are different. Just bought an early (no tail) german sallet, so am looking into german knights. Plus, when I do my historical research, I can't always get exactly what was worn by that particular knight. I try to mpick a knight that has paintings done of him. Being early in heraldry, often the colors sometimes do not agree with the later heraldic laws.
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This week's knight is: Sir Gregan Crawford. While originating in Denmark, his family settled in Scotland and inherited the Barony of Craufurd. He was born around 1105 and died 1170. He made his mark on the world in 1127 when he was hunting with King David I. A stag attacked the king and would have killed him, but Gregan saved him and killed the deer. King David, knighted him for his bravery and granted the deer's head for his coat of arms. He later was granted other lands in the area. Unfortunatley his heirs sided with William Wallace, and were executed, ending the line of the family.
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That's a neat coat of arms and the story too. I especially like the helmet. Nice work, Sir John.
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Interesting story and one I've never heard before; thank you for sharing it, Sir John.
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Yes, thanks for sharing. I look forward to your weekly additions.
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Thanks for all your interest...I have enough knight sets to go for quite a long time.
This week's knight: "Sir Pierre de Rochefort (Rieux)." He was born in 1389, the younger son of Jean de Rieux and Jeanne de Rochefort, Accoring to their marriage contract, their son took her last name. In 1403 Pierre was squire of Duke Jean V of Brittany and later was knighted. In 1415 he became Governor of St, Marlo, and in 1417 his father died and he took over as Marshal of France and inherited the Castle of Rochefort. Pierre was in Paris when the city was captured by the Burgundians.
In 1419 he campaigned in Angoumois and tried to reach Normandy. But he was captured and taken prosioner and taken to England. After paying his ransom, he returned to France and continued fighting. He captured Avranches and helped lift the seige of Orleans in 1429, (Where he fought alongside "Joan of Arc".) In 1435 he defended Saint-Denis besieged by the English and assisted in the liberation of Paris in 1436. In 1437 he took Dieppe and in 1438, forced the English to lift the seige of Harfleur, but on returning to Paris he was captured and thrown in prison,. where he died of an epidemic a few months later in 1439.
His titles were: Lords of Rochefort, Rieux, Acerac, Derval, Largouet, Herbignac and Yeux, as well as being Marshal of France.
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What would be the correct expression of his CoA?
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What would be the correct expression of his CoA?
What Sir John has painted looks like "Vairy of Or and Azure".
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Vairy...I like the look of it. Like opposing bells.
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Thanks...I'm not an expert in blazoning, but that sounds right.
Knight of the week: Sir Henry Bodrugan V. : The oldest record of the Bodrugan family was with Henry I (d. 1184.) The family sired a long list of knights until the 16th century, when they died out. Henry Bodrugan V was born in 1426. He supported the House of York during the war of the Roses. In 1476 he was finally knighted. In 1483, a rebellion arose at Cotchele. The plan was to dispose Richard III and place Edward V back on the throne. Sir Henry helped quell this rebellion. In 1485, Sir Henry was appointed comptroller of the King's household. Meanwhile Henry Tudor gathered allies abroad. They landed near Milford Haven in August of the same year. Richard and his followers took their position at Bosworth Field. At the battle of Stoke (June 16, 1487), Henry Tudor's forces won and he was crowned king. He proclaimed that all those who fought for King Richard III to be arrested for treason. Sir Henry escaped by jumping off the cliff by his castle to a boat below and he escaped to France, where he finally died in 1502. (Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York, thus uniting the two families. He created the Tudor Rose which ncombined the Tudor red rose with the White Rose of York.)
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Now there's a tale worth remembering...I am somewhat familiar with parts of the War of the Roses, but did not know about this particular participant. Nicely done, Sir John!
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Jumped off a cliff?? It seems his heraldry should have an eagle, or wings, or something on it. That's a feat few would dare undertake.
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I should be surprised if, given his circumstances, there were more people less inclined to do it. Remember, he faced certain death, or at the very least, incarceration leading to death if he'd surrendered.
Certain death vs probable death- I think probable would win out every time. I know I wouldn't have hesitated- but that's because I like livin'! lol
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This week's Knight: Sir Marrok of Bedegraine. (Sometimes I like to research interesting legendary knights like this one.) He lived under the rule of Uther Pendragon. The area: Bedegraine, is now called Sherwood Forrest. In that area lived many beasts and robbers and help to rid the area from them was sent to Uther. Uther sent the young, untried Sir Marrok. He did complete his task like a lion, so Uther gave him the crouched lion as his coat of arms...When Uther died, Marroks toubles began. When he left for Camelot, he was told to marry the lady Irma, which he did. But the lady did not like the match, and was a soceresss. She made (a figure of a wolf) and a potion and gave it to Marrok to drink. At once he turned into a wolf. Marrok ecaped into the woods where he lived until he came to meet Sir Tristan of Lyonesse who was sent to kill the wolf. But Sir Tristen did not kill Sir Marrok as a wolf, when he found the wolf harmless, he could not do it. He told the wolf about a secret door that Merlin made, to enter the castle. When Marrok entered he saw a shrine with small statues of a wolf and an owl. he broke the figure of the wolf and he changed back into a man. But Irma had made another potion for him to drink, but (holding the owl in his hand) made Irma drink it, and she turned into an owl. She flew off and was never heard again. and Sir Marrok stayed a man and the (werewolf) never returned.
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I have never heard of this one...very interesting story; thanks for sharing, Sir John. I like the heraldry.
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neat
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Knight of the week: Sir Melchior von Hatzfeld. (I have a closer tie to this one,since my late father in laws family were the hereditary blacksmiths for the Checkonich family, so they may have known this knight. ) He was born in 1593 at castle Crottorf in the Rhineland. He is a direct descendant of Volpert I von Hatzfeld. He became count of Hatzfeld in 1630. The coat of arms is described as a black "wall anchor." He studied in Paris, and later joined the "Altsachen" regiment during the 30 years war. He became marshal of the empire in 1631. He commanded an army in the battle of Jankau and defeated the sedish army in 1646. In 1648 he was awarded the title "Prince of Hatzfeld." In 1657 he developed a severe illness and died in 1658. (a further note...in 1800 the estate of Hatzfeld was purchased by Count Joseph Csekonics and he divided the property into farms, one being "The Julia-Mjaor ranch." It was at this ranch that my father in laws relatives were the hereditary blacksmiths. A modern relative visited there and said the ranch still existed, but of course not under a coiuntship!)
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Knight of the week: Sir Hrvoje Vucic Hrvatinic - Born in 1350, He was the most prominant member of the (Vucic) Vukac Hrvatinic Family. He was the eldest son od Duke Vukac Hrvatinic in Bosnia. He was first mentioned as being a knight in 1376 during the reign of Hungarian King Louis I. In 1380 he was appointed "Duke of Bosnia." His first action was leading Bosnian troops to Croatia to raise a seige. After the death of Louis I, he participated in battles of succession between Sigismund of Luxemburg and Ladislaus of Naples. He sided with Ladislaus who made him "Ban of Croatia and Dalmatia." He participated in fights against the Turks in 1392. In 1403 he was appointed "Regent of Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia." He was appointed to the "Order of the Dragon" in 1408. In 1412, he partcipated in the tournament in Buda. In 1415 he defeated a rebellious Hugarian-Slavonian army. In 1416, he died...it was said: "with a delight in his heart for having taken revenge on his enemies and for being undefeated in his authority during his whole life!"
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This weeks Knight: "Sir Eitel Frederick II von Hohenzollern. - The coat of arms was first adopted in 1192; the dog crest was added 1n 1317. Eitel was born in 1452. His father was the 10th Count of Hohenzollern. Eitel was a close friend of King, later Emperor, Maximillian of Habsburg. Eitel fought for him in the Netherlands in 1482. He participated in the tournaments at Stuttgart in 1484 and at Bamberg in 1486. Upon his father's death in 1488, he became the 11th Count of Hohenzollern. In 1494 he again was in the Netherlands leading an expidition against the rebels in Gelderland, The same year he was appointed chamber judge in the Netherlands. In 1495, Maximillian appointed him the first president of the newly formed Imperial Supreme Court. He fought against the Swiss in the Swabian war of succession in 1499, and in 1500 in the Italian war. In 1501 he was awarded membership in the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1503 he partcipated in his 3rd touenament (at Ausbach.) In 1504 he fought in the lower Bavarian war of succession at Castle Schonberg. He died in 1512, shortly after he had become Housemaster of the Privy Council, one of the highest offices of the Emperor's Court and answerable ONLY to the Emperor himself.
On a personal note- when I was in high school, a friend of mine (his parents ONLY spoke German) told me he was descendant of the Hohenzollerns. So I asked him to knight me, which he did! That's why I have that coat of arms as an estruncheon on my own coat of srms.
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I like his coat of arms. Very simple, very elegant, though I am biased towards the black and white color scheme myself.
I didn't know Gelderland is an actual place; it's mentioned in "A Knight's Tale". There's more history in that movie than I knew; I thought it was almost all just "fluff".
Sir John, who else have you been knighted by? Seems you've had quite a history of them.
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Yes, that was one of the inaccuracies of "A Knight's Tale"...Gelderland is in the Netherlands and not in Lichtenstein.
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This weeks Knight: "Lucius Artorius Castus" - While the Romans didn't call themselves "knights" they did have mounted Cavalry which would have been called knights. (While foot soldiers usually carried a rectangular shield, the cavalry usually carried an easier to handle, round shield.) Castus was born in 140 AD and enlisted in 158AD. He was first posted to the III Gallica Legion which gave him his initial training. He wanted to get to Primus Pilus, but that was 58 ranks higher. In 162 AD, he transferred to the VI Ferrata Legion in Judea. Changing legions usually meant changing ranks . With this legion he fought the Parthians. Several of the Centurians were lost in the war and Castus was promoted to this rank. In 166AD he transferred to the II Adiutrix Legion on the Danube. In 170AD his tour would have been up, but he rejoined and transferred to the V Macedonica Legion in Dacia, in modern Transylvania. In 172 war broke out at which time he was senior Centurion. He finally was promoted to Primus Pilus after the battles. Over the next few years he advanced from Praefectus Cohortis to Tribunus Militum to Tribunus Legionis and finally to Praefectus Alae. In 175, Castus was sent to Britian with the VI Victrix Legion and soon became commander of the region there. His standard was a red dragon pennant. Between 181-185 the Roamns suffered heavy loses and the VIth legion fell to pieces and revolted. Castus put down this rebellion and restored Roman rule. As a reward he was promoted to Procurator Centenaries (Governor) of Liburnia, a division of Dalmatia, where he ended his days.
Castus' military exploits in Britain was remembered for centuries afterward and historians believe he was the basis for King Arthur among the Welsh. They also propose that Castus as head of the Dragon Legion (Pendragon) was carried over into the King Arthur Legend.
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Very interesting Arthurian ties. That looks like leather armor - did you make that too?
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I confess, I did buy the outfit, but altered it. The shielf of course I made as well as adding to the bare helmet.
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Knight of the week : Sir Helyas of Lothringen - The legend of the "swan knight" is based on a real knight. Helyas was born about 1020 in Normandy, France. His father, and the father before him, we guardians of the holy grail. Helyas was the 40th and the last of the Grail Knights. He was married three times: 1st- the family of Bouillion where he recieved the fifedom of Bouillion. His son from this marriage was Godfrey of Bouillion. (I already did a set on him) When the child was young, they made a pigrimage to Jerusalem and the holy grail was placed in the Holy Seplicuhre. (the grail was eveantually taken out of Jerusalem around 1244 and taken to Acre, after which it dissapeared. In 1910 it was found in the ruins of the church at Antioch, eventually wound up at the Cloister's Museum in New York, and now is privately owned by the Metroplolitan Museum of New York.)
Helyas started two other famous families by marriage...One was the Counts of Oldenburg and the other the Fiefdom of Kleve. Kleve castle was noted for its many swans and the coat of arms seems to have been based on this. It has been said that he was murdered by armed men sent by one of his ex-wives. The Legend was embellished quite a bit, but was based on this knight.
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Sir John, how is Helyas related to the legend of the Swan Knight?
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Well, his coat of arms as well as his wives are both real and in the saga of the swan knight. The legend fantisizes though...about him coming to his first wife in a swan boat, which is supposed to be his brother. It's kind of involves, the legend, so it's best to check it out on the web. But, like I said, my research showed it was based on a re4al knight.
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This week's knight: "Sir Botond" - He was a knight and a chieftan of one of the 7 tribes of Magyars. In 910 he led one of the armies at the battle of Augsburg. From 937 to 955 he was involved in attacks against the Germans. In 950, King Otto of Germany vowed to wipe out the Maygars and devistated their land. But in 954, Botond, Bulcsu and Sur launched a campaign with an estimate of 35,000. The campaign had a shocking effect in Europe. In all the churches of Europe, people prayed: "Lord, deliver us from the arrows of the Maygars." Finally in 955 was the Battle of Lechfeld. The Maygars were outnumberd and the Germans said they would not negotiate unless the Magyars laid down their arms, which they did, but instead the Germans butchered them all. Botond's army was unable to save them, but he ran down those responsible and decapitated them all.
The Magyar succsessful retaliation after the battle of Lechfeld was 3 times more devistating then their defeat at Lechfeld. This was the end of the German attempts to conquer the Magyars by force. After this, the Magyars directed their campaigns south toward the Balkins and Byzantium. In 958 they arrived at the gates of Contananople. Botond challanged to fight their bravest knight to combat to settle the attack. A gigantic greek (named Scrubs) came out against the small Botond.They began a duel which lasted about an hour, when Botond ran him through with his sword. From that time on the Hungarian symbol of human power was "Botond." Soon after the magyars looted Greece. Shortly after the successful campaign, the healthy Botond mysteriously lost all his strengh and died. (There were rumors that he was poisioned.)
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Sorry, I'm sick with a stomach virus so no knight of the week this week.
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get well soon
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Hope you feel better soon, Sir John!
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As do we all, Sir John.
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Get well soon.
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Thanks, I'm feeling better.
Knight of the week: "Sir Owain Glyndwr": Wales at first used the "white dragon" as their emblem. Glyndwr was born about 1354 to a prosperpous landed family in Wales. He served as squire to Henry Bolingbroke. He entered the English King's miulitary service in 1384. In 1385 he saw action under Richard II as his shield bearer. Later he served Richard in Scotland for which he was later knighted. His neighbor, Baron Grey de Ruthyn seized control of some of Glyndwr's land. He appealed to Parliment, but they sided against him. These events led him to be proclaimed Prince of Wales by his followers on 16 September 1400, resulting in a revolt which began in 1401. He chose the "golden" dragon as the Wales coat of arms. In 1403 the revolt became truly national. In 1405 the French entered into a treaty with him. Things were loooking good for him, but the French eventually withdrew and by 1407 the Welsh lords began to surrender. He was killed in battle in 1416. His sons were either captured or died in battle. After that he became a Welsh hero, even though he lost the revolt. (Later the Wales dragon took the present color: red.)
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Interesting, that's yellow on white, tincture on tincture. Great example for historical heraldry that breaks one of the general heraldic design guidelines. :)
Glad to see you feeling better, Sir John.
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Knight of the week: "Sir Stanislav Venzik" - The Venzik Clan arose into a class of Polish Nobility. In Polish Nobility all nobles were knights and all knights were noble, so there was no special knighting ceremony. The origins of the family date back to 960 AD. Kowal, a member of the clan, killed a large snake, and this was adopted as their coat of arms. Venzik in Polish means snake. In 1138 the Duchy of Mazovia was created and later the Mazovian Voivodeship. Stanislav took this position around 1590. He particpated in the battles against the Turks. The castle of Esztergum was under seige six times. The most devistating seige took place in 1595 when the castle was taken. During that year, Stanislav fell in the battle of New Castle.
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In honor of getting nominated for membership, the Knight of the week will be Sir William Marshal. - I will be doing this a little different, and put the information in a timeline theme:
William Marshal TIMELINE:
William's family were royal Marshal's, hence the name. It derives from Marescallus, roughly translating as Horsemaster and way, way back they were head stable boys.
1144 – born
1156 – sent to Normandy as Squire to Wm of Tancerville. (Wm wears his arms)
1164 – William is knighted (wears arms of Tancerville till ~1167) With the advice from his cousin, he ventured into his first tournament. William was despondent because he had no warhorse. His lord promised him one, but when it came to sharing out the horses available to the Tancarville knights, William was last in line and had to have the destrier that no one wanted. The horse's name was Blancart. Though successful as a knight in mock combat, William was still wearing the crest of Tancarville, though no longer a part of that household.
1165 thru 1166 - William travels and practices the art of battle in the tournament. (As Knight Errant)
1167 – Marshal returns to England and serves Patrick, the Earl of Salisbury (He now wears the coat of arms of Salisbury.) Quitting the Tancarville household he then served in the household of his mother's brother, Patrick, Earl of Salisbury. William joined the entourage of his uncle Patrick, Earl of Salisbury, who was acting as a governor of Poitou. William was once again across the channel into France where they were escorting Eleanore of Aquatain, queen wife of Henry II, as they were to suppress an uprising in her home land. He is taken prisoner.
1170 - Henry II crowns his eldest son, also named Henry, as a king. Henry II also names William as head of the new young King's household as well as being placed in charge of his military training.
1174 - The young King and William separate after rumors of William and
young Henry's Queen are maliciously spread by envious knights. William
travels through Europe, beginning 12 years of knight-errantry and a
successful participation with the tourny.
1179 - William Marshal was sufficiently wealthy to raise his own banner over his own company of knights. (Knight Bannerette)William rejoins the young King's household, continuing to fight in tournaments. Philip II is now King of France. (Knight Bannerette) - We can also see from history that it was from this period he began to carry the banner that was to become famous – the red lion on a parti-coloured green and yellow background.
(Motto: Utilem pete finem. Seek a useful end. His coat of arms is party per pale or, vert, a lion rampant gules; Crest. — An antelope's head erazed, or, gorged gules.)
1183 - After a tourny, William receives word to rush to meet young Henry. Upon his arrival to the household of the young King, he discovers young Henry has taken seriously ill. Now on his death bed, the young King, who has just taken his Crusader's vow, requests William to take his Crusader's cloak to Jerusalem and place it on the Holy Sepulchre.
1184-1186 – Knight Templar in Styria
1186 -William Marshal Enters Henry II's mesnie (i.e. household).
1187 - Returning to England, Henry II request the service of William.
1188 – Given wardship of John d’Erly (age 14) as his squire. (If a squire served a knight banneret, he would often get to bear the banner.)
1189 – William is now Lord of Pembroke, Striguil and Leinster -While covering the flight of Henry II from Le Mans to Chinon, William unhorsed the undutiful Richard in a skirmish. William could have killed the prince but killed his horse instead, to make that point clear. He is said to have been the only man ever to unhorse Richard.
1194 – Richard went off to battle in Syria and Europe, spending little to no time at all in England. William Appointed Marshal of England. He also knights his Squire. Marries the Earl of Pembroke’s daughter - John remained as William Marshal's ward until he came of age in 1194, when he was knighted. d'Erly remained as one of Sir William's "household knights."
Between 1195 and 1198 - William Marshal and John d’Erly were with Richard in France
1199–. In March, King Richard marched to the castle of Challus in the Limousin region of France. William Marshal and John d’Erly took their leave of the King to attend to Royal business in Normandy. The King was wounded by a crossbow bolt. The wound turned septic and he died on 6th April. King Richard's brother, John, then succeeded to the throne.
William becomes earl of Pembroke. As granted to him by King John.
1204 - William Marshal, John d’Erly and a great company of knights and men at arms seized the castle of Cillgeran from the Welsh, surprising them with a dawn attack. King John gave Goodrich castle to William Marshal on his marriage to the heiress of the earldom of Pembroke.
1205 - King John summoned William Marshal and other magnates to a meeting and ordered that they mount an expedition to France in order to regain the Crown's lost lands in Poitou. William refused and found himself and his household out of Royal favour.
1207 - William Marshal, his wife Isabel and his household knights arrived in Ireland. Carlow Castle was constructed by William Marshal, Earl of Striguil and Lord of Leinster, c1207-13, to guard the vital river crossing.
1209 - The situation between the Marshal and King John flared up again.
1212 - The King, fearing a plot to assassinate him again, felt the need of the Marshal's good
will.
1213 - The King's favor continued and gave William Marshal the town and castle of Haverford
1215 - With sympathies with the barons but loyalties lay with John, William rode with the King to Runnymeade for the signing of Magna Carta. While William signs on behalf of the royal court, his eldest son signs on behalf of the barons.
1216 – King John fell ill and died. At the last, he asked that the Marshal look after his son, Henry, a boy of nine. William becomes Regent of England.
1217 - Royal lands in South Wales had been attacked by the Welsh prince, Morgan ap Hywel, Lord of Caerleon. The main holding of the Welsh was the castle of Caerleon. This was attacked in September by John d’Erly, then Bailiff at Striguil (Chepstow), and captured.Philip orders the Count of Persche to lay siege on Lincoln Castle near Dover. They successfully take the region, but William, defending the crown of the new young king, leads the army into battle at the age of 75.
1219 –William Marshal fell ill with great pains. He dies. Sir John dErly was at his side and was exexuter of his will.
Next week I will post about his closest companion: Sir John d'Erly
I also added a secondsecond picture...since I did a lot more research on Sir William, and have redone his helm with an earl's crown and his crest.
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My hero and favorite knight; nicely done, Sir John.
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Nicely done. In a way, we're really lucky to have so much historical data preserved from his lifetime. But then, there does tend to be a lot more preserved from Nobility in general, and Sir William Marshal did of course become an Earl. Having served as Marshal and under multiple kings, he had an amazing life and was a very important figure in his day.
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I like the new format very much. That is a great post. Thank you Sir John.
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Thank you Sir John. A true contribution to the Order, and a very informative timeline! Could we add that to the Order website?
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Thank you Sir John. A true contribution to the Order, and a very informative timeline! Could we add that to the Order website?
Seconded!
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Concur as well. A well written tribute to the order's namesake! :)
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Added! http://orderofthemarshal.org/william_marshal.html (http://orderofthemarshal.org/william_marshal.html)
I can take it back down if Sir John objects.
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Nicely done, it is good.
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Yes, you can add this to your website...I did miss the date that he signed the Magna Carta...sorry.
Sir John
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Knight of the week : Sir John d'Erly - In 1185 King Henry II gave the wardship of the 14 year old boy to Sir William Marshal. He took part in a skirmish in 1190 between the Normans and Phillip of France near Le Mans, France. He remained his ward until he came of age in 1194. During this period he became the Marshal's Squire and was married to Sybil, another of Sir Marshal's wards. He was knighted by Sir William in 1194. Although he now came into his inheritance, he ramained a household knight of Sir William Marshal. (Research shows that many household knights wore the livery colors of their master but attached their own coat of arms to the surcoat. This is the choice I made for the set.)
Sir John was with Sir William and King Richard in France between 1195 and 1198, both returning briefly. Sir John was with King Richard later in 1198 and in 1199 when King Richard marched on the castle Gisars in France where the King recieved his fatal wound. In 1202 King John made him Sheriff of Devonshire. In 1204, Sir John and Sir William and a great company of knights seized the castle of Cillgeran from the Welsh. In 1207, Sir John was granted a liscence to accompany Sir William to Ireland. Sir John was made Bailiff of Ossory and the southern half of Leinster. In 1208 King John recalled Sir John, but knowing he would lose his lands if he didn't go, he remained loyal to Sir Marshal; and stayed, losing all his lands. Eventually King John accepted the inevitable and made up with Sir William, who had fallen out of the King's favor. Sir William rewarded Sir John with a grant of land in Kilkenny. At this point, Sir John became Sir William's "Carissimus" - his most intimate of intimates and his most loyal and trusted friend. In 1209 things flared up between Sir William and King John and Sir john was thrown in prison in Nottingham Castle. But in 1211, things were back to normal again and Sir John was made Sheriff of Devon, a position he held until 1215. In 1216, King John died, and Sir William became Regent of England with Sir John as his closest advisor. In 1217, South Wales was attacked by the Welsh holding the castle of Caerleon. This was attacked and captured by Sir John, then Bailiff at Striguil. in 1219 Sir William fell ill, and Sir John hastened to his bedside and was with him when he died. Sir John was the executor of Sir William's will. Sir John continued to serve under Sir William's son until Sir John died in 1230.
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Sir John, a great write up; I have come across references to Jean d'Earley (or as you know him, John d'Erly) in my research of The Marshal...one could posit that Jean/John was the son William may have wished for - given that he remained steadfast to the Marshal from the time he came into his wardship. His heir, Will, on the other hand, did in fact rebel and remained at odds with the elder Marshal for a goodly amount of time.
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I think we should reward such steadfast devotion and loyalty to our namesake. I vote we make Sir John d'Early a honorary member of the order.
Anyone else with me on this?
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The d'Early was found spelled in a few different ways, so I just chose one of them. Yes, he seemed to be one of the truly great kinghts for standing by Sir William under any circumstances. More people should be like that.
Now, my favorite knight, mostly because he was kind of wild in his outfits at tournaments, was Sir Urlich von Liechtenstein...I'll be doing one on him later. By the way, he made two tournament circuits, in his first, he unhorsed 310 knights in one month...I bet he gives Sir William a run for the money in the tournaments. I haven't been able to find out his total knights unhorsed...but he too was NEVER defeated in a joust!
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Knight of the week: Sir Robert of Loxley (NOT Robin Hood...they were different people as you will see in my research.) He was born about 1160 in the village of Loxley, from which his family took their name. He did train as a squire, and before the Battle of Ballins (1189) he was knighted by King Henry II and given the fife of Loxley. Two days later, the king died at the Chateau Chinon. Richard was next crowned king. In 1190 King Richard started recruiting knights for the third Crusade, and Sir Robert was the first from his village to volunteer. Robert was considered elite enough to join the King's private guard and eventually became a close advisor and friend to King Richard. (He must have known Sir William Marshal.) Sir Robert was with the King at the battle of Acre, and was wounded there, and returned to his fife of Loxley. King Richard was captured on his return from the Crusade in 1192, but finally his ransom was paid and he returned to England in 1194. Sir Robert joined with the returning King in an attack on Nottingham Castle. But the king didn't stay long in England and was soon back in Europe fighting a war with France. With him was Sir Robert. In 1199 he laid seige to Chalus Castle where King Richard recieved an arrow that soon took his life. Also in the battle, Sir Robert was speared and soon died. However, before his death, King Arthur's archers were on their way back to England, when one archer, Robin Longstride found Sir Robert Loxley. Loxley made him promise to return his sword, which he had stolen from his father. Robin agreed, and Sir Loxley died.
(Here the story of Sir Robert Loxley ends and the story of Robin "Hood" begins.) Robin fulufilled the dying Sir Robert's wish and returned the sword to Robert's father, Sir Walter, who asked Robin to stay and pretend to be his son, as if the death of his son was known, he would have lost his land due to back taxes owed. Marian (actual anglisized from galeic) had married Sir Robert 2 weeks before he left on the Crusade. But as I said...that's another story.
(I have a personal interest, as the town of Loxley is not far from Bradford, where my male line of ancestors originated. I wonder if one of them took part in Robin's adventures?)
By the way, a movie called "Robin Hood" starring Russell Crowe fairly follows the actual story of Sir Robert's time at the end, with King Richard and sets the stage for Robin "Hood." Sir William Marshal is also portrayed in the movie.
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Since I've been on a Marshal knight theme, I'm again continuing it. William had another squire...
Knight of the week: Sir Henry the younjg king: Born in 1155, he was the second of King Henry II's sons. In 1158, at age 3, he was bethrothed to Margaret of France. The king recieved the pope's permisson for the marriage to take place in 1160, when the young prince was only 5 years old. He was crowned in 1170, and Sir William Marshal was chosen to train the young king as a knight. (So he was in essence a squire to Sir William.) In 1172 he was formally married. He was known as "The Young King" to distinquish him from his father. In 1173, King Henry II bestowed on his son John 3 castles, which the young king felt was his. Incited by his mother, he and his brothers started a revolt against their father. During that year he was knighted by Sir William, during the course of the revolt. The revolt lasted 18 months after which the King's sons returned to their father's rule. In 1177 he had a son which died at birth.
In 1179, he and Sir William Marshal went to France to participate in tournaments. (Tournaments were NOT permitted inh England until the reign of King Richard!) The most famous tournament was at Langy-sur-Marne, where 3,000 knights attended and which was recorded in detail in a manuscript. From this manuscript: "The tournament had started before the young king arrived. Once there the young king spurred forward with his lance to engage in combat. His lance was shattered and at once all came at the young king, who only had Sir William Marshal at his side. During the force of the assult, the young king pretected himself skillfully with his shield, but his helmet had been knocked off and the harness of his horse together with the bridle was pulled to the ground. William Marshal performed so many feats that nobody present had the slightest idea what had happened to the young king. History depicts them moving from tournament to tournament untill 1182."
In 1182, Sir William Marshal was accused of am affair with the young king's wife, and their companionship ended. In 1183, the young king again became embroiled in a war in France against Richard and his father. During the campaign at Limousin the young king contracted dysentery and soon died. Sir William Marshal was with him, and the young king asked Sir William to take his crusader surcoat (He had announced before he was going on a crusade) to the holy land. On his deathbed he asked to see his father for his forgiveness, but his father did not go, thinking it was a trick.
The young king was so popular that after his death, the people of Le Mans and Rouen almost went to war for the custody of his body. After his death his mother and friends attempted to promote him to sainthood. His father was said to have said: "He cost me much, but I wished he had lived to cost me more."
(There is a movie called "The Lion In Winter" with Peter O'Toole, however this was taken place in 1183, shortly after the young king's death. In the movie there was a brief mention of Sir William Marshal.)
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that is one of my all time favorite movies
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There's another movie called "Ironclad" which I just started watching. It has a "Thomas Marshal" in it, but I can't find any of William's relatives with that name. The movie takes place just after King John signs the magna carta.
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I try to cover a lot of different themes. This knight of the week is: "Lochinvar" - The poem was based on a real person. Young Lochinvar was said to be the Laird of Lochivar, Scotland, William de Gordon of Kenmure. Young Lockinvar held the title of "Viscount of Kenmure." He became chieftan after his father's death. When he was 17 he had travelled across the border into England with a heard of cattle. They were to be delivered to Netherby Hall, home of the Graham family. When he laid eyes on Ellen Graham, he fell in love with her. Ellen's father finally gave consent to their marriage to the young Scot, however a war had broken out in France and Lochinvar went to fight. At the age of 23, he had seen conflict across Europe. He had been at war for only 8 months when he was wounded and taken captive. He vowed never to fight in another war. It was thought that he had died and so Ellen was betrothed to another. Finally he was released and he reutned home to find the news of Ellen's intended marriage. William wasn't able to get to the wedding until after it took place, but as it was ending and their eyes met, they took off together. They took a ship to the South of France on the Italian border and lived happily ever after.William died in 1455.
"So faithful in love and dauntless in war, there never was a knight like young Lockinvar....One touch of her hand and one word in her ear, when they reached the church door the charger stood near.....There was racing and chasing, on Cannoble Lee, but the lost bride of Netherby ne're did they see. So daring in love, and daunting in war, Have ye e'er heard of a gallant like young Lockinvar?"
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By the way, a movie called "Robin Hood" starring Russell Crowe fairly follows the actual story of Sir Robert's time at the end, with King Richard and sets the stage for Robin "Hood." Sir William Marshal is also portrayed in the movie.
I was going to say, your history seemed like it was taken directly from the movie- that the movie tried to tie in historicity w/the legend of Robin Hood is very cool to me. Thanks for sharing!
Ironclad was an excellent movie in my book, altho I do not think Thomas Marshal, if he ever existed, was any relation to William...he could've been son to another Marshal (maybe of France).
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Ah, thieves of hearts as well....have to keep an eye on those Scots! a good bit of history well done, Sir John!
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Knight of the week: "Sir Nikola Subic Zrinski" - Nikola was born in 1508.The Zrinski family was influential during the period of history marked by the Ottoman wars in Europe. Zrinski means "those of Zrin" and are a branch of the Subic family.In the 16th century, Ban Nikola gained dominion over the northernmost part of Croatia. He distinquished himself in the seige of Vienna in 1529 and in 1542 saved the imperial army from defeat before Pest, for which service he was knighted and appointed Ban of Croatia.
The King Ferdinand I gave him large possessions in Hungary and Croatia. In 1556 he won a series of victories over the Ottomans, culminating in the battle of Babocsa. Shortly after marrying his second wife in 1564, he hastened southward to defend the frontier and defeated the Ottomans at Szeged.
In 1566, his small force (2,300 soldiers) heroically defended the little fortress of Szigetvar against the Ottoman host of 102,000 soldiers led by Suleiman in person. The battle ended with Nikola perishing with every member of the garrison. Although it was an Ottoman victory, it stopped the Ottoman push to Vienna. Today he is seen as a hero by both the Hungarians and Croatians. Cardinal Richelieu described it as "the battle that saved civilization."
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By the way...I have finally found the coat of arms for the knight who accompanied Marshal on the 2 year tournament circuit, as well as another knight who was close to Marshal. I am currently working on the shields and surcoats and will post them here when I am done.
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By the way...I have finally found the coat of arms for the knight who accompanied Marshal on the 2 year tournament circuit, as well as another knight who was close to Marshal. I am currently working on the shields and surcoats and will post them here when I am done.
That is great. I look forward to seeing them.
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I like this concept. What does it take to recommend a Knight of the Week? Can we?
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I just concentrate on medieval knights, preferably ones that have proved themselves. It's more of the history of the knights that I'm into. Every now and then I throw in a curve ball to lighten things up.
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Matthias Corvinus" : Born in 1443, he was the second son of John Hunyadi (who had risen in the ranks to become Regent of Hungary.) Matthias began following his father's campaigns when he was only 12.
A story that young Matthias was commissioned by his mother to take a ring to the then king of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor: Zsigmond of Luxemburg. On the way Matthias stopped for a nap and was awaked by a servant telling Matthias that the ring had been taken by a crow and she was flying away with it in her bill. Matthias killed the crow with his last arrow, and when he was given a coat of arms he chose to have a raven with a ring in it's mouth as his emblem. "Corvinus" is latin for crow.
In 1455 he was married when he was only 12 years old, but she died before the marriage could be consumated. Matthias was knighted in 1456 at the Siege of Belgrade. After his fathers death the same year, there was a power struggle with treatchery on both sides. Matthias was taken for safety's sake by George, Governor of Bohemia. In 1458 he married his daughter and shortly after was elected King of Hungary, the first Hugarian blooded king in more than 150 years! They called him the "Raven King" after his emblem. In 1468 Matthias was elected King of Bohemia and in 1476, married his 3rd wife. But the union was childless. Ferdinand I of Naples declared war against the Emperor on 1481. Matthias captured all of the fortresses in Frederick's hereditary domain and in 1485 made a triumpal enrty into Vienna. At times Matthias had Vlad III (the impalier) Prince of Wallachia as his vassel. [I will be doing a knight of the week on him too eventually.]
He held the titles: (deep breath) of King of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Rama, Serbia, Lodomeria, Cumania and Bulgaria; Prince of Silesia and Luxembourg; Duke of Austria; Margrave nof Moravia and Lusatia. (whew)
Matthias, who had long been crippled by gout, expired very suddenly in 1490, just before Easter. Under King Matthias, Hungary became one of the most powerful nations of Europe. He was undisputedly the greatest man of his day, and one of the greatest monarchs who ever reigned. He often dressed up as a beggar and wandered the streets to see firsthand how the nobles of his realm treated his people and corrected any misdoings that he found. To this day, Hungarians consider him the greatest of all Kinbgs, and they sing of his siege of Vienna in their national anthem today.
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Might I recommend Pierre d'Aubusson (1423 – 3 July 1503). Checkhis record and I'm sure you'll see why. ;)
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Actually I couldn't find that much on him. I couldn't find a helmet crest. There is really not much on his early life or if and when he trained as a knight. I'm in the middle of researching 3 other knights right now. Thanks for your interest.
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Today's Knight of the week: "Beowulf" - The original poem about him follows the truth pretty much. He was from "Greatland", which at that time was part of today's sweden, but below the medieval sweden. Beowulf is galeic for "Intelligent Wolf" and the wolf's head was used on his shield and the sails on his ship. He was born in 445 during the reign of Hreoel, his grandfather. At the age of 7 (502) he was sent to his grandfather's court to learn the arts of war. The following year his grandfather died and his brother, Hygelac became king.
When he became 20 (515) he was admitted to the circle of Hygelic's retainers and given his grandfather's sword. He was also given a helmet with a wild boar crest. The wild boar was sacred to the early norse and celts and was worn as a protective symbol. During the celebration a wanderer told of Hrothgar, king of the Danes and it's problems with a monster, part man, part bird and part animal, named Grendal. Beowulf volunterred to go and save the Danish Kingdom from the beast. He selected 14 men to go with him. After their arrival, Grendal burst into the great hall, but before he could seize Beowulf, Beowulf cut off Grendal's arm and the beast fell dead at his feet. But he still had to contend with Grendal's monster mother. He eventually killed her in her cave, and He and his men departed for home.
In 524, Hygelac died and his son became king. But in 533 he too died. Beowulf was then made king and reigned for 50 years with peace and prosperity in his kingdom. But in 583, a wanderer found a dragon's treasure hoard and took as much as he could. This made the dragon angry. Beowulf and 11 others went after the dragon. On approaching the dragon's liar, Beowulf told them he would fight the dragon alone. He protected himself with his shield, but he knew that every dragon had a vulnerable spot, and Beowulf sought to find it. During the fight Beowulf was hit with the dragon's tail and was gravely injured. But Beowulf had found the dragon's weak spot and pushed his sword into it killing the dragon. And so, Beowulf died of his wounds, at age 88 and became a legend.
(Keep in mind, that during that time, grotesque humans were thought to be monsters, and the dragons were large lizards.)
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a memo, he was a Geat. not Great.
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I like the panoply you put together for Beowulf, Sir John. As Sir Wolf pointed out, he was from 'Geatland', so he was a 'Geat'. He was also great, but not capitalized. lol
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this weeks Knight of the week: "Sir Roger de Gaugy" - Originally the family was from Normandy, but a Sire de Gaugy accompanied William the Conqueror into England and having fought in the battle of Hastings in 1066, he was rewarded with large grants of land there. Robert was one of three sons of Ralph I de Gaugy (1130-1166) but I couldn't find the exact date of Roger's birth. The manor house of the Gaugy's is where King John is reported to have died in 1216, during the baron's war. From 1177-1179, Roger was a knight bachelor in King Henry's household. It was Roger who went with Sir William Marshall on the two year tournament circuit in Europe.
In 1203 King John awarded Sir Roger the custody of the castle and forest of Argentan. From 1215-1217 the first baron's war errupted. Sir Roger and his brothers remained loyal to him. As a result, before King John's death, the King awarded Sir Roger with the counties of Northampton and Leicester as well as the lands of Emberton.
(as a side note: in the summer of 1216, King John ordered Phillip Mark to give Newark castle back to the bishop. The bishop refused the offer and so King John ordered Phillip to destroy the castle, which he did not do. Next King John gave the castle to Sir Roger to hold it against the rebel Barons. King John died there. In 1218, King Henry III tried to restore order in the country and ordered the various royal wartime appointees to surrender their castles. Sir Roger refused to surrender his castle so the King ordered it to be taken by force. Ironically it was Sir William Marshal who came to supervise the operations there. A strong seige ensued, but the castle could not be taken even after 8 days of constant bombardment. A compramise was reached where Sir Roger would surrender the castle, and he would be paid for the estate, and he could leave a free man.)
Sir Roger and his wife had a son William. A date of death could not be found.
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thanks!
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This weeks Knight of the week: "Sir Baldwin of Bethune" - Baldwin was born in 1158 and was the third son of Robert V of Bethune. (Bethune is a town in France, where the family originated.) He was a knight, but not of his native France, but of England. In 1170, still in his teens, he was with his lifelong friend: William Marshal in the court of Henry the young king. In 1180 at the tournament of Lagny-sur-Marne he was a Knight Bannerette leading the Flemish team, while Sir William Marshal headed the English team.
In 1187 he was rewarded with his first landholding in England...the Manor of Bramley, Surrey. Once King, Richard I of England added the manors of Wantage, Luton and Greens Norton to Sir Baldwin's holdings.
King Henry II promised both Sir Baldwin and Sir William Marshal that he would find them rich heriesses to marry and in 1189 was arranging a match for Baldwin with the heiress of Chateautoux in the French province of Berry, when the king died.
In 1191 he was with Richard's contingent in the Third Crusade in Palestine. On the voyage home in 1191, Sir Baldwin was with Richard when he was captured. Sir Baldwin stood hostage for him and organized a ransom into which he put not only months of effort, but much of his own money as well. It was not untill 1194 that Richard returned to England when he fullfilled the promise and gave Sir Baldwin the Hawise of Aumale. They were married in 1195, gaining through his wife vast lands and the title of Count of Aumale. Not long after they had a daughter, Alice, who was engaged to William Marshal the younger.
In 1197, Sir Baldwin was one of the English delegates to the election of Richard's nephew, Otto IV of Germany as the Holy Roman Emperor. Through the stormy years of King John, he was close to the king and was occupied with running his own great estates. In 1212 he died.
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I just wanted to mention, that I spend a lot of time an effort in researching each knight I do. Sometimes it's very hard and takes a lot of time. Then once I get all the information I need, I made the shield out of wood and paint it with the knights arms, then sew a surcoat also with the knight's coat of srms. I usually buy a plain helmet, although I try to buy oones that I don't already have, then add the wreathe and crest. So I'm usually busy on weekends doing all that, especially in the winter when I can't do much else. I'm looking forward to the next PA Ren Faire, and am hoping that I will get permission to be knighted this Spring. I guess I will leave that up to the knights who will want to sponsor me for the knighting.
Let me know when you feel the time is right. I am very excited about getting the accolade and am really out doing myself in fixing up a medieval banquet room and another for the knighting ceremony. As I had mentioned before, a past hobby was making movies, and I had to make one about Sir John. I want to show that on the day I get knighted. It was the first surcoat and shield I ever made. I even used a bucket to make a helmet...of course now my collection of steel hemets have gone through the roof.
Sir John
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Sir John, I can fully appreciate the time and effort you put into these- I read each one as you post them, as we all do. It is that sort of participation we like to see- you show an active and engaged interest in being a part of this forum.
I understand your excitement, the drive to get to the Accolade- however, it is not a simplified process, even if it may seem so because we don't go into much detail about it on here. Nothing crazy, but it is a serious occasion, one that I have been blessed enough to be found deserving of it. I cannot tell you how honored I feel, how...solid, stable I feel just because of it. It isn't that my outlook on life changed or anything like that- it just got clarified.
Having said all that, I believe you'd make an excellent addition to our ranks, however- in order for us to fully ascertain that we need to get to know you better, and one of the best ways to do that is by this forum. Be active, be present, let your voice be heard and your opinions known...in time, you will probably be sponsored before ever you know of it- until you are approached with an offer to be inducted into the Order of the Marshal. Have patience, good Sir- if God wills it, you will take your place amongst your fellow Knights.
William
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Sir William,
Thank you for all your insight to the knighting. I am currently putting it on hold until I am told that I may set a date for the knighting ceremony. I also have begun to post in several other sections of the forum. I will do my best.
I remain, your most obedient servant,
Sir John
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This weeks Knight of the week: "The Knights von Finckenstein." - The family is originally from Finckenstein and took their name after the mountain of the same name. Sir Fredrich von Finckenstein already appeared in 996 in a tournament at Brunswick. Finckenstein castle was an important oupost over looking the Gail Valley and the Carintian estates around Villach. The castle appears for the first time in 1143 with Sir Gotwald von Finckenstein. Their coat of arms was chosen as "Under one leadership" (represented by the star) "should the family stay together in good times and bad times" (represented by the rising and setting half moons.)
The junior branch of the Finckensteins joined the Order of St. John and participated in the Third Crusade. Sir Konrad von Finckenstein (the founder of the Prussian line) participated in the Prussian Campaign in the 13th century with 100 knights of the Order of St. John in its drive to conquer Old Prussia alongside the Teutonic Knights. Under the same name, the house appears in 1451 with Sir Michael Finckenstein who shortened his family name to Finck. But in the 1600's the family became known as Finck von Finckenstein as counts of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsgrafen) and Counts (Grafen) in Prussia.
Count Ernst Finck von Finckenstein (1633-1717) was Elector of Prussia, Chamberlain and Counsellor.
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Thank you for all your insight to the knighting. I am currently putting it on hold until I am told that I may set a date for the knighting ceremony. I also have begun to post in several other sections of the forum. I will do my best.
Excellent. We're currently discussing how we're going to handle knightings of the founding members and what sort of timeframe this will occur in. We'll make details available after they get worked out.
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Sir Edward,
Thank you for that information. As I said, once the 3 months are up, I will wait for you to tell me that I can be knighted. At that time I will try to work out a date for the knighting. I am trying to put more on different topics on the message board. I hope this meets with your approval.
I remain, your most obedient servant,
Sir John
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Sir Edward,
Thank you for that information. As I said, once the 3 months are up, I will wait for you to tell me that I can be knighted. At that time I will try to work out a date for the knighting. I am trying to put more on different topics on the message board. I hope this meets with your approval.
I remain, your most obedient servant,
Sir John
Sir John,
Don't worry too much about the 3 months. None of the current knights were knighted after only 3 months, it's a "minimum" but not a "standard". I believe all of the current knights were 6+ months after membership in the Order before being knighted. They were all, as best as I recall, sponsored and offered knighthood from the existing knights when they were deemed worthy, and did not actively pursue sponsors. As Sir Edward said, we're at a crossroads with some of the other founding members and their knightings, and we're relatively new with only 5 knights currently, so things will be slow for a bit as we continue to revise and refine things, and work with the other founding members. For now, enjoy chatting with us on the rest of the board in other topics, as you have been, and things will come in time.
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Indeed, all of the founding members have, if anything, been rather reluctant about the whole affair. As a founding member myself, I will tell you that I always felt in a way unworthy to stand as a true equal with such esteemed and worthy knights, mere stripling of a youth that I am.
I will remember the day, June 9th, 2011 on the day of the first knightings of the Order of the Marshal (months after we had first created the order, which was officially created on November 11th of the previous year) that I was asked by our Knight Commander Sir Ed and Sir Brian as when I actually started planning for my knighting.
I do not know the specifics of the other Knight-Brethren of the Order, but that is my take on it. Keep on the course, Sir John, continue with your enthusiasm. Allow us to know you, and get to know us, and all will come. The Knights of The Order of the Marshal are good and chivalrous, and recognize merit where it be found. Rest assured good Sir John, keep along the path, and do the Order honor, and you will count yourself, God willing, among her chosen Knights.
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This weeks Knight of the week: "Sir Kuno von Liechtenstein" -Not much is known about his early life as a knight. He was a relative of Sir Urlich von Liechtenstein (more on him another time) and was a member of the Teutonic Order and served as a Grand Commander of the Order. He was one of the best swordsman of his time. He is most well known for his actions in the Battle of Tannenburg in 1410. While on route to the King of Poland in Krakow, as a delagate for his Order, He was stopped by two polish knights who attacked him. Sir Kuno was astonished at this and told them to lower their spears. At that moment, one spear was at Sir Kuno's breast but his powerful hand broke the spear before it could do him harm. Back at the king's palace, he told the king of the encounter and how they disrespected the cross on his tunic. That evening the knights, guests and burgers were assembled, and the two polish knights had been sentenced by their court to be decapitated.
The Battle of Grunwald was also in 1410. The Germans had the best field leaders in the world. The Teutonic Forces were commanded by Sir Kuno. During the battle, Sir Kuno was captured by one of the relatives of the decapitated knights. He was challanged to a duel to the death, Sir Kuno was thrust to the ground during the combat...he asked forgiveness, but none was given. His opponent thrust hos sword twice into Sir Kuno's neck, killing him.
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Guy VI de La Roche-Gyon" - The family were lords if the fief of the castle La Roche-Gyon from the 10th till the 15th century. Guy VI held the titles: Lord de la Rochefoucauld, Lord of Verteuil, Lord of Marathon, Lord of de Saint Claud, Lord of St. Laurent, Lord of Blanzae and Cellefouim, Lord of la Rocheygyon, Lord of Rocheville, Lord of Bernville, Knight Councollor and Chamberlain to the King (of France), Duke of Guyenne and Captain of the guard of the city of Harfleur. My Lord!!! (excuse the pun) That's a LOT of titles for one man!
In 1409 he married Perette de la Riviere. The Hundred Years war between England and France proved to be a hard time for Sir Guy. By 1415 negotiations came to a halt and the English landed at Chef-en-Caux, France. Things went well for the English until they reached the Somme River. They hoped to slip by before the French saw them. But instead they were forced to fight them in the Battle of Agincourt, Sir Guy was at this battle and it was there that he was killed. After the battle, the treaty of Troyes imposed the depostion od Charles VI and the Regency of the King of England in 1420.
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Sir Kuno von Liechtenstein sounds familiar to me; I think I may have seen his name in one of my books about the crusades and/or templars. He met quite the gruesome end.
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An end fitting of a knight, to end one's life on the battlefield, especially as a member of a miltary order was the highest goal and honor.
Though I will not condone the actions of a knave who does not give mercy to he that ask for it in good faith.
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Well, the Liechtenstine's had a history. I will be doing one on my favorite, Ulrich...whose name was stolen by Thacher in the movie: A knight's Tale. He was my kind of knight...excentric...wearing the clothes of Venus during one tournament circuit, and King Arthur during another tournament circuit. That's the kind of thing I would do. I wonder how many knight he beat in his lifetime?...since he also was never defeated in tournament, and in only one tournament, he beat 308 knights! He gives William Marshal a run for the money.
I guess if you're a carreer soldier, maybe dieing in the end would be right. But I fought in Vietnam, and am glad I came out of it alive...but then I wasn't a carreer soldier, although I joined and didn't get drafted.
Sir John
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I thought since I did one on Frankenstein...it was time to do one on another one of haloween favorites.
This weeks Knight of the week: "Ritter Vlad III Tepes" - Vlad III was the third son of Vlad II Dracul. [When you became a member of the Knights of the Dragon (a Hungarian Order) you could attach the title "Dracul" to your name.] Vlad III was often called "Dracul-la" or son of the dragon. Vlad III was born in 1328. Their home was Bran Castle, originally built by the Teuronic Knights in 1212. Vlad's line was descendant of the "Szekely" people, a significant part of the Hungarian minority in Romania, and added their emblems: a crescent and a star to their arms. Vlad II became Voivode of what was then Wallachia in 1436. In that same year, at the age of 8, Vlad III was knighted into the Order of the Dragon. Vlad III was sent to the Ottoman court to be educated in languages and warfare. In 1447, Vlad II was murdered and the following year, Vlad III became Voivode. He became popular because he eliminated the nobles and replaced them with commoners.
In 1459 Pope Pius II called for a new Crusade, but his only supporter was Vlad III. The Turks then invaded Wallachia, but Vlad III defeated them, crossed over into their land, devistating it in response to their invasion. The Sultan raised a new army and again attacked Wallachia, but again, Vlad III beat them. Vlad III was becoming popular with his people. Matthias Corvinus (I think I did one on him, or will be) feared Vlad's power, had him arrested and thrown in the dungeon, where he remained for 10 years. While in prison, the Turks again invaded Wallachia, but this time the Turks won. Matthias finally turned to Vlad, had him released from prison and let him run the military. But during a battle in 1476, he was killed and his body was decapitated and his head sent to the Sultan in Constantanople.
Vlad III earned the name "Tepes" (Impailer) for impaling the Turks on stakes. Romanian folklore paints Vlad III as a hero of the common man against the oppression of the nobles and he is remember as the prince (voivode) who defended his people from the Turks. He is viewed as the father of their country and has all but a halo of sainthood over his head.
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has all but a halo of sainthood over his head.
Which is in Constantinople ;)
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Vlad III is actually a much more interesting character than "common" history tells us. Sir John, I'd like to expand on your info a bit, if I may.
It is thought he learned his brutal ways when he was young. As a child, Vlad was a hostage of the turks, along with one of his brothers; for 6 years. Stories of his captivity include a daily "start off the morning", in which all of the hostages were brought forward, and one was selected, tortured and executed quite gruesomely in front of everyone. They would announce "tomorrow may be your turn" before putting them to hard labor. While Vlad eventually was freed (escaped?), he never forgot or forgave the cruelty of the Turks, and sought to destroy as many as he could in the worst ways possible. This fire would only be fueled by two more major upcoming events.
The majority of his victims were boyars (nobles) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyar)), the class of people responsible for the conspired assassination of his father, and the death of one of his brothers. They killed his brother by burying him alive. He started off his rampage by hosting a feast for local royalty, including those he believed responsible for his father and brother's death. As they were in his land, and law meant little ... he had them all arrested. He enslaved some of them, and impaled the rest. Thus began his "crusade" against the hundreds of thousands he would later kill. It is said he learned that impaling was so greatly feared, he would use it as his primary offensive weapon.
We all hear the stories of his impalings, and I will spare the gory details of how much worse it was historically than they usually tell us - but there was "a method to the madness" in many ways. When he campaigned against the Turks in retaliation for their invasion, it is said that he rounded up as many enemies as he could, surrounded one of the cities, and created a wall of impalements encircling the entire city. Those still alive and in the city were so terrified they was little resistance and they were crushed. It is also said that the impalements he left in his wake caused reinforcing armies of the Turks to flee in terror. Since he impaled so many at a time, the higher ranked enemies (when he knew who they were) would be impaled on taller stakes, to separate them from the "common soldiers" and "highlight" his prize kills.
He is famous for being undiscriminating of men, women or children. It is thought that Vlad may have had "lady troubles" in early life. When he heard of unfaithful women in his domain, he would have them tortured and executed in absurdly vile ways which I will not even go into. He also abhorred laziness and dishonesty, which were commonly perceived traits of the royalty; when he heard of merchants defrauding the commoners, he had the merchants executed, and left them as examples to be "good, honest people" lest they meet his wrath. His "citizens" who were commoners thought him a true "champion of the people", and when he had the aforementioned feast and executed many of the local royalty, he put commoners in their place.
Years later, after his castle was overrun and he was defeated, his wife is said to have jumped to her death from the top of one of the towers; she is never seen or heard from again (at least in recorded history). Vlad managed to flee through a secret escape tunnel and attempted to gain support from the king and rebuild to continue to wage war; it was denied, and the king had him imprisoned for 12 years. It is said while he was imprisoned, he continue to impale victims on small shards of wood; mice, birds, bugs, and whatever other hapless creature happened to wander near or into his cell. He was eventually released in 1476. He attempted to regain power after his release, and as Sir John said, he died in that battle against the Turks, having a small army of a few thousand.
Interestingly enough, Vlad's remains were taken two places. The victorious Turks took his head, but the people of Wallachia took his body. He was buried at Snagov monastery, in an almost saint-like manner; indoors, in a vault built into the floor, in front of a small room with an altar. Or so said the legend ... because when his body was later exhumed from there, the bones were identified as horse bones! Where his actual body is, and why, is a mystery.
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blah blah i vant to bite your neck!
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Sir Vulf is the history Nazi here, I'm gonna go with his story ;)
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Well, I stand by the idiom: history is written by the winners... Think about how Christ was tortured on the cross. I think the whole timeline was bad, not just one specific person. Even later with the witch burnings in the US. Then there's the death penalty...first it was by hanging...not a quick way to die. We have come far but not far enough.
Sir John
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This weeks knight of the week: "The Knights of Fuchsburg" - The Fuchs (Fox) family are mentioned as knights dating back to 1190. Knight Ulrich Fuchs acquired the castle of the same name, in Tyrol, in 1267. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence.
In 1345, Knight Otto Fuchs added the Leuze castle to the estate. In 1426, the Lebenburg castle was inherited by the family. Knight Dietrich I Fuchs was nade governor of Walburg in 1404, and governor of Hassfurt in 1406. He was co-founder of the Knights Hassfurter about the same time. Hans Fuchs was made a knight in 1493 and was lord of several estates and in 1500 was a member of the Imperial Diet under Emperor Maximillian I. Knight Degan I Fuchs (1450-1527) was governor of Fuchsburg. Hans and Georg Fuchs were made knights in 1456. In 1508, Knight Thomas Fuchs acquired Schneeberg, Tiefenbach and Winkarns castles and in 1551, castle Frauenstein was added to their estates. Emperor Karl V authenticated Thomas Fuchs to the Reichstag of Worms in 1521. Knight Hildebrand Fuchs made a polgrimage to Jerusalem. In 1550, Jakob Fuchs was listed as a knight. Knight Gotz Fuchs was a commander in the Order of the Teutonic Knights. Fuchs von Baunach and Fuchs von Bimbach were Free Imperial knights.
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No knight this week...intestinal virus.
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No knight this week...intestinal virus.
Ouch, hope you feel better quickly!
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Get well soon.
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ewhhh i know a lot of people that had that this week. get well
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No knight this week...intestinal virus.
Hope you feel better soon!
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Look up someone with Dysentary! Portray them! ;D
But really, get well soon.
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Someone who died of dysentery would definitely be appropro, Sir John. King Henry II, for example. I hope you are feeling better now!
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Look up someone with Dysentary! Portray them! ;D
But really, get well soon.
hahahah i thought that too but didnt say anything
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I really couldn't resist ;)
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Thank you all for your concern. I'm feeling better, but am going through a rough time right now...hard to explain.
Sir John
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Time for a little humor...
This week's Knight if the week: "The knights who say: 'Ni'" - HISTORY: The knights of Ni have been tortuing the people of England with their words for as long as anyone can remember... REQUIREMENTS: You must love shrubberies, Do not be afraid to say "Ni"; You cannot say the word "it" ...RULES: Do not say it backwards, Be nice to shrubberies, Payment is always a shrubbery commemorating another shrubbery, Do not associate with the knights who were formally Ni, Only cut down trees with herrings; Honor thy shrubbery.
Shrubberies are of great omportance to the knights who say Ni and they constantly seek the bush to gaze at. They have not yet found the holy relic, but they have come close. It has been speculated that the knights respect the shrubbery as it represents the most intimate contact in which a man came in contact with a bush.
The Knights who say 'Ni' was formed in 987. They are on a quest to find The Great and Almighty Shrubbery and consider this journey the meaning of their lives. After discovering the powerful uses of the word 'Ni', the Knights who say 'Ni' have used the sacred word to make people bring them shrubberies. The word 'Ni' when repeated 10 times in a row makes the listener explode! The knights of 'Ni' cannot say the word 'It', nor can they bear to hear the word. The knights are led by a man who is approximately 12 feet tall with disproportionately short arms and reindeer antlers inserted into his helmet. The other knights are of regular proportions and wear horns in their helmets.......comploments of Monty Python.
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That's a great one, Sir John. I never expected it.
Good luck in dealing with, and getting through, whatever is going on.
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Thanks...I'm doing the best I can. I won't burden you with specifics....but thanks for your concern.
Sir John
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir John Beauchamp" - Sir John was born around 1316 in Warwick Castle and was the younger son of Guy de Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwick. The "Hundred Years War" began in 1338 in which Sir John took part. He next participated under King Edward III in the battle of Vironfosse in 1339. In 1340 he fought in the battle of Sluys. In 1344 he was finally knighted and became and the 10th knight of "The Order of the Garter." Sir John carried the royal standard at the battle of Crecy in 1346 and was present at the battle and surrender of Calis, of which town he was appointed Captain in 1348. In the same year, he was provided by the King with a surcoat of Indian Silk. About the same time he was advanced to the degree pf Knight Bannerettte.
In 1350 he was summoned to Parliment as "Baron of Warwick" and held the post of "Constable" of the Tower of London. By the time of his death in 1360 he had acquired the manors of Frankley, Stratford, Tony and Newton in Worchestershire and the manor of Brockenhurst in Hampshire. He died without issue.
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Warwick is one of the few castles I've visited. They didn't even have that much history in the tour. Thank you, Sir John.
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Sir James,
That's only part of my research. I usually do an 8x10 sheet including pictures, and put them in a book and also hang them on the wall. If you ever do come here, you'll see that my house is like a medieval museum.
Today's Knight of the Week: "Sir Paul von Liechtenstein" - Sir Paul was born around 1460. His mother was Fuchs von Fuchsberg. (I did one of a knight Fuchsberg...funny how they seem to all be related somewhere along the way.) In 1482 he entered the service to Archduke Sigismund and in 1489 he became Lord Chamberlain and Treasurer to the Emperor Maximillian I. In 1499 he recieved the fief of Castle Cornu and became a Baron. In 1505 he bought the manor Schenna bei Merano and he became the Lord of Merano. In 1505 he was awarded the Regency of Rattenberg, In the same year he recieved membership in the Order of the Golden Fleece and was knighted by the Kaiser. He died in 1513.
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This week's knight of the week: "Heinrich Reuss von Plauen" - The Reuss family named all of their male shildren "Heinrich" in honor of Henry (Heinrich) VI, Holy Roman Emperor (1190-1197). Little is known about this Heinrich's early life, or his date of birth. He first became Lord of Reuss-Plauen and then joined the Teutonic Knights at an early age. By 1420 he was the governor of Dirschau in Prussia. In 1433 he became Commander of the Teutonic Knights in Balga, and by 1440 Governor of Natangia. From 1441, Sir Heinrich held the position of Grand Hospitaller and the Commander of Elblag. He participated in the 13 year's wars (1454-1466). The last Eastern Prussian city held by the Polish was taken by Sir Heinrich in 1455. Sir Heinrich became famous for destroying the Polish army in the Battle of Konitz. After the second peace of Thorn in 1466, he became Commander of Prussian Holland. In 1467, after the death of his Uncle: Grand Master Ludwig von Erlichshausen, he assumed command of the Teutonic Order. He was declared the 32nd Grand Master of the Order in 1469. In 1470, on his way back to Prussia, after paying homage to Casimir IV, he suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. He died shortly after that.
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I like it. Good choice on Military Orders there ;)
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This week's Knight of the Week: "Sir Radulphus de Freschenville" - The Freschenville family came to England with William the Conqueror. Sir Ralph was born before 1240 and became a knight in 1253. The second baron's war began in 1263 in which all the lands were forfited, but were returned after paying a large fine, which Sir Ralph paid most of. In 1266, Sir Ralph inherited the manors after his father's death.
Sir Ralph was summoned to attend King Edward I in Salisbury in 1297. In 1301, Sir Ralph, now Lord of Stavely, Derby, Devonshire and Northampton, was summoned to Parliment and pronounced Baron of Crich. He was also given more manors to govern, too numerous to mention here. Sir Ralph attended Edward In in the Scottish Wars. In 1325, in the war against Robert the Bruce, he was killed.
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This week's knight of the week: "Sir Niccolo III D'Este" - The House of Este dates back to Charlemagne in the early 9th century. Sir Niccolo was born on 1383 and inherited the estate when he was only 10 years old. He became Marquess of Ferrara in 1393. In 1397, at the age of 13, he was married to Gigliola da Carrara. In 1403 he joined the league against the Duke of Milan and was appointed Captain General of the Papal Army by the Pope. in 1403 Niccolo was knighted. In 1407 Sir Niccolo made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land where he dubbed 5 knights of his retinue. In 1425 he was again chosen as commander in chief, this time of the anti-Visconti League. In 1433 the Emperor visited Ferrara and in recognition as a prestigious leader in Italy, Niccilo was chosen with a seat in his council. In 1441 Sir Niccolo died after the Christmas feast. Many suspected poison. (An interesting side note...a later relative married the infamous Lucretia Borgia.)
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Interesting bio Sir John, well done and many thanks for your contributions!
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This week's Knight of the week: "Joan of Arc" - She was born in Champagne in 1412. It was an area disputed between England and France. Although Joan of Arc never made a statement as to the date at which the voices revelaed her mission, it seems that the call of God was made to her gradually. By 1428, she no longer doubted the voices. Joan made preparations for the campaign, instead of the sword offerred her by the King of France, she used an ancient sword burried behind the altar in the Chapel of St, Catherine de Fierbois. She had a special standard made for her to carry in battle. While she never claimed to have a coat of arms, Charles VII gave her one without her request. She rarely wore a helmet, as she wanted her men to see her face clearly. (One painting has her with a blue felt cap- which I used in my set)
There were five great deeds accimolished by Joan: #1the raising of the seige at Orleans...her first victory against great odds, #2- the victory of Patay, #3- the reconcillation at Sully-sur-Loire, #4- the "bloodless march" (the most extraordinary campaign in history and #5- The coronation of King Charles VII in 1429.
In the defense of Compiegne against a English attack, her followers were driven back and she was pulled down from her horse and became a prisoner of the English. The English feared Joan with superstitious terror but were determined at all costs to take her life. On 21 February 1431 Joan appeared before the judges who decided that if she refused to retract her visions and voices, that she would be condemed as a witch and burned at the stake. She refused and the sentence was carried out on May 30 1431.
24 years later, her case was reopened with the consent of the Pope. The illegality of her trial was made clear. In 1869 she was confirmed by the Pope as the hearing of the voices and visions was a miracle of God. Pope Pius X formally made this a decree in 1909. And in 1920 Pope Benedict canonized her as "St. Joan."
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Ah yes, Joan of Arc. Her story is an amazing one indeed. Thank you Sir John!
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Joan of Arc is a really fascinating story. She was never actually knighted, but I think she probably would have been eventually (there are a rare few other cases of women being knighted, so IMHO I think she would have managed it sooner or later, with her wit and charisma).
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She was never actually knighted, but I think she probably would have been eventually (there are a rare few other cases of women being knighted, so IMHO I think she would have managed it sooner or later, with her wit and charisma).
To me, I think she would have been knighted (if she lived a bit longer) and she would have done the job right.
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This week's Knight of the week: "Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar" - Better known as "El Cid." He was born around 1043 in the Kingdom of Castile/Leon. As a boy he was brought up in the court of Prince Sancho, one of King Fernando's sons. In 1063 the prince dubbed him as a knight. He went with the Prince to lift the seige of Graus in the same year. In December of that year King Fernando divided his kingdom into two...Sancho was crowned King Sancho II of Castile. He appointed Rodrigo his chief marshal. In 1068, war broke out with Leon. Rodrigo led Sancho's Army but the battle ended in a stalemate. In 1071 Rodrigo was involved in a trial by combat to settle a boundary dispute between Navarra and Castile. Rodrigo won nand from then on was called "El Campeador" (The Great Warrior). In 1072 Sancho and his brother were at war again. Sancho was captured, but was rescued by Rodrigo. Sancho won the war and imprisoned his brother. Later that year one of Alfonso's knights slipped into Sancho's camp and killed him.
In 1074, Rodrigo married Alfonso's neice and he served Alfonso in important posts. In 1081 Alfonso went off to lay a seige but Rodrigo was sick and did not join him. An army of Moors soon invaded Castile and Rodrigo fought them, taking 7,000 prisoners. The nobles became even more jealous of him and accused him of antagonizing the Moors and convinced Alfonso to banish Rodrigo from Castile. In 1085 Alfonso set out to rule all Spain, but he lost badly. Alfonso asked Rodrigo to return, which he did, and was given great honors. But in 1089, Rodrigo's enimes convinced Alfonso to banish him again. In 1090 the Moors came back and Alfonso and Rodrigo again reconcilled. In 1094, the Moors surrendered to Rodrigo. The Moors called him "El Cid" (The Chief). Late in 1096, Rodrigo again won a great battle against the Moors. In 1098 Rodrigo won yet another great victory against the Moors. But Rodrigo's luck ran out in 1099 when an arrow mortally wounded him in another great battle. He intended to ride out even if dead! During the night he died, and following his orders, Rodrigo's body was tied to his horse and it was sent out at the head of the army. The Moors believed he had come back from the dead and they fled to the sea and 20,000 were drowned trying to get to their ships! They were completely defeated never to return again!
King Alfonso recognized Rodrigo as the nobelest knight in his entire kingdom!
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wow too cool
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Hey, this inspires me. We need to gather together a few conroi of the Knights of the Order of Saint Lazarus, and convince the Saracens that we have a whole army of ZOMBIE KNIGHTS!!!!!! 8) 8) 8)
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The story of El Cid is a story that has inspired me to view Chivalry with a more serious intention. His story is amazing and best of all his story amazed me when I read the Poem of the Cid, it is an amazing poem. I am proud to say that he is a chivalric role model of mine. Huzzah Sir John! Well Done!
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That's an awesome story!
Sir John, have you seen the movie "El Cid", from the 60s? If you have, what did you think about it?
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Sir John, have you seen the movie "El Cid", from the 60s? If you have, what did you think about it?
I have the movie! It is a very long film but it is worth the watch. In regards to its historical accuracy, many historians say that it is more tied with the legend of the Cid rather than the historical Cid. To me, it seems to be a combination of both rather than being one sided. Still it is a great film and something to keep the kids away(or should I say distracted) from the video games or the computer, texting or facebooking on the cell phones. ;)
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Sir Wolf,
Thanks...but eventually I will run out of knight sets....my house only has so much room. Did you get me message about the knighting sponsorship? I've already met Sir Matthew and he said once he is knighted he will be one of my sponsors for my knighting ceremony.) It looks like I'm not going to be able to get to the PA Ren Fr this year.
I remain your most obedient servant,
Sir John
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Yes I read your message early Sir John. I would be more than happy to sponsor you but alas I have yet to become a Knight of the Order and it will be some time before that happens. But when either Sir Matthew of myself are knighted we would be honored to sponsor you. Your research has helped us understand how Chivalry whether it be in the Renaissance or Middle Ages lived through the lives of many individuals. Your research would help us in bringing Chivalry back to modern day life.
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That was an excellent choice, Sir John...I'd read a bit about El Cid but nothing in depth; that was very informative, thank you!
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I do have the El Cid movie with Charelton Heston...actually to say I have a HUGE collection of medieval & knight movies is being modest! Hard to find one I don't have. Just got "ARN" haven't had time to watch it.
Sir John
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i have that one as well and havent been able to watch it either
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This week's knight of the week: "Sir Robert Kerr" - King David I was born in 1085 and founded the first two burghs in Scotland: Berwick and Roxburgh. He was the eldest son of William Kerr (d. 1606). Robert helped James VI against Bothwell. At the coronation of Anne of Denmark in 1590, he was one of 12 that were chosen to be knighted. He was a member of the Privy council of Scotland from 1599. He was created Lord of Roxburgh at the end of 1599, and was created Baron of Roxburgh in 1600. He succeeded to his father's estates in 1606 and was created the first Earl of Roxburgh in 1616. He was appointed Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1637.
On the breaking out of civil war in Scotland in 1639 he joined the king. Later he also fought with the king during the English civil war (1642-1651). In 1648 he supported the engagement to rescue the king. He died in 1650, in his 80th year. On his death, the lordship of Roxburgh became extinct. The ruins of Roxburgh Castle are thought by some historians to be those of Camelot. The civil war ended with the Parlimentary victory at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
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Just got "ARN" haven't had time to watch it.
It's very well done; I think you'll enjoy it.
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It's very well done; I think you'll enjoy it.
I did see Arn and I second Sir Edward on the recommendation.
I do have the El Cid movie with Charelton Heston...actually to say I have a HUGE collection of medieval & knight movies is being modest!
Excellent! ;D
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I may have been the first of us to see ARN...I wrote a thread about it. Now I need to get the books so I can see how far off they strayed from the source material. Something tells me, not very far at all.
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I may have been the first of us to see ARN...I wrote a thread about it. Now I need to get the books so I can see how far off they strayed from the source material. Something tells me, not very far at all.
I hope so Sir William.
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I still haven't had the time to watch it. Too much to do in the spring...scutting grass, and hedge...getting the house ready for the warm weather...etc. I'll watch it eventually.
Sir John
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Philip de Valognes" - In Scotland...he was the BEST of the Scottish knights. He was born in Valognes, France in 1132. His grandfather, Pier I was said to have come to England with William the conqueror. He was married in 1164 and had a son, William the following year. From 1165-1171 he became Chamberlain to King William the Lion of Scotland. In 1167 William and Philip fought in tournaments on northern France. During one of the melees Sir William Marshal seized Sir Philip's horse by the reins and forced him out of the melee. After taking Sir Philip's pledge to pay the ransom, Sir William continued in the Joust. (It was Sir William's first tournament.)
In 1172, King William granted the lands of Panmure to Sir Philip. In 1174, Sir Philip became a hostage for King William and after the treaty, King William rewarded Sir Philip by making him the Baron of Panmure, Benvie and Roxburgh, as well as lands in Cumberland and in Northumberland. In 1190, Philip's brother died and Philip inherited the Barony of Burton in Yorkshire. From 1193-1214, Philip was again Chamberlain to King William. In 1209, he became hostage again for King William. In 1215, Phillip died in Roxburgh.
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That is very interesting, thank you again Sir John!
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Another score for Sir William Marshal!
Sir John
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Indeed! :D
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The Marshal, the Marshal, God is with the Marshal!!!
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The Marshal, the Marshal, God is with the Marshal!!!
AMEN! :D
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Not to downgrade the Marshal...but noone is perfect. According to historians, the story of him sleeping with the kings wife was not true, but it was a cover up for his greed for power and money. I have found that on several sites. But, like I said if you dig deep enough, noone is perfect.
Sir John
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This weeks Knight(s) if the week: "The Knights of Treisen" - The Knights of Treisen had their castle in southern Leichtenstein. They were highly respected and were vassals if the Counts von Montfort-Feldrich. The earliest recorded member was Heinrich von Treisen, who had two sons: Ulrich (1273) and Johann. All three were knights. Their castle was built by the Count of Montfort-Feldrich around 1022. Johann is mentioned in 1299 as well as Ulrich II. Johann is again mentioned in 1347. In 1380 Count Philip donated to the monastery there (at least 2 of the Treisen women were nuns there) which was then under the leadership of Ulrich von Treisen II. The last of the family mentioned is Margaretha in 1443, after which the family name of Treisen vanishes.
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As a side note, (as you know I'm fond of Sir Ulrich von Liectehstein) they have been showing "A Knight's Tale" on tv a few times, which of course I watch. I never tire of that movie, or the love letter which I think is so romantic! Anyway...if you watch a movie several times, each time you notice something that you missed before...well in France...when the Count was looking at the results of all the tournaments....I noticed the Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein...the real one...his coat of arms was on one of the sheets that the Count was looking at. Again, a mistake...since Ulrich v. Liechtenstein lived prior to when A Knight's Tale took place. But I thought it was interesting that that coat of arms was in it.
Also...there's a site that lists the top ten of everything...and of course in knight's...William Marshal was the first...but they included a number 11: Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein, since he was the best of the German knights...but he lived in a different time than Sir William...but still...while Sir William had...was it 500 tournament wins (in his WHOLE LIFE) to his name, Sir Ulrich had about 350 just in one series of tournaments! He did go on more curcuits in his lifetime, but I haven't been able to find out his total during his lifetime...wins that is.
Sir John
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Very interesting Sir John, I personally am a fan of Sir William Marshall, 500 tournament wins does spell this one word
B
A
D
A
S
S
;)
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Not to downgrade the Marshal...but noone is perfect. According to historians, the story of him sleeping with the kings wife was not true, but it was a cover up for his greed for power and money. I have found that on several sites. But, like I said if you dig deep enough, noone is perfect.
Sir John
I do not believe anyone would have said the Marshal was perfect, but he was the quintessential knight. Also, it was his perceived greed for money and power that caused those less loved than he to plot against him. His combined prowess on the battlefield as well as at court earned him much enmity amongst lesser men.
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Not to downgrade the Marshal...but noone is perfect. According to historians, the story of him sleeping with the kings wife was not true, but it was a cover up for his greed for power and money. I have found that on several sites. But, like I said if you dig deep enough, noone is perfect.
Sir John
I do not believe anyone would have said the Marshal was perfect, but he was the quintessential knight. Also, it was his perceived greed for money and power that caused those less loved than he to plot against him. His combined prowess on the battlefield as well as at court earned him much enmity amongst lesser men.
Correct. I agree the Marshal was the quintessential Knight and best model of Chivalry. One must remember that rising in the Nobility earns the hatred of lesser men. The same thing applies to Renaissance Knights in England (Sir Philip Sydney, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Sir James Scudamore and others).
It is true that no one is ever perfect (Save God alone) but it doesn't mean that our moral standards should not remain either neutral nor low because of you seeing yourself as imperfect and unable of achieving any form of perfection. This mentality leads to perfectionism and it can destroy everything because Egotistical Pride, Irrationality and perceiving yourself with Low Self-Esteem are the consequences of Perfectionism.
However does this mean that what one man says about you, changes how you perceive yourself? My answer to that question is no, never. Anyone can say anything to suit their fancies or their pride. However it is actions, deeds, choices that show Character is stronger than vain words or claims. "Actions speak louder than words", words have their appropriate perspective and place and do have power that is given by the one who speaks it with the intention of destroying one's esteem or can have the intention of inspiring the despondent heart to rise again after a moral failure. That is what words can do, they can influence the mind and the heart, but it is choice that affirms or disregards that influence. I have the choice of disregarding another person's words even though what he said offends me. My thinking is more of "what good is your word that is based on saying it and assuming everyone will believe you against my word which is based on deeds alone?". My point is that Character in the face of skepticism is stronger than what other people's first impression maybe. Anyone can sat what ever they want, but until it is proven by choice, it is by default nonsense, pure nonsense. In one way this is how Honor works. Honor is proven not by words but by choices. The way I see it is if your words match or correspond with your choices and if your choices are the right ones, that makes you a Man of Honor or a Man of your Word.
Anyone can perceive the potential for greed for money and power, but what you do with that money shows where your Character stands at.
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This week's knight of the week: "Sir Andreas von Auersperg" - Their name derives from the extinct wild cattle or "aurichs" which inhabited Europe, Asia and North Africa, but are now extinct. All members of the family were dubbed knights. Their first castle was built in the late 11th century, but in 1140 it was burned during a succession struggle between two heirs. In 1550 the Lords became Barons and in 1630: Counts, and in 1653: Princes!
Andreas was born in Carniola in 1556. After his parents died when he was only 1 year old, Baron Weikhard von Ausperg became his guardian. In 1569, the 13 year old boy registered in the University of Tubingen. In 1573 and 1574 he studied at the Universities of Pauda and Bologna.
Andreas became a soldier accompanying Archduke Matthew on his campaign in the Netherlands (1577-1578) fighting as a Captain. In [color=red]1583[/color] he rose to the rank of Colonel and was appointed Commander in Chief of the Croat/Dalmatian frontier lands in 1589. In 1593, he won a decisive victory at Sisak and saved central Eurpoe from a Turkish invasion. Pope Clement VIII sent Andreas a handwritten letter of congratulations. This battle meant the final victory over the 300 year Turkish nuisance.
Andreas died unmarried in 1594.
(On an interesting personal side note...I took a course in Self Hypnosis...not the magic kind. In the course it described a way to communicate with your subconscious. Various hypnosis experts disagree on the validity of the answers in whether your mind tells you the truth or just what you want to hear. [I have found out where my fear of heights comes from and recalled vividly what happened to me when I was young.] Anyway...it told me I had past lives, and in one I was a knight in Carniola, and was killed in a tournament. I also found out what my coat of arms were...this was way before I really got into knights...so if I find that there was such a coat of arms for a knight in Carniola...then I guess I will have to believe it.)
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Very nice Sir John, I thank you! This is another addition to my list of Renaissance Knights! ;D
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Thank you Sir John for this amazing history lesson on all these renown knights! Well done on all of them and I esp. liked learning more about St. Joan of Arc, she was an amazing person indeed. So thanks again on your extraordinary work put into Knight of the week, hope to see more soon :D
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Thank you Sir John for this amazing history lesson on all these renown knights! Well done on all of them and I esp. liked learning more about St. Joan of Arc, she was an amazing person indeed. So thanks again on your extraordinary work put into Knight of the week, hope to see more soon
Hear! Hear! Hear! ;)
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You're quite welcome. It does take a lot of work...making the surcoats/shields and fixing up the helmets, let alone all the research. I started this knight of the week to show the other members that I'm NOT here just to get knighted, but am trying to add what I can to your group. I wish there was a member in the Philadelphia PA area. Thanks again.
Sir John
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This week's Knight of the week: "Prince Edward, The Black Knight" - He was born in 1330 and was the eldest son of King Edward III. He was created Earl of Chester in 1333 and Duke of Cornwall in 1337. He was vested as Prince of Wales in 1343, when he was almost 13 years old. At age of 14 he was sent to Oxford, but he was only there a year when hos father took him with him to France. The beginning of his military career was at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 where he was knighted by his father before the battle. He wore black armor that was given him by his father...hence his nickname.
In 1348 he became the first Knight of the Garter, of whose order he was one of the founders. In 1355 he was appointed his father's lieutenant and in 1356 he led another significant against the French at Pointers taking the French King as his prisoner. In 1362 his father created him Prince of Aquitaine and Gascony. He led an expedition in Spain in 1367 to restore the deposed King Pedro of Castile to the throne. In 1371 he returned to England and enjoyed his reputation for chivalry and valor.
His arms featured 3 white ostrich feathers on black, which originally belonged to John of Bohemia as a tribute to his valiant and noble actions at Crecy. He also put his motto in German: "I Serve." He died in 1376 from an illness he contracted in Spain.
He was portrayed in the movie: "A Knight's Tale" however in reality he didn't care or associate with the lower classes, so in the movie, he was out of character.
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Sir John, I really look forward to updates on this thread. You've done an excellent job. :)
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YES! The Black Prince was the Chivalrous Rock Star of the Hundred Years Wars ;D
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YES! The Black Prince was the Chivalrous Rock Star of the Hundred Years Wars ;D
Many would say that Edward of Woodstock's (he was never known as the Black Prince until long after his death) tactics in the Hundred Years War were anything but chivalrous. See chevauchée warfare, and ask the French about it, ha. But, he's one of my absolute favorite figures in history, and definitely why I'm such a 14th Century-o-phile :)
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Lord Rodney,
Thank you for your comments. I still have several more to post but I had to stop because I'm running out of room in my house...lol.
I hope that all the members appreciate my contribution when it comes time to sponsor me as a knight.
Sir John
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Many would say that Edward of Woodstock's (he was never known as the Black Prince until long after his death) tactics in the Hundred Years War were anything but chivalrous. See chevauchée warfare, and ask the French about it, ha. But, he's one of my absolute favorite figures in history, and definitely why I'm such a 14th Century-o-phile
You are right that the French consider him to be anything but Chivalrous, whereas as the English see him as Chivalrous. One of the confusing aspects of the Hundred Years Wars are two different views of Chivalry from two different nations.
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That's true with anything...I don't think any two people have exactly the same taste or ideas.
Sir John
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That's true with anything...I don't think any two people have exactly the same taste or ideas.
Exactly! :)
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Prince Edward was my favorite character in "A Knights Tale". Thanks for the background info. :)
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Many would say that Edward of Woodstock's (he was never known as the Black Prince until long after his death) tactics in the Hundred Years War were anything but chivalrous. See chevauchée warfare, and ask the French about it, ha. But, he's one of my absolute favorite figures in history, and definitely why I'm such a 14th Century-o-phile
You are right that the French consider him to be anything but Chivalrous, whereas as the English see him as Chivalrous. One of the confusing aspects of the Hundred Years Wars are two different views of Chivalry from two different nations.
He burned, pillaged and raped his way through the Limousin, not to mention the massacres he ordered at Caen and Limoges...no, there was nothing chivalrous about that- but it was effective. I'd say he dealt chivalrously when it suited him, but Heaven help those when it didn't.
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He burned, pillaged and raped his way through the Limousin, not to mention the massacres he ordered at Caen and Limoges...no, there was nothing chivalrous about that- but it was effective. I'd say he dealt chivalrously when it suited him, but Heaven help those when it didn't.
Agreed 100%, but he's still awesome :)
Here's Edward's preferred method of warfare (yes it's wikipedia, but it's not bad in this case):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevauch%C3%A9e (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevauch%C3%A9e)
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I think what he accomplished, especially in his earlier years, was awesome...the man? Less so. Although, several hundred years from now, some nationalist may see Hitler as a bastion of racial integrity and consider what he did to the Jews as unfortunate, but effective as well...I did some reading up on Adolf some years back as I was interested in what drove a man to commit such acts. He was intelligent, charismatic, had a soft spot for a certain fraulein - take away the Holocaust and he doesn't sound so bad, in fact. Both men were products of their respective environments and sought to rule those around them- however they pleased. Its easy to forget the horror, cruelty, the loss of life back in those times in this day and age because quite frankly, unless you've seen it for yourself, it is more of a philosophical discussion than anything else. MHO.
Which is not to say that I'm not a fan of the Black Prince- his military prowess alone made him noteworthy and anyone who studies medieval history or takes a fancy to medieval whatever is bound to hear of him eventually. I still think it funny that they found his sword languishing in an umbrella stand in a UK tobacco shop! That last bit might be urban legend.
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He burned, pillaged and raped his way through the Limousin, not to mention the massacres he ordered at Caen and Limoges...no, there was nothing chivalrous about that- but it was effective. I'd say he dealt chivalrously when it suited him, but Heaven help those when it didn't.
You can make an argument for that. I call as him using a new warfare tactic that seemed to be not Chivalrously, however one must consider that you don't want to play fair with the enemy every single instance. But I agree with you.
Here's Edward's preferred method of warfare (yes it's wikipedia, but it's not bad in this case):
Yep that's it! :)
I think what he accomplished, especially in his earlier years, was awesome...the man? Less so. Although, several hundred years from now, some nationalist may see Hitler as a bastion of racial integrity and consider what he did to the Jews as unfortunate, but effective as well...I did some reading up on Adolf some years back as I was interested in what drove a man to commit such acts. He was intelligent, charismatic, had a soft spot for a certain fraulein - take away the Holocaust and he doesn't sound so bad, in fact. Both men were products of their respective environments and sought to rule those around them- however they pleased. Its easy to forget the horror, cruelty, the loss of life back in those times in this day and age because quite frankly, unless you've seen it for yourself, it is more of a philosophical discussion than anything else. MHO.
I agree with you 100% as well. We also cannot forget that the English had a near "revenge" mentality that could be argued as one of the influential reasons as to why they used massacres and pillaging when they conquered France. Cause: Feudal arguments over territories in France and disowning certain royals with French Family ties.
However it is not to say that there were not Knightly individuals that acted Chivalrously on both sides despite the cause.
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Yes...that is a point that could be argued either way ad infinitum. lol
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This week's Knight of the week: Prince Valiant" - In the Kingdom of Thule, somewhere on the Norwegian coast fell to the forces of King Willam. The captives, including Prince Valiant, and taken to a far off land. Each night, Prince Valiant had the same dream, about the past battle of Thule, a falcon, a kingdom, and excalibur. Valient is convinced he must escape and find Camelot. In his quest, Cedric, a blacksmith, forges him a sword, "Flamberge" (sister of the sword excalibur) for saving his daughter's life. The sword sings when it is used in battle. On the way to Camelot, he fights a giant crocodile. Finally he arrives at Camelot. Merlin takes a great interest in him and convinces King Arthur to train him for knighthood. He is squire to Sir Gawain.
By the end of the year, Valiant has proven himself enough and goes back to Thule and with the help of the local peasants, recaptures Thule and his father once again becomes king. Valiant decides to go back to Camelot until it is his turn to rule Thule. On his return, he is knighted by King Arthur and becomes a knight of the round table. He fights with King Arthur against King Lot and others who refuse to acknowledge Arthur of King of Britain. Later Valiant meets a princess (of the misty isles) and they fall in love. After Arthur's battle and defeat of Mordred, Valient and Princess Aleta are wed. Valiant continues his adventures with his son, Nathan.
(I searched the internet but could not find an end to this story...anyone know how it ends?)
(The historical and mythological elements of Prince Valiant were initially chaotic, but soon Foster attempted to bring the facts into order. Some elements of the story place it in the Fifth century,)
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LOL! Prince Valiant! I used to read those comics in the newspapers when I was young and now I know the full (or good majority) of his story! :D
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Still read them. Got to see what medieval-themed silliness is up for this week ;)
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I'd forgotten about the singing sword...there's a Biblical reference for you, there always is one. :)
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Rudolph I von Habsburg" - Rudolph was born in 1218 at Habsburg (Hawks) Catle. His early youth was spent to martial and athletic exercises. He was distinquished in his horsemanship and his great strength. In 1236 he was knighted by Frederick II. After his father's death in 1239, he inherited large estates along with the ancestral castle of Habsburg. In 1240 he was appointed Graf (Count) von Habsburg and Landgraf von Thurgau.
Around 1245 he served with the Teutonic Knights in the war against the Prussian pagans. He was elected King of Germany and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1273. In 1276, he was again at war. In 1277 he was confirmed as the Duke if Austria and Styria. At the battle of Marchfeld in 1278 (One of the largest "knight" battles of the Middle ages), he remained on the battlefield with his men until the battle was over...more than 10,000 knights lay dead on the battlefield!
His next task was to rid his land of the Robber Knights. On the Rhine alone, he destroyed 70 strongholds and in Thuringia he conqured 66 castles within a year!
Rudloph died in 1291. His reign was memorable in founding the House of Hapsburg as a powerful Dynasty. Rudolph was also known for the founding of "The Noble Knighthood" where the knights were known for their knightly virtues (as they became known for.) Rudolph's honesty became a proverb and for many years after his death, it was said of liars and thiefs: "He has not our Roudolphs Honesty!" With Rudolph began a period of peace for Germany which was to last for 200 years!
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I love your "Knight of the Week" series here, Sir John, very informative .... but one thing... How the heck do you manage to scavenge up those surcoats & shields for each presentation on such short notice??? lol
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well...not on short notice...since my wife died about 3 years ago...I needed to keep busy so on weekends and evenings I'd research a knight, and make the outfit. The wood for the shields is all from the trash...the cloth for the surcoats I bought at a thrift store...so the only real expense was the helmets...and I'm good at finding the cheapest price on the one I want. By the way...ALL the surcoats I sewed by hand! So they are really more authentic. (Hey I even sewed my late wife's wedding dress! But that's another story.)
Sir John
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well...not on short notice...since my wife died about 3 years ago...I needed to keep busy so on weekends and evenings I'd research a knight, and make the outfit. The wood for the shields is all from the trash...the cloth for the surcoats I bought at a thrift store...so the only real expense was the helmets...and I'm good at finding the cheapest price on the one I want. By the way...ALL the surcoats I sewed by hand! So they are really more authentic. (Hey I even sewed my late wife's wedding dress! But that's another story.)
Sir John
Very admirable, Sir John. And my respects for your wife. May God bless you.
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Thanks...it didn't get really hard on me until the last 2 years of her life when the MS affected her brain and she was in and out of mental hospitals. Sometimes she would just wander off leaving the door open, me not knowing where she was. It took a huge toll on me, but I stayed with her till the end, even when her family deserted her!
Sir John
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but I stayed with her till the end, even when her family deserted her!
I have no doubt of that. Loyal to the end, which is very admirable. Well done, Sir John.
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Thanks....I tend to stick to my vows...so I think I'd be a good knight.
Sir John
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Thanks....I tend to stick to my vows...so I think I'd be a good knight.
Sir John you are a good knight in that you have demonstrated loyalty to a loved one. God Bless you.
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I try to live by the knight's code through my whole life, and never regretted it. Knowing what had layed ahead...I would still do it...while others would turn their backs.
Sir John
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That is the very essence of a knight...to stand when others can or will not.
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I always try to do the best I can in whatever I do. When my wife was alive, we used to visit elderly shut ins from our church...especially at christmas, and I would make they a stocking with each item inside individually wrapped.
Sir John
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Magnus Billich" - The Billich was a dynasty of Saxon noblemen in the 9th through the 12th canturies. The family was centered around Luneburg; the city of Celle there became famous as the city of the Pied Piper of Hamelin! Hence the Billichs took the rat as their coat of arms. The Billichs became the Dukes of Saxony. The last duke was Magnus, (born 1045; died 1106) from 1072-1106. In 1070, before he became duke, he joined Otto of Nordheim, duke of Bavaria, in rebellion against King Henry IV. The rebellion was put down the following year and Magnus was captured and imprisioned. He was not released until the recapture of Luneburg.
In 1073, Harzburg was destroyed and the anger of Henry aroused. The conflict was renewed and Magnus was captured again in 1075. After being released again, and he joined Rudolf von Rheinfeld, Duke of Swabia, and at the Battle of Mellrichstadt, (1078) Magnus saved Rudolf's life. In 1080, the Pope excumunicated Henry and Rudolf became King, however Rudolf was mortally wounded in his last battle and died soonafter.
This led once again to a flare up of the conflict and Magnus this time was killed (1106)
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Durad II Balsic" - The house of Balsic ruled a section of Northern Montenego and northern Albania. Before the Balsics, the area was ruled by Emperor Dusan (1331-1355) and then his son: Emperor Dusaniz (the "iz" meaning son of....1355-1371) [I mention this because some of my distamt relatives had the name Dusaniz, including my grandmother] From 1356-1402 the area (known then as Zeta) was a principaity. Balsa I was the first ruler. He had two sons: Durad I and Balsa II. Durad II (born before 1371) succeded to the rule of Upper Zeta from 1280-1385. Durad's uncle, Balsa II was killed in battle in 1385, and Durad II inherited the rest of the principality.
In 1388, the Ottomans invaded Zeta where he suffered defeat. War between Zeta and the Ottomans continued untill 1396, with Durad II as the victor. After the signing if the treaty in that year, Emperor Sigismund appointed Durad II Prince of Dalmatia, to honor him in his battles against the Ottomans. But in 1399 war again broke out, and 1403, Durad II died of wounds suffered in battle.
His titles at his death were: Head of the House of Balsic, Prince of Zeta and the Coast, Prince of Hvar , Prince of Dalmatia and Prince of Korcula. He was succedded by his son.
(So two of my ancestors: Dusaniz and Tomasevic are possibly decended of royalty)
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(So two of my ancestors: Dusaniz and Tomasevic are possibly decended of royalty)
That is awesome!
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Thanks...I haven't been able to trace my family lines back that far...but the prospect sounds exciting.
Sir John
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This week'd knight of the week: "ReichsRitter Eberhard Booe" - The Booe family is documented as far back as 1201 being a family of nobility. Eberhard was born in 1298 and died in 1393. (yea...a long life to say the least) His father was a Malta Knight who died in battle in Jurusalem. Eberhard was the first of the Knightly family to became a "Free Imperial Knight" of the Holy Roman Empire. Free Imperial Knights arose in the 14th century and were subject only to the Emperor alone! The knights were organized into 3 circles; Eberhard was from the Swabian Circle. The Imperial Knights were called very often to war by the Kaiser and won signifixant influence in the Military and Administration of the Empire. They were free from Imperial taxes and were not required to quarter troops.
Eberhard's father and grandfather carried a shield which displayed a goat...which was due to the fact that the original name was "Bock" which means goat. The name was later changed to "Booe." Eberhard carried his own coat of arms which was an inverted cresent with 3 six pointed stars. It was normal for the Imperial Knights to center their arms on the Emperor's arms.
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101? wow
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101 what?
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i think Sir Wolf is amazed at how old ReichsRitter Eberhard Booe died, in which he died at the age of 101. That is amazing.
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i think Sir Wolf is amazed at how old ReichsRitter Eberhard Booe died, in which he died at the age of 101. That is amazing.
He died at age 95
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hah tells you i can do math in my head hehehehhe. i read the numbers backwards. doh, but still 95 man o man thats old even for now.
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That's why I asked...101 didn't seem to fit anywhere for me. lol
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Oops! I did the math wrong, but yes 93 is still an old age, still impressive.
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Erasmus von Lueger" - The Predjama Castle in Carniola was first mentioned in 1274. For the next 200 years it was the center of conflicts for its ownership. In 1478, it became the property of the knight, Erazem (Erasmus) von Lueg (Lueger). He was probably the most famous inhabitant of that castle. He was the son of the Imperial Governor of Trieste, Nikolaj Lueger. Erasmus was a "robber baron" who, like Robin Hood, waylaid wagons in the deep forest and handed it over to the poor. During the wars between the Hungarians and the Austrians, Erasmus supported the Austrians.
In 1471, two of his friends went for peace talks and were promised safe passage. Instead they were captured and beheaded. For this reason, Erasmus avenged his friends murder by killing the villan, the commander of the Imperial army, Marshall Pappenheim. Erasmus fled to his castle to escape from being killed himself. The castle was put under seige under orders from the Emperor. But the castle could NOT be starvewd out. Later it was found that there was a secret entrance to the castle through the caves where fresh supplies were brought in.
When the troops (putting the castle under seige) were freezing and starving in the middle of winter, Erasmus catapulted a roasted ox to them and wished them a good appetite! When spring arrived, he sent them freshly picked cherries. After a year had passed, Erasmus was finally killed by a cannonball after his whereabouts were guven away by a treacherous servant. The cannonball missed him but when it hit the wall behind him, an avalanche collapsed on him, thus ending his rebellion in 1483.
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Sir Erasmus: "Ha! You missed me with that cannon shot!"
Cannoneer: "Wait for it...."
That sounds like a really neat castle, with the hidden passage(s).
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Here's a picture of that castle and the caves.
Sir John
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Ah! I thought it sounded neat, and seeing the pictures, that it looked familiar. I had to google for it, but I've seen it before. Ghost Hunters did an episode there and were in the caves. Neat!
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Sir James,
I shouldn't be posting this, as I was trying to keep things with this knight positive...but when he was killed...he was sitting on the castle toilet! Truth!
Sir John
PS- any update on my knighting?
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Sir James,
I shouldn't be posting this, as I was trying to keep things with this knight positive...but when he was killed...he was sitting on the castle toilet! Truth!
Sir John
PS- any update on my knighting?
I'll send you a private message regarding the knighting.
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Speaking of castles, for any of you ever visiting New England area (like say for a future knighting ;D) ..... I suggest a truely spectacular wonder created in images of the 12th century. Hammond Castle in Gloucester, MASS. www.hammondcastle.org (http://www.hammondcastle.org)
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woah!!!!!!!!!!!
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Andreas von Sonnenberg" - Eberhard von Wallenburg built his family castle: "Nuzod" around 1258. During a feud, the castle was destroyed and rebuilt with the new name: "Sonnenberg" or "Sunny Mountain." Eberhard I purchsed the land in 1455 and became the first Count of Sonnenberg. When he died in 1479 his eldest son Eberhard II inherited the lands and title. Upon his death in 1483, his eldest son, Johann, became the 3rd (Imperial) Count.
Johann died in 1510 and his brother Andreas became the 4th Count. Andreas was born in 1472 and educated not only in knightly exercises, but also in the sciences. After his training, he served under Siegmund of Austria and fought in his battles. Around 1488 he moved with Emperor Frederick III against the Flemish. He also participated in wars against the French and later the Turks. In these campaigns he distingished himself. In 1504 he led Imperial troops in the Landshut War of Succession, in which he was captured. After termination of his captivity, he retired to his ancestral estates in Swabia.
The personal enmity between Andreas and Felix von Werdenberg reached its peak in 1511, when he insulted Felix at a large gathering. Count Felix plotted to muder Andreas which occurred later that year. Andreas sufferred from 20 lance and sword wounds. With his death the male line became extinct.
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"They told me I was daft to build a castle on the sunny mountain! So I did anyway!"
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Sorry but my internet service was down since wednesday at hime. It just now cane back on, but no time to do a knight of the week todat...next week..
Sir John
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This week's knight of the week: "The Hepburn knights of Markle" - (I couldn't resist since I live on Markle Street) The Markle castle was originally called Merkill. The Hepburns were decendant from a Northumberland knight, Sir Robert de Hepburn (1200-1246.) Sir Robert was made first lord of the manor Newton. Sir Robert had two sons: John and Nicholas. Not much is known about John, who was born in 1230, but Nicholas was born in 1240 and died in 1294. Nicholas assumed the role of head of the family. Nicholas' son Adam was born in 1280 and died in 1371. In 1343, Adam was granted lands and castle of Markle, and were passed to his son, John (1325-1371) on 1363.
Upon his death Markle passed to his brother, Sir Patrick (1321-1402). It was this knight who saved Lord Dunbar from a wild horse and was rewarded by marrying the Lord's daughter and became Lord of Hailes castle, which included the lands and castle of Markle. It was Sir Patrick whi built the Tower of Markle in the late 1300s. In 1401 the Markle castle was burned. In 1402 the lands passed to his son, Sir Adam (1386-1446), who was knighted in 1424.
His son, another Sir Patrick (1412-1483), who was granted in 1453, the titles: First Lord of Hailrs, Lord of Markle, Sheriff of Berwick and made a peer in the Parliament of Scotland. He also rebuilt Markle Castle.
The Hepburns rose from vassaldom in the 1400's to become powerful Lothian Lords, holding the castles of Hailes, Markle and Waughton. Markle Castle was again burned in 1544 during the English/Scottish boundary wars, but was again rebuilt in 1588.
The rise of the Hepburns ended abruptly with the assination of Sir James. 4th Earl of Bothwell. Markle Castle then passed to the Steward Earls of Bothwell.
The crest of the Hepburns was a horse's head from the event when Sir Patrick saved Lord Dunbar from the wild horse.
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Zawisza Czarny" - He was also known as the "Black Knight" because of his black hair and complexion. He was born about 1370 in Poland. He was knighted in 1396. He was married in 1410 and the castle "Roznow" was given to him as a dowery. The same year he took part in the Battle of Grunwald. In 1412, he participated in a conference bewteen Sigismund and Tvriko II of Bosnia, where he won a tournament held there with 15,000 knights! In 1416 he participated in another tournament where he defeated Sir John of Aragon. It was said that Sir Zawisza never lost a joust!
In 1417 he became Count of Kruszwica and in 1419 participated in the Hussite wars where he was taken prisoner by the Czechs and eventually released in return for a high ransom. In 1420 he became Count of Spisz. In 1428 he was Knight Commander of 500 knights fighting the Turks, where Sigismund's Forces were defeated by the Turkish forces. They retreated over the Danube River, but there was not enough boats. Sir Zawisza's forces covered the retreat but he refused to cross until his men did. He was either killed in that battle or later in captivity.
He was reguarded as the model of knightly virtues. He was one of the most popular of the heros of Poland. There is a famous saying when talking about someone: "Polegal jak na Zawisza." (Rely on him like you would on Zawisza.)
(Just a word of warning...I am nearing the end of the knights I researched and made outfits for...but not quite yet.)
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This week's Knight of the week: "Ulubatli Hasan" - He was born in a small village called "Ulubat" (Turkey) in 1453. Hasan was a Sapahis, which were a group of elite knights. Weapons for these cavalrymen were a light lance, a bow carried on the left, and a quiver of arrows carried on the right. A shield was strapped on the left arm. Hasan was the holder of a fief and was in the service of the Sultan Mehmed II. He achieved legendary status as a heroic Turkish maytar in the Battle of Constantanople in 1478. The Turks tried to take this city several times before and once again it looked like victory was lost. Hasan was one of the first to climb the walls of the city, followed by 30 of his friends. He carried only a shield, a sword and the Ottoman flag. When he reached the top, he threw away his shield and planted the Ottoman flag, which he defended until 12 of his friends also reached the top. After that he collapsed with 27 arrows still in his body. Seeing the Ottoman flag inspired his troops and kept their spirits up until the city had been captured. Hasan has remained as a symbol of the brave Muslum, and a Turkish hero.
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Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I'm kinda down, it's the anniversary of my wife's death. Plus I haven't had any feedback from the members. But once I see my cardiologist in Ocrober, I hope to post more knights.
Sir John
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so sorry this is a down time for you. i know in February we try to keep my mom busy as thats when my father passed away. it never seems to go away does it?
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Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I'm kinda down, it's the anniversary of my wife's death. Plus I haven't had any feedback from the members. But once I see my cardiologist in Ocrober, I hope to post more knights.
Sir John
I read them all, but none of the names or places sounded familiar, and didn't have anything to commet. I've been a whirling tornado the last few weeks, helping a divorced friend move, my brother got his driver's license, I returned his car but mine is still dead (5 months later) and had to purchase one, and I've been excessively busy preparing for Days of Knights (a weekend event in October), building furniture, making truck repairs, making armor tweaks, and lots of planning and organizing. It's extremely hectic.
I'm sorry to hear about the anniversary of the passing. It's a good time to stay busy. Are you working on any other projects? Hoping for good news for you in October.
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Yeah, it's probably a good time to satay busy and keep your mind off of things.
I know for me, September and October are some of the busiest months of the year. Between the renfaire, Halloween prep (this year I may not get to any of that), usually some sort of other event (such as DoK or WMAW), and this time around I'm in a college course too. And for some reason this also seems to be a reliable time of year for a new computer game to come out that I'll get hooked on. All on top of my job.
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I'm trying to keep as busy as I can, but it's still hard. I know it's a wound that will never really heal, but I am trying to move on. It's more difficult as I have no friends to do things with or family.
Thank you for your concern.
Sir John
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Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I'm kinda down, it's the anniversary of my wife's death. Plus I haven't had any feedback from the members. But once I see my cardiologist in Ocrober, I hope to post more knights.
Sir John
That's a pain I have no real experience with...but I can imagine how devastating it must be, no matter how long ago it might have occurred. You are in my prayers and thoughts, Sir John...even if you see nothing posted from me, know that.
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Sur William,
Thank you for your kind words. It helps knowing that I'm not really all alone.
Sir John
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Sur William,
Thank you for your kind words. It helps knowing that I'm not really all alone.
Sir John
Sir John,
You are, as always, welcome to read and post in the other threads here on the forum too. It's not the same as sitting around and talking, but it's the closest many of us get for most of the year.
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Sur William,
Thank you for your kind words. It helps knowing that I'm not really all alone.
Sir John
Sir John,
You are, as always, welcome to read and post in the other threads here on the forum too. It's not the same as sitting around and talking, but it's the closest many of us get for most of the year.
Absolutely Sir John. Always share your thoughts as those of us here do as we are all listening. Never feel afraid to offer conversation beyond "Knight of the Week" as we all have other things to say at times. Share your thoughts & I hope it eases things for you.
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In fact, if you're concerned about having personal discussions in a public form, the Order's section of the board is more private and is not publicly accessible.
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Sir Edward,
I am not aware of the personal message board. How do I access that? I don't like putting my deep personal feeings where anyone can see. I had a personal message from Sir William, and filled him in on what I'm going through. I'm sure he can share it with the members on the personal message board where only we can see it. Thanks again.
Sir John
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Sir Edward,
I am not aware of the personal message board. How do I access that? I don't like putting my deep personal feeings where anyone can see. I had a personal message from Sir William, and filled him in on what I'm going through. I'm sure he can share it with the members on the personal message board where only we can see it. Thanks again.
Sir John
The section called "Order Discussions" is non-public.
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Sir Edward,
Thank you...I did find it.
Sir John
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Hang in there, Sir John...let us know how it goes today.
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Sir William,
Thankfully things went well at the doctors. He told me I won't need surgery until late summer or early Ocober of next year, which frees up my spring for the knighting, if you still can do it then.
your humble servant,
Sir John
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Sir John, that is great news. We will schedule with you sometime next year when we have more time available.
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Excellent news, Sir John. I am glad to hear it!
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Thank you all for your kind words.
Please keep me advised on when you can have my knighting. Early April is good...I need cooler weather as I don't have central a/c. As soon as you know, let me know so I can get things ready...also who will be attending. I can accomodate 3 easily, 5 but will be crowded.
It will have to be on a Saturday, and start in the morning, as I will be using a medieval knighting ceremony (I have it all typed for each who comes)
This Saturday, I will continue with the Knight of the week now that things have settled down.
Sir John
PS: It will be something positive to look forward to, and it will help keep my mind off the surgery.
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This week's Knight of the week: "The Knights Templar" - They were one of the best known military Crusading Order. The Order was founded in 1118 with the initial aim of protecting prisoners going to and from Jerusalem. By 1139 they owed allegience to noone but the Pope. The Order maintained their own hospitals, surgeons, seaports, shipyards and fleets. They established a system of banking and in effect became the bankers for every throne in Europe.
By 1303, the Templars had acquired a great wealth and posed a threat to the French King (Philip.) He envied the power and wealth of the Templars and vowed to disband them and take their wealth. First he engineered the kidnapping and murder of the Pope. Then secured the election of his own archbishop to be the next Pope. Armed with a list of made up charges he ordered the Templars arrested. Pope Clement V issed a papal order for their arrest, but it was at first kept secret, a secret which leaked out to the Templars. On Friday (the 13th) 1307 the officials of the French King set out to arrest and confiscate the Order of the Templars...that's how Friday the 13th got to be known as today's bad luck day... Those that were caught were tortured until they confessed to the untrue charges against them. Before that fateful day, the Templars had loaded their tresure in 3 ships and sailed away from France, and were never captured by the French. The Templars sought sanctuary and found it in Scotland since it's king had been excumunicated by the Pope, and therefore the Pope had no control there.
It was said that "Robert the Bruce" himself was a Templar. Many of the Templars fought with Robert the Bruce in the Battle of Banncockburn in 1314, which was the most critical battle that won Scottish Independance from the English. The estates of the Templars were scattered all over Scotland and their vast treasure hidden over the countryside, most of which was never found.
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huzzah, welcome back Sir John.
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Excellent Sir John, one of my favorite subjects. If you haven't seen/read the Chinon Parchment, look it up. It puts an interesting turn on the Templar's interrogations.
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One of my favorite orders, Sir John. :) As usual, thanks for the stories & your noble efforts in telling these knight tales.
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Sir John...nicely done; way to bring in the Scottish Templars. Did you know that they still exist? Naturally, not the original branch, it is a modern interpretation.
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Sorry that I haven't been online recently, buy last week my computer was hit with a virus and all my software was deleted. Am back online with all my programs, but still loading shortcuts to places like this. I will be back with knight of the week next week. Thanks for understanding.
Sir John
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Sir John,
Life gets in the way of fun sometimes. Glad you got the computer recovered after the virus. Looking forward to see the Knight of the Week next week.
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Ah yes, Godfrey of Boullion and the Templars. Amazing combination of articles.
I must note that Godfrey of Boullion is one of the Nine Worthy's of Chivalry and his story is immortalized in Jerusalem Delivered by Tourquato Tasso (excellent read).
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Sir John, glad you are still with us and I'm assuming you've weathered Sandy relatively well?
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Yes..."Sandy" didn't really act more than just a bad storm....At least the city was closed for 2 days...so I had time off.
Running way behind, so tomorrow I'll do the knight of the week.
Sir John
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Robert Ogle VI" - Sir Robert (the younger) of Ogle Castle was born in 1406. The family rose to importance with the border wars between England and Scotland. In 1435, Sir Robert and his father, with a force of 4,000 men, invaded Scotland, but was defeated at Piperdon by Sir William Douglas. Sir Robert was taken prisoner, and his father killed. He was eventually ransomed and released.
In 1438, Sir Robert and Sir Ralph Grey, were appointed Keepers of the East March. In 1439, he became the governor of Roxburgh Castle. The castle was the strongest on the whole border. In 1455, Sir Robert and his 600 men led the attack of St. Albans. King Henry and most of his army was captured. In 1461 he was made he was made the first Baron of Ogle...and later that year was knighted at Edward's coronation and he was granted for life, the Constableships of Aluwick, Warkworth, Frudhoe, Rothbury, Newburn and all the land of the Earl of Northumberland. In 1462, he was granted Redesdale and Harbottle. He died in 1469. His son became the second Baron of Ogle.
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This week's Knight of the week: "The Carruthers Knights" - William Carruthers was the first of the line in recorded history. The Carruthers were among those who rose with William Wallace (1272-1305) when he rose against the English. They supported Robert the Bruce and the Carruthers family is considered a "sept" of the Bruce Clan. For his support of Robert the Bruce, Thomas Carruthers recieved a charter in 1320 for all the lands of "Mouswald." This formed the nucleus of what would became the Barony of Mouswald, of which Sir Thomas became the first Laird.
The castles in that area that the Carruthers family lived, are the castles that defended Scotland for hundreds of years. Between 1409 and 1424 the family recieved numerous grants of land from the powerful Earl of Douglas. Archibald Carruthers, 7th Laird of Mouswald, was succeeded by his first son, Sir Simon who became the 8th Laird and 3rd Baron of Mousewald. Sir Simon Carruthers was born in 1452 and died in 1502 in a border raid.
On March 8, 1588, the history of the Carruthers family of Mouswald comes to an end, for on that date Sir James Douglas resigned all the lands of the Carruthers which went to King James VI and his heirs.
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This weeks Knight of the week: "Sir James 'The good' Douglas" - The Douglas family built the first Douglas castle in 1288. James was born in 1286, the eldest son of Sir William Douglas. Sir James was known as the "Black Douglas" to the English, because he had black hair and a dark skin complection. He was known as "The Good Douglas" to the Scots, since he was a friend of William Wallace. He was "Lord of Douglas" from 1298 onwards. James was sent to France in his early days where Sir William Lamberton took him as a squire and trained him for knighthood. On his return in 1304, he found an englishman in possession of his estates. In 1306 the young squire joined with Robert the Bruce who was that year made King of Scotland. At the same time, Bruce's sister was held in a cage in Roxburgh Castle, originally a Scotts Castle, which had been captured by the English.
In 1313, James and a group of 60 men attacked the castle by stealth, and freed Bruce's sister. In 1314, on the eve of the Battle of Bannockburn, James was knighted and made knight banneret. Sir James fought on the left wing and pushed the english back to their camp at Dunbar Castle, thus freeing up the Douglas estate. In 1318, Sir James was named a s guardian of the Realm and tutor to the future king Robert II. In 1327, Edward III seized power and was determined to make gains against the Scots. At the battle of Stanhope Park, Sir James got as far as the english king's tent, but the king escaped. After this defeat, in 1329, the English finally acknowledged Bruce as the King of the Scots and gave them back Roxburgh Castle!
When Bruce died, Sir James was instructed to take his heart to the Holy Land, bearing it in a silver casket. On the way he took part in the crusade against the Moors in Spain, where Sir James and most of his men were killed. His body and the silver casket were found on the battlefield and taken back to Scotland.
Sir James was truely one of Scotland's greatest knights and Bruce's most loyal supporter.
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By the way, I am running out of knights...only a few left to post. I'm saving my favorite for last.
Sir John
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I can't wait to see who it is!
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I can't wait to see who it is!
Me too! Edward the Black Prince was already done, and he's probably my favorite, so I'm curious who it will be.
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Out of all the knights I have researched, there is one who is totally unique. If I was a knight back then, I would act as he did. Chivalrous, but excentric. He was quite the character...reminds me of myself...lol
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This week's knight of the week will be a little different. If you remember I wrote a screenplay for a movie about knights for you guys. Originally I was going to do it about Sir Wm. Marshal, but I figured too much has been done on him, and I could never do him justice, so I changed the theme of the movie. But not until I had made 2 cloth coats of arms that I was going to put on surcoats, which I didn't. But I thought I'd post then here and give the backmground on those two knights.
This weeks Knights of the week: "Sir William Tancarville and Sir Patrick, Earl of Salisbury" - At the age of 13, William Marshal was sent to his cousin, William De Tancarville (1128-1190) to begin his military training for knighthood. William de Tancarville was known throughout Europe as one of the grander patrons of knighthood. After 6 years of being squire in the Tancarville household, William Marshal was knighted in 1166. Soon after he joined his cousin in a battle against the French, which they won. The battle over, they returned home, but recieved word of a tournament held near Le Mans. After the tournament, Sir William Marshal returned to England and his cousin Sir William took 20 of his best knights and went on a Crusade (the 3rd) with King Richard the Lionheart, where he was killed in 1190.
Sir William Marshal returned to England in 1167 where he met his uncle, Earl Patrick de Salisbury (1135-1168). At that time, Patrick was not an Earl, but he transferred his allegiance from King Stephen to Empress Matilda. This political move gained him the title of Earl. Sir William Marshal was serving under his uncle, when they were summoned to supress the revolt of the nobility of Poitou. King Henry captured the castle of Lusignan and then left with to meet with Louis VII of France, leaving behind his Queen, Elanor. Sir William's uncle stayed with her. In 1168 Queen Elanor and Earl Patrick were riding outside the castle when he ran into his enemy, Guy de Lusignan. Patrick and his men were unarmed, but refused to run from the enemy. In the battle, Patrick was struck with a single blow to his back, killing him. Sir William Marshal, seeing his uncle fall, charged toward the enemy but he too was struck down, that killed his horse. Being unable to escape, Sir William Marshal began to fight on foot. He killed off several of the enemy, but he was outnumbered and taken prisoner.
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I think, with the holidays approaching...time with everyone will be at a minimum, so I will take a break from the knight of the week untill after the holidays. Hope everyone has a great one!
Sir Johann von Felsenbau
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I think, with the holidays approaching...time with everyone will be at a minimum, so I will take a break from the knight of the week untill after the holidays. Hope everyone has a great one!
Sir Johann von Felsenbau
Sounds like a good plan. I know the holidays get hectic over here, so I'm guessing it's like that for a lot of folks.
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I think, with the holidays approaching...time with everyone will be at a minimum, so I will take a break from the knight of the week untill after the holidays. Hope everyone has a great one!
Sir Johann von Felsenbau
December is always a crazy one; two holidays (counting New Year's day midnight), 4 family birthdays, and the whole dreadful "shopping" thing....
Enjoy the holidays!!
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The “Knight” before Christmas:
T’was the “KNIGHT” before Christmas, and all over the Shire,
The Lords and their Ladies were about to retire.
The Squires were busy, polishing their swords,
While the Knight in-charge spoke encouraging words.
When all of a sudden, there arose such a clatter,
The Men at Arms hurried, to see what was the matter.
Some carried Pikes in an offensive pose,
While others were armed, with wicked crossbows.
Up to the ramparts, the guards they did crowd,
Running as fast as their armor allowed.
They suddenly stopped and looked at the sight,
Not knowing whether to retreat or engage in a fight.
For there at the tower, was a knight dressed in red,
With a carriage and eight horses, it was something to dread.
But the knight’s sword was sheathed, showing there was nothing to fear,
He pulled out a sack that at first looked quite queer.
It was a bundle of swords that he flung on his back,
And looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His swords how they twinkled! His red surcoat, how merry,
His helmet was like silver, his smile so daring.
The blade of a knife he held tight in his teeth,
And the shine it encircled his head like a wreathe.
He had a broad face and a little round shield,
That shook when he laughed, like a troll starting to yield.
He ignored all the guards and climbed down the wall,
And ran into the massive castle’s Great Hall.
The Lord was startled as he sat in his chair,
But the red knight ignored him, without even a stare.
He spoke not a word, but opened his sack,
And pulled out the swords, which he put on the rack.
Then waving goodbye, he ran back outside,
And back to his horses, with a bearing of pride.
He jumped in the carriage, and gave out a shout,
He was leaving the castle now, there wasn’t a doubt.
And up to the castle top, the coursers they flew,
The carriage and horses and the red knight too.
But he yelled back at all, as they rode out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good “KNIGHT”
Have a great holiday all.
Sir Johann von Felsenbau
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Excellent, Sir John! Did you write that? Happy Holidays!!
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Most of it is totally my ideas...one or two lines, I got the idea from and rewrote them.
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I really enjoyed that! Thank you Sir John!
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You're quite welcome...I'm trying to keep busy over the holidays...this season seems to be the worst since my wife died.
Sir Johann
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Nicely done, Sir John. :)
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Well-done Sir John. :) Merry Christmas to you.
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Sir William the Marshal has never really gotten his just desserts on-screen; the only notable portrayal in recent years was performed by William Hurt in Robin Hood...he didn't get much screen time but I thought he captured the essence that is The Marshal. I'd love to see a story about his exploits on the big screen w/the typical big Hollywood budget. Hopefully someone with some clout will have the same inclinations as I do!
Merry Christmas, Sir John...I am glad to see you are still with us!
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I'm Back...hey, I only have 4 more knights and I'm done! Here's one of them:
This week's Knight of the Week: "The Knights of Schellenberg" - The Schellenberg dynasty went back to around 1137, with Otto von Freisberg. They served the Swabians under Rudolf von Hapsburg and won political influence and wealth. The name of the settlement of Schellenberg derives from the Knights of Schellenbergs of Bavaria, who settled it in 1260. They became lords of Schellenberg and later built a gothic castle there. This is where the Knights of Schellenberg ruled their country. Most of the walls still stand, and give a good impression of the layout of the fort. From 1260-1350, they ruled as Lords of Schellenberg. (It did not became a principality until 1493)
Schellenberg von Liechtenstein was one of the famous knights of the Schellenberg family. He was Lord of the Manor from 1303-1317. In1350 they sold their estate to the Counts of Werdenberg. Various Schellenberger lines developed in different parts of SW Germany. The modern coat of arms of the city derives from the Schellenberg coat of arms.
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Happy New Year's Sir John. Another good story. :)
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This week's "Knight of the week": Ivanhoe - Ivanhoe is a fictional character based on a novel by Sir Walter Scott.
It's the story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families at a time when English nobility was overwealmingly Norman, The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the 3rd crusade. Ivanhoe's father was Cedric of Rotherwood, who had disinherited his son for supporting Norman King Richard.
The story then moves to the scene of a tournament, which was presided over by King John. On the first day, Ivanhoe appears masked and calls himself "Desdichado" or disinherited one. He manages to defeat some of the best Norman knights and becomes champion of the tournament. He is permitted to chose the queen of the tournament, and he picks the Lady Rowena, whom he loves.
On the second day is a "meleie and Ivanhoe is chosen to lead one of them. Prince John again declares Ivanhoe the victor. At this point he is forced to identify himself to recieve his coronet. Cedric is astonished and refuses to have nothing to do with him. Maurice de Bracy is also infatuated with the Lady Rowena and plans to abduct her and she is taken to his castle. Lady Rowena refuses the advances of de Bracy.
Then follows the account of the storming of the castle by the "Black Knight" and the men of Robin of Loxley. De Bracy surrenders and the Black Knight identifies himself as King Richard, who had just returned from the Crusades. Cedric takes her from the castle, and they go to the nearest Templar Prectory. The Grand Master decides to subject Rebecca to a trial for witchcraft. She is found guilty. Meanwhile King Richard covinces Cedric reconcile with Ivanhoe who when hearing of Rowena's sentence of burning at the stake, rushes to her aide and after fighting de Bracy and winning for Rowena in a trial of combat to settle the matter, she is set free. King Richard banishes the Templars. Finally Ivanhoe and Rowena are married.
PS- only 2 more knights to go.
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I saw the movie Ivanhoe (1982, starring James Mason, a young Sam Neill (Merlin)as de Bois-Guilbert, and a young John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) as de Boeuf) a long time ago and remembered it maybe ten years later and picked up the DVD. Still good fun although now I realize the armor's probably of a wool/textile material and not steel. Still the jousting and battle scenes are good fun and the acting's not so bad.
Nostalgia makes anything better, doesn't it?
Nice choice, Sir John!
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Sir William,
I have quite a lot of movies about knights and the medieval times...and I mean A LOT! If you come to my knighting, you can look at my movie list. Plus you'll get to see the one I made...it lasts about 1 1/2 hours.
Sir John
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I look forward to it, Sir John.
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Sir William,
Here is a list od the VHS and DVD movies that I have:
1. 1612
2. A Kid in Kid Arthur’s Court
3. A Knight in Camelot
4. A Knight’s Tale
5. Alexander Revisited
6. Arn
7. Attack of the Gryphon
8. Becket
9. Beowulf and Grendal
10. Blood Beasts
11. Camelot
12. Casanova
13. Centurion
14. Charlemagne (mini series)
15. Christopher Columbus
16. Cromwell
17. Dark Kingdom
18. Darkest Knight (Ivanhoe)
19. Darkest Knight II
20. Darkest Knight III
21. Dragon Heart – Part II
22. Dragon Heart – A New Beginning
23. Dragon Slayer
24. Druids
25. Dune
26. Dune- Children of
27. Dune Miniseries
28. Dungeons and Dragons – Wrath of the Dragon God
29. Earth Sea
30. El Cid
31. Elizabeth, The Golden Age
32. Excalibur
33. Fall of the Roman Empire
34. First Knight
35. Flesh and Blood
36. George and the Dragon
37. Good King Wenceslas
38. Guinevere
39. Henry V
40. Henry VIII
41. Ironclad
42. Ivanhoe
43. Jason and the Argonauts
44. King Arthur, the Young Warlord
45. Kingdom of Heaven
46. Knights and Armor
47. Knights of the Round Table
48. Man of La Mancha
49. Marco Polo
50. Merlin – Part I
51. Merlin – Part II
52. Merlin’s Apprentice
53. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
54. Outlander
55. Prince Valiant
56. Robin and Marian
57. Robin Hood
58. Season of the Witch
59. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
60. Soldier of God
61. Sorcerers and Wizards
62. Spartacus
63. Sword and the Dragon
64. Sword of the Valiant
65. Sword of War
66. Taras Bulba
67. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
68. The Black Knight
69. The Black Shield of Falworth
70. The Court Jester
70. The Crusades
72. The Dragon King
73. The Lady and the Highwayman
74. The Last Legion
75. The Last Valley
76. The Lion in Winter
77. The Magic Sword
78. The Messenger (Joan of Arc)
79. The Mists of Avalon
80. The Sword of Lancelot
81. The Templar Code
82. The War Lord
83. Timeline
84. Triston and Isolde
85. Troy
86. Vlad
87. Wrath of the Dragon God
88. Your Highness
Is that enough?
Sir John
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Sir William,
Here is a list od the VHS and DVD movies that I have:
1. 1612
2. A Kid in Kid Arthur’s Court
3. A Knight in Camelot
4. A Knight’s Tale
5. Alexander Revisited
6. Arn
7. Attack of the Gryphon
8. Becket
9. Beowulf and Grendal
10. Blood Beasts
11. Camelot
12. Casanova
13. Centurion
14. Charlemagne (mini series)
15. Christopher Columbus
16. Cromwell
17. Dark Kingdom
18. Darkest Knight (Ivanhoe)
19. Darkest Knight II
20. Darkest Knight III
21. Dragon Heart – Part II
22. Dragon Heart – A New Beginning
23. Dragon Slayer
24. Druids
25. Dune
26. Dune- Children of
27. Dune Miniseries
28. Dungeons and Dragons – Wrath of the Dragon God
29. Earth Sea
30. El Cid
31. Elizabeth, The Golden Age
32. Excalibur
33. Fall of the Roman Empire
34. First Knight
35. Flesh and Blood
36. George and the Dragon
37. Good King Wenceslas
38. Guinevere
39. Henry V
40. Henry VIII
41. Ironclad
42. Ivanhoe
43. Jason and the Argonauts
44. King Arthur, the Young Warlord
45. Kingdom of Heaven
46. Knights and Armor
47. Knights of the Round Table
48. Man of La Mancha
49. Marco Polo
50. Merlin – Part I
51. Merlin – Part II
52. Merlin’s Apprentice
53. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
54. Outlander
55. Prince Valiant
56. Robin and Marian
57. Robin Hood
58. Season of the Witch
59. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
60. Soldier of God
61. Sorcerers and Wizards
62. Spartacus
63. Sword and the Dragon
64. Sword of the Valiant
65. Sword of War
66. Taras Bulba
67. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
68. The Black Knight
69. The Black Shield of Falworth
70. The Court Jester
70. The Crusades
72. The Dragon King
73. The Lady and the Highwayman
74. The Last Legion
75. The Last Valley
76. The Lion in Winter
77. The Magic Sword
78. The Messenger (Joan of Arc)
79. The Mists of Avalon
80. The Sword of Lancelot
81. The Templar Code
82. The War Lord
83. Timeline
84. Triston and Isolde
85. Troy
86. Vlad
87. Wrath of the Dragon God
88. Your Highness
Is that enough?
Sir John
Yeah...well..eh...I have NETFLIX. :P So there!! :)
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That'll do, Sir John, that'll do.
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Quite a list, Sir John! A small note, Dragonheart: A New Beginning and Dragonheart II are the same movie. If you have them both, the first was just called "Dragonheart". One of my favorite movies.
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Sir John, well done on an excellent profile of one of my favorite Knightly fiction character! Well done.
For Ye Brethren I have both James Mason and Robert Taylor films, both excellent films. Plus I have the book itself and as an audiobook. ;)
Sir John your film list is quite extensive but will take eternity to view all of them. :P
My favorites from your list are the following:
1. A Knight's Tale (I admit it)
2. Arn
3. Camelot
4. Cromwell
5. El Cid
6. Excalibur
7. First Knight
8. George and the Dragon
9. Henry V (a personal favorite of mine, seen both Lawrence Olivier and Kenneth Branaugh versions)
10. Ivanhoe (both Mason and Taylor versions)
11. Kingdom of Heaven (inaccurate, yes. As a student of history I notice this all the time but a well made film with excellent quotes)
12. Knights of the Round Table (all time favorite!)
13. Man of La Mancha
14. Outlander
15. The Last Legion (nicely made film, but historically unlikely, must see evidence)
16. The Magic Sword (nice TV film, loosely based on the legend of St. George and the Dragon)
17. Tristan and Isolde (nice but please what is it with the romance scenes pushed to the opium level :P )
18. Troy
Lastly: A favorite of mine: King Arthur. Well made film, nice historical take although does have several inaccuracies but that is off track from my main point. Great quotes and acting.
Now I need to see: Becket, Flesh and Blood, Ironclad, Prince Valiant, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sword of the Valiant, Sword and the Dragon, Sword of War, The Black Shield of Falworth, The Dragon King, The Lion in Winter and The Sword of Lancelot. :)
Yes, I remember Dragonheart, I suppose that was the only film I saw at a young age where I got exposed to "The Knight's Code".
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Speaking of Arn, I just ordered the complete version that came out last year for English audiences...can't wait to view it!
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I still like "My" movie the best: "Sir John and the Rascals of Bihor" (set in the location where my father-in-laws family were hereditary blacksmiths to Count Checkonich of Banat!)...but then, I'm the star of the movie, so I gotta like it...lol.
Sir John
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This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Roland d' Anglesis" - He was the chief Paladin of Charlegmagne. Charlegmagne had a sister, Bertha, who was in love with a knight, Milon, who secretly married her against her brother's wishes. They were banished from France and excommunicated by the Pope. The pair arrived in Sutri, Italy where they took refuge in a cave. In that cave, Roland (or Orlando in Italtian) was born. He grew up among the children of the peasantry. Roland was so poor, that half the time, he was half naked. One day, four of his friends (children) brought him some cloth...two brought white, and two brought red. (Later Roland took his coat of arms from the colors of this event)
One day Charlemagne was on his way to Rome to recieve the Imperial Crown. He stopped in Sutri where he dined. Roland (10 years old) and stole as much food as he could. The Emperor ordered the boy followed and brought back to him. When he was brought back, the Emperor asked him why he took the meat and wine? Roland replied that they were for his mother, Lady Bertha, the Emperor's sister, and the knight Milon. The Emperor was greatly moved. He had forgotten his sister entirely...and he reconcilled with her and invited them to come and live with him in his castle.
Roland became a page to Charlemagne and at the age of 16, became squire to his own father. One day the Emperor heard that a robber knight in the Ardennes had a pricely jewel, and he ordered his knights, each accompanied by his squire, to find him and bring the jewl back to him. At one point, Sir Milon took a nap, and Roland thought he could win renown if he captured the jewl himself. He donned his father's armor and sprang on his horse and rode off into the forrest. He soon found the robber knight, both steeds sprang forward and the robber knight fell to the ground. The robber knight drew his sword...and Roland dismounted and drew his sword to meet him. For an hour they fought till they were both near exhaustion. By a gallant stroke, Roland pierced a joint of the robber knight's armor and killed him. Roland took the jewl and concealled it on his breast.
The Emperor had been waiting for all his knights to return and the last one to do so was Sir Milon. Roland handed the Emperor the jewel, and was so delighted, he knighted Roland and he became one of his 12 Paladins, of which Roland eventually became their leader.
He rode with the Emperor on many advantures. For seven years the Emperor made war against the Saracens in Spain. Only one stronghold remained...Saragossa. The king made a deal with the Emperor that if he would spare the city and his life, he would promise to be a vassel of the Emperor and become a Christian. The Emperor agreed, and he rode off with his army.
But once back in France the Spanish King went back on his word and hatched a plot to kill Charlemagne. As the Emperor's army continued homeward, Roland lead the rear guard. The plan was to ambush the rear guard, and with Roland dead, the Emperor would lose the will to fight. On August 15, 778, the ambush took place. The last alive was Roland who blew his famous horn, Olivant, that could be heard at great distances, so that Charlemagne and his army would turn around and avenge his death. But the force required to blow the horn burst his temple, resulting in Roland's death. When the Emperor arrived and saw the massacre there was a fierce battle, where they killed the Spanish King and the Saracens retreated. The Franks followed to the town, and captured it and forced all the inhabitatants to become Christians. So ends the story of Roland.
Only "ONE" more knight to go and I'm finished with the knight of the week. (Can anyone guess who that might be?)
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Only "ONE" more knight to go and I'm finished with the knight of the week. (Can anyone guess who that might be?)
I do have a guess but I will keep it quiet so as to not possibly ruin the final one!
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Sir Roland is a fine example of Chivalry and one of the defining Last Stand Heroes. The Song of Roland is a fine poem. Thank you Sir John and I will not guess on the final Knight of the Week.
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This week's (and the last; my favorite) Knight of the Week- Ulrich von Liechtenstein (the real one):
TIMELINE
Built in 1122 the manor of: Hartwig von Reidling: (was the forerunner of the castle Liechtenstein) (1108-1140) – He was the father of Dietmar I
Liechtenstein castle was built in 1130 by Hugo von Petronell, which he named Liechtenstein ("bright stone"). He then called himself Hugo von Liechtenstein after the Castle. (The Turks destroyed the castle in 1480 and 1529 destroyed it completely.)
Dietmar I. (1126-1140 von Reidling) in 1140 he had fixed the construction of Liechtenstein Castle and took his name from the castle: 1140-1145 von Liechtenstein) Son:
Dietmar II. (d. after 1189) Von Liechtenstein. Son:
Dietmar III. (1164-1218) Von Liechtenstein. Son:
(Liechtenstein was under the rule of the Counts of Montfort (1200-1416))
Ulrich von Liechtenstein (Son of Dietmar III von Liechtenstein and Cunegonde):
-1200: Ulrich Born - at Murau in the Duchy of Styria
-1212-1215: From early childhood, Ulrich receives the traditional education of a knight. In the course of his training he serves as the page to Lady Beatrix, daughter of Otto II of Burgundy (with whom he fell in love)
-1215-1219: The young Ulrich is squire to Margrave Heinrich of Istria.
-1220: He is called away to his father’s side as he dies.
-1222: Ulrich was knighted by the Babenburg Duke Leopold VI of Austria.
-1226: Eventually he took an oath of tourney for the love that inspired him, vowing to meet all comers during a month of travels, that he called: “Journey of Venus” (Venusfahrt), a series of tournaments dressed as Venus in honor of Beatrix. During this series of jousts he defeats over 300 other knights.
-1230: Ulrich marries Percha von Weissenstein, (They had 2 sons and 2 daughters.)
-1232: Ulrich has the Castle Murau built.
-1240: at forty years of age Ulrich organized a new round of tournament jousting based on Arthurian legends (“Artusfahrt”). He himself played the role of Arthur and those that would joust him assumed names such and Gwain, Kay and Lancelot
-1241-1245: Ulrich is mentioned as "Dapifer Stirie" (Lord High Steward in Styria)
-1246: Leader of the Styrian nobility, Ulrich fought in internal battles in Istria and had a hand in absorbing the duchy into the possessions of Rudolph of Habsburg after the ducal House of Babenberg had become extinct. In the campaign in Hungary in 1246, when he was present at the battle on the Leitha, in which his lord, Friedrich II, der Streitbare, was killed. The Interregnum following Friedrich's death was marked by a power struggle between the king of Hungary and King Ottokar of Bohemia over the reign in Austria and Styria that was not settled until Rudolf von Hapsburg was elected king of Germany in 1273.
-1248: Ulrich had the Castle Frauenburg built.
-1250: Ulrich II (M) born; Dietmut (F) born (?);
Philip of Sponheim, the Archbishop-Elect of Salzburg, was deposed by Pope Alexander IV for refusing to take holy orders, Philip raised an army to defend his title. Ulrich agreed to fight for Philip's cause and agreed to provide Philip with 100 fighting men.
-1252: Otto III (M) born – married Diemut von Liechtenstein-not his sister; (Their son: Otto IV married Katharina von MONTFORT.)
Philip's forces decisively defeated his enemies at the Battle of Sachsenburg on the Drava, and Ulrich was one of seven who mediated the ensuing peace.
-1254: The struggle between Bohemia and Hungary was temporarily settled by the peace treaty of Ofen.
-1255: Ulrich wrote: “Frauendienst” –(The Service of Ladies): [He writes of himself as a protagonist who does great deeds of honor to married noblewomen, following the conventions of chaste courtly love. The protagonist embarks on two remarkable quests. In the first quest, he travels from Venice to Vienna in the guise of Venus, the goddess of love. He competes in jousts and tourneys and challenges all the knights he meets to a duel in the honour of his lady. He breaks 307 lances and defeats all comers. The noblewoman, however, mostly spurns his affections and demands more deeds and even mutilation for even the honour to hold her hand. In the second quest, he takes on the role of King Arthur ("Artus"), with his followers becoming Arthurian Round Table characters. Regrettably, the first two pages of the beginning have been lost to time. The protagonist, Ulrich, wanders through Styria and Austria in the guise of King Arthur inviting all knights to "break lance" (that is, to joust) three times with him for honor's sake. In this disguise he attended many tournaments. The story illustrates how a worthy knight-errant was supposed to wander about defeating opponents in honorable combat. The story intersperses some songs and courtly advice to knights and some admonitions to greedy nobles and faithless squires.]
-1257: Ulrich wrote: “Das Frauenbuch” – (The Woman’s Book)
-1260: Perchta: (F) born.
-1267-1272: Ulrich appointed Marshal of Istria.
-1268: Ulrich lost the castles to King Ottokar, but later got them back.
-1269: Ulrich was taken prisoner by King Ottokar. (In the war between the Habsburg and the Bohemian King Ottokar the castle Murau was destroyed, but was later rebuilt by Ulrich’s son, Otto)
-1272-1278: Ulrich appointed Supreme Provincial Judge and Governor of Istria.
-1278: Ulrich dies at aged 78.
He was the owner 3 castles: 1. Liechtenstein
2. Frauenburg (his favorite)
3. Murau
-1304: Publication of the Manesse Codex including one of Sir Ulrich showing his coat of arms.
-1880: Illustration of Sir Ulrich (as Lady Venus) done by artist Otto von Leixner
The current government of the von und zu Liechtenstein, is derived from the Styrian line, whose most famous ancestor was the minstrel Ulrich von Liechtenstein (Frauenburg-Unzmarkt and ruin Liechtenstein Judenburg)
[I have both of his books. Only the first has been translated into English. I am currently translating the second book which is in German.]
Note: He is my favorite knight, not only because he was a good fighter in battles, but he was romantic, rose from nothing (like Wm. Marshal) to great power.....and especially because he was excentric...which I also am.
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An excellent choice for the final Knight of the Week, Sir John! Quite the detailed history.
I was wrong in my guess; I thought the final Knight of the Week would have been Sir John of Felsenbau himself!
Also, thank you for the contribution to the forums with all of these. It is appreciated!
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You're quite welcome!
Now I have to figure out what to do next to add to the site. My Knight of the week brought many viewers...hope that results in more people wanting to join us.
For now, I am busy getting ready for my knighting. I think you will find it overwhelming!
I am, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Sir Johann von Felsenbau
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Impressive, I knew there was something Chivalrous about Liechtenstein. ;)
Well done Sir John, your Knights of the Week have contributed greatly to this audience and for potential Knights of the Order of the Marshal. Well done and many thanks.
Do get your Knighting in order. I am sure it will be a great event. I must admit I might not be able to make it there but I am with you all in the spirit of Chivalry.
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I've always looked forward to such writings Sir John...perhaps now would be a good time to sojourn into the exploits of legendary, but not necessarily 'real' knights...maybe some of us can even be of existence.
I'm thinking LOTR characters, Game of Thrones or any other resource one can think of where exemplary warriors might be written about. Could be fun. I even have a rudimentary outline for Aragorn, son of Arathorn- that is, in Game of Thrones parlance, the Second of His Name. ;)
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I enjoyed your historical stories of the Knights, Sir John. :) You put much effort into making them stand out. Thank you for additions. Everyone contributing something makes this more than before. ;)
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I'm wondering how you keep all of those helms, surcoats, and shields in your house. I know I'd be hard pressed to make the space for it. :)
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bah its not that hard lol
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LOL
Wolf'd know wouldn't he?
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Do you guys plan on renting out space for all the excess that comes with being a medieval history & collectibles junkee or are you just going to do what I do...let your wife complain about all the crap constantly cluttering the apartment & promise to put stuff away?? ;D LOL
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I've started rotating out older items in the collection to make space for new things. Mostly. :)
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Do you guys plan on renting out space for all the excess that comes with being a medieval history & collectibles junkee or are you just going to do what I do...let your wife complain about all the crap constantly cluttering the apartment & promise to put stuff away?? ;D LOL
You could always remove the wife.
lol, I kid, I kid....
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Do you guys plan on renting out space for all the excess that comes with being a medieval history & collectibles junkee or are you just going to do what I do...let your wife complain about all the crap constantly cluttering the apartment & promise to put stuff away?? ;D LOL
You could always remove the wife.
lol, I kid, I kid....
The wife might take offense at being called clutter Sir James. :)
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I've started rotating out older items in the collection to make space for new things. Mostly. :)
Isn't it about time for you to have to do that again? ;)
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The wife might take offense at being called clutter Sir James. :)
lol! I would imagine so. :)
Isn't it about time for you to have to do that again? ;)
It's not too bad at the moment. I'm not really adding much other than scabbards at the moment. Except of course that mac-bible "glaive" when it finally gets here.
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Huh. Guess we'll just have to wait for the next, uh, rotation. lol
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Do you guys plan on renting out space for all the excess that comes with being a medieval history & collectibles junkee or are you just going to do what I do...let your wife complain about all the crap constantly cluttering the apartment & promise to put stuff away?? ;D LOL
You could always remove the wife.
lol, I kid, I kid....
The wife might take offense at being called clutter Sir James. :)
Wasn't a label I gave her. :) Just said it's an option to remove the wife. Mine never complained about the clutter, since she had an equal amount of clutter, except in clothing and shoes... ;)
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Mine never complained about the clutter, since she had an equal amount of clutter, except in clothing and shoes... ;)
Bingo! Same situation as me...but then, I don't have the amount of 'clutter' that you possess Sir James...at least, not yet. ;)
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Believe me, when you see my house, you'll understand why it's more like a museum with all the helmets, shield, etc. I had to stop cause I ran out of room. That's also why I want to keep the members of the group at 5 for my knighting...due to my house being a clutter of the medieval. Also...if you're looking for "good housekeeping" forget it. I do the bare minimum since my wife passed away. I'm still having a very hard time being all alone.
Some of the knights I did were from stories and not real knights. I do plan to add more on my favorite: Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein. I have really dug into research and found out a lot more detail.
Sir John
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Sir John,
Just a thought....
Any thoughts on Sir Robert Pembridge as a potential "Knight of the Week?" :) After all, he's inspired such a nice helmet that adorns my melon when fighting.
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Lord Dane,
My knight of the week not only included his history, but also his helmet, a surcoat and a shield. I have no more room for any more...that's why I stopped. Feel free to do research on your own.
Sir John
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Oh sorry I missed that one. My apologies.
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It seems I would like to take up the gauntlet on this one.
Sir John: We understand and if you wish I can step in a write posts for Knights in History and Literature. My focus in the History department is the Hundred Years War and I might add a couple of Knights in the Renaissance.
The Literature is going to be an exploration of how Chivalry lived in novels that we recognize from popular culture. The novels will include regular Medieval and Renaissance Literature but also a couple of stories that have been adapted into Hollywood films. The idea is to show examples of Chivalry in different lenses of perspective, they will be posted on my facebook and I will post the links here. If there are issues, I will post the topics here.
What say ye Brethren?
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Sir Joshua, you should create a separate thread and do it from there.
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Sir Joshua, you should create a separate thread and do it from there.
Yep, a separate thread would be ideal.
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Alright, will do so. I think I will call it "Chivalry of the Week" or does someone have a better idea than me?
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Sounds good to me...that will allow me to continue with some things I still have in mind. Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I had a virus for 2 weeks, which now has turned into a sinus infection, so will be resting more this week.
Sir John
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Well ANY more??? Lol
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Talk to Sir Brian.
Sir John
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you did one about Sir Brian? wow i mean he's kinda old and all. but wow... where did ya get all of the first hand sources n stuff lol
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you did one about Sir Brian? wow i mean he's kinda old and all. but wow... where did ya get all of the first hand sources n stuff lol
I think he means Sir Joshua, who mentioned starting a "Chivalry of the Week" thread
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you did one about Sir Brian? wow i mean he's kinda old and all. but wow... where did ya get all of the first hand sources n stuff lol
Beware Sir Goat less you incur the wrath of this OLD and gray panther! ;)
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All right Gentlemen, easy there. ;)
The "Chivalry of the Week" will start soon, I am compiling a list of Knights featured in History and Literature (the History Knights will be the less mentioned to the famous one and their influence in literature). I am plan to start this next week from today. It is going to be an introduction post.
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Sir Wolf,
I thought you were talking about my knighting.
Sir John
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you did one about Sir Brian? wow i mean he's kinda old and all. but wow... where did ya get all of the first hand sources n stuff lol
Beware Sir Goat less you incur the wrath of this OLD and gray panther! ;)
Is he...-is he calling you old, Sir Brian? Methinks a holmgang be in order. :)
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Old?....OLD?? OLD??? No I AM OLD!!
I'm so old, that I got my first chocolate from Noah on his ark!
I'm so old, that I was present at the birth of fire!
I'm so old, that I learned math using an abacus!
I'm so old, that my mail is delivered by a Roman Centurion!
I'm so old, that my newspaper is printed in Aramais!
I'm so old, that my first car was a chariot!
I'm so old, that my birthstone is lava!
I'm so old, that I called my first wife "Hun" because she was one!
I'm so old, that I knew Burger King when he was only a prince!
I'm so old, that my first Christmas WAS the first Christmas!
I'm so old, that my high school graduation picture was a cave painting!
I'm so old, that my high school prom theme was fire!
I'm so old, that when I was a kid, I had a dinosaur as a pet!
I'm so old , that for dinner I had Mastadon meat!
I'm so old, that I was an eyewitness to the birth of agriculture!
I'm so old, that for breakfast I had scrambled Pteradactyle eggs!
I'm so old, that there were only 10 letters in the alphabet!
I'm so old, that my parents were Adam and Eve!
Does that settle the matter!!
OLD Sir John
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Ha! Nicely done, good sir. :)
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Ha! Nicely done indeed. Reminds me of a card my sister sent me a picture of last year for my birthday:
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/246897_453359728017978_1720656849_n.jpg)
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Thank you brethren! It's nice to know my brothers have my back against young whippersnappers, even if brother young whippersnappers! ;)
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Brother young whippersnapper reporting! ;D
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you did one about Sir Brian? wow i mean he's kinda old and all. but wow... where did ya get all of the first hand sources n stuff lol
Beware Sir Goat less you incur the wrath of this OLD and gray panther! ;)
Is he...-is he calling you old, Sir Brian? Methinks a holmgang be in order. :)
The Order of the Holmgang?? ???
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What's funny about having learned math on an abacus? They were still using those when I was in 2nd grade- and I knew how to use it, too. :)
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I'm glad my wit (or is that half-wit) is appreciated.
Sir John
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Hahahahahahaha! I am dying from laughter from this. But it is full of Wit credited to Sir John.
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Joshua,
Hope I spelled your name right....you are so great for my ego! Sometime I gotta meet you. You're in S. NJ? Maybe if you go to the PA Ren Faire for the day, you could pick me up...I'll pay your way into the Faire if you do.
Sir John
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Sir John,
You did, hahaha! many thanks. That is agreed, I am still in S. NJ, I will think about it and would much appreciate it. Just PM me your contact information so I can let you in ahead of time.
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Joshua,
I'm in the Philadelphia area. If you're near Mullica Hill, you could take that bridge then up to route 1, and that sorta takes you very near me. I don't like driving long drives, but I love the PA Ren Faire. Something to think about...and the free admission, and even some money for gas is in the deal.
Sir John
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Sir John,
Thank you very much. I think that where everyone here is, it will be one long drive to meet up. Thank you still.
Joshua (Knight in Training)
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Now that my back is feeling much better and can sit at the computer...I am going to continue with Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein. I've done a lot of research on him, and next week I will start posting.
Sir John
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Now that my back is feeling much better and can sit at the computer...I am going to continue with Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein. I've done a lot of research on him, and next week I will start posting.
Sir John
Excellent. Glad you are feeling better and looking forward to more postings.
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Great news indeed! - Perhaps you can consider a new date for your knighting ceremony? I won't be available until after Mid-June but after that my schedule is wide open. :)
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Glad you are feeling better Sir John. :D Now we can continue the forum's history lessons. 8)
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Excellent News! I am looking forward to reading your research!
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Gentlemen,
I'm still taking it easy with my back...and now it seems my computer is acting up....won't be able to have it checked out till the weekend.
As long as the temps aren't too hot...plus I still have much to finish setting up for my knighting. I'll keep you informed.
Sir John
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Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein wrote two books, the first "Frauendienst" is more of an auto biography. So I will start there. I used many sources to put this together, a lot from his writings himself.
Frauendienst:
Ulrich von Liechtenstein (1200–1278) was a medieval ministerialis and minnesinger, author of noted works about how knights and nobles may lead more virtuous lives, and a powerful leader in the 13th century Eastern Alps. He was born in 1200 at Murau in the Duchy of Styria, located in the present-day State of Austria. His family, a cadet branch of the Bavarian Aribonids named after Liechtenstein Castle near Judenburg.
Ulrich is famous for his supposedly autobiographical poetry collection Frauendienst (Service of the Lady). He writes of himself as a protagonist who does great deeds of honor to married noblewomen, following the conventions of chaste courtly love. The protagonist embarks on two remarkable quests. However this is not the first famous tournament of Sir Ulrich for his Lady.
A little about the Lady first and how he became to know her. Her name was Beatrice II, Countess of Burgundy (House of Hohenstaufen). Born 1191 to: Otto I, Count of Burgundy and Margaret, Countess of Blois. (thereby a granddaughter of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.) From the time of her father's assassination at Besançon in 1200, she was next-in-line to the County, eventually succeeding Joanna after her death in 1205. Her uncle Philip of Swabia, German king since 1198, had ensured her Burgundian heritage. She was the Countess of Burgundy 1201 – 1231.
Ulrich, at the precocious age of five years (1205), while his favorite amusement was galloping his hobby-horse in the castle court-yard, Ulrich listened eagerly to and treasured in his heart the sayings of his fellow wooden-horsemen, perhaps a year or two older than himself, to the effect that true honor and happiness could be acquired only by faithfully serving a noble and lovely woman, and loving her as one's own life.
On June 21, 1208 (at age 17) Beatrice married Duke Otto of Merania, a member of the Bavarian House of Andechs, by whom she had 6 children. (Otto died in 1234)… The noble family originally resided in southwestern Bavaria at the castle of Niestens near Innsbruck, controlling the road to the March of Verona across the Brenner Pass, at Dießen am Ammersee and Wolfratshausen.
In 1212: Ulrich von Liechtenstein goes to Niesten Castle and serves as a page to the Countess Beatrice II. Undaunted by the fact that she is married and much older than he, he is enamored by her.
At the age of seventeen (1217) he goes off to the court of Margrave Henry of Istria (Henry II, 1204–1228, also Margrave of Carniola) son of Duke Berthold IV of Merania, to serve him as his Squire.
In 1220, After four years of such instruction, his father's death called him home to inherit his property, and he spent the next three years (1220-1222) that followed by tourneying in the noviciate of knighthood.
At Vienna, in 1222, during the great festival in celebration of the marriage of Leopold's daughter, he was knighted by Duke Leopold VI of Austria. Here he saw his lady again; Ulrich did not wake from his to do anything so practical as to speak face to face with her, but gaily rode off to a summer of adventure in twelve tournaments, wherein he invariably fared well, thanks to his devotion.
With the last of autumn, Ulrich's spirit grows heavy. He longs to see his lady, he knows that now he would speak to her. There are no tourneys to distract him, he asks that the countess allow him to be an acknowledged but distant and respectful admirer. She lets him know that he is much too ugly to be considered even in the role of a distant admirer, since he has a hairlip.
Ulrich rides off to find the best surgeon in the country, and submit to an operation. But the doctor decides that the time of year is unsuitable; he must wait until winter is past, keep his three lips until May. (1223)
At last spring(1223) comes and Ulrich returns to the doctor. Ulrich describes the discomfort which he experienced during the healing of the wound, in details which give an unpleasant notion of the methods of mediaeval surgery. As he was able to eat and drink scarcely anything, . Finally the lady allowed him to joust in her name, but she wouldn't part with as much as a ribbon for him to carry.
Another summer (1223) passed in tourneying, and during another winter he tried to amuse himself by making poetry for his lady. This time he sent her a more pretentious tribute, his first "Buchlein," a poem of some four hundred lines. The countess told the bearer that she recognized the merit of the poetry, but she would have nothing to do with it.
Summer again (1224), and the lover has diversion in the sports of chivalry. Anyone interested in the details of mediaeval tournaments will find in Ulrich's narrative a valuable and lively record of the tourney held at Friesach in 1224.
(To be continued)
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Friesach
The Prince Leopold of Austria sent a messenger to the two princes with the request to allow him to mediate between them. And both agreed that, a day for the action of the princes was convened specifically to Friesach on the day Sancti Philippi (First of May). “When I heard that, I was glad of heart, went to my brother and said, There comes a Friesach to large amount of men together. Their chivalry we should consider. You have a good guess, he replied. Since we want to create with knights in the forest and all the every day, desires the fight, give him also. And so you come to us, we want to announce it. Many will come. Because then Maytime, to which one is not like at home." Pretty much every decent knight from all over Central Europe came to this tournament.
The tournament began with a haphazard joust between one member of each team in the field between the two armies, and was followed by the melee, the principle event. The two teams would make an initial charge with lances couched. When the lances were broken, one could draw another weapon, including sword and mace, as the weapons used were weapons of war as opposed to abated weapons , which came to be used later in the tournament's history.
First, there were the Prince Leopold and the Margrave of Istria, then Duke Bernhard of Carinthia, Margrave of Diepoldsberg Boheburg, Count Albrecht of Count Meinhard of Tyrol and Gorizia. Then we saw the Liebenau, one of Heunburg, who arrived with several knights, Count Hermann of places castle. Count Ulrich of Pfannberg was there - then Hugo of Tures and the brothers of Schauenbergstrasse. Chivalrous found their way to the Domvogt of Regensburg, Mr. Otto of Lengenbach that. Von Auersperg, Konrad Sonneck, Dietmar pot of stone Of the vassals I call you Hartnid of place Hartnid of Wildon, the exchange of mountain men of Murreck Reinprecht, who came with many knights, Rudolf Ras, a Königsperg, Hermann of Crane Mountain (Krainverg?) Men Offo and two Henry of Pitten, Heinrich and colleagues from Truhsen (Trixen?), Otto von Graz and his brother Ortolf, a Wolkensteiner, Gundacker of Steyr and his brother Dietmar , Mr Ekkehard of fir, Gundacker of Stark Mountain, Albrecht of Nußberg, Hadmar of Kuenring with thirty knights, Wölfelin of Gars, Otto von Schoenkirchen, Rüdiger von Antschowe (Anjou), Ulrich von Steunze and of Ottenstein, Hadmar of Schoenberg, the men of hook mountain, Mr. Heinrich of [Fußnote]
In addition, about 600 knights were present, and more than ten spiritual masters who wanted to help to settle the dispute. . Often the knights clashed together so that both fell and lay unconscious on the ground. The knights were divided into two teams, one led by the Duke of Austria, and the other by The Margrave of Istria.
The Styrian minnesinger Ulrich von Liechtenstein appeared dressed and equipped all in green. His Tabard, horse blanket were made of green velvet, shield, helmet, the 12 spears were grass green. Green were my servants, the green ceiling of their horses. I even took a green spear in his hand, and rode to the square. The first day he broke 30 lances.
The next morning, attracted the champions again happy and high-spirited approach. Since I was already ready with shield and crest apparel. At first I ran to Konrad Sonneck. He was followed by Mr. Leutold Pettach, the Königsperger and Mr. Ulrich von Steunze. At these fours I (Ulrich) broke 13 lances. Now came against me Lord Wolfger of Gars, who, like me, spent two lances. Then I stabbed Men Leupold Lengenbach castle of the helmet from his head - then I retreated to my tent. The Knight's game lasted 10 days. More than 1000 spears broken; probably 150 Knights lost their horses. Ulrich alone broke 53 of his adversaries’ lances.
(The story of Ulrich von Liechtenstein provides us with a very important contrast between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and acts as a stepping stone to other developments in the tournament's history. The distinction between joust and tournament emerges clearly in Ulrich’s account of the tournament of Friesach. The brothers Ulrich and Dietmar decided to use the opportunity for a martial game. “Let us both, together with a retinue of knights, lie in foreis, so that anybody who may have the desire, while the assembly of princes lasts, can fight us in knightly fashion.” This foreis refers to a special form of the tournament, where a single knight or a group of knights take up position outside the camp. This was a challenge to others to try their strength with them in single combat. The Liechtensteiner brothers were so successful that all the knights at the tournament spent the ten days riding jousts (rather than the usual melee) The duke of Carinthia did not like this new form of tournament and put a stop to it.)
(To be continued)
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That's a lot of detail. Thank you for compiling all of that, Sir John.
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Sir James,
It's my pleasure and contribution to the Order.
Sir John
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This is still an awesome thread, Sir John. How're you holding up these days?
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Sir William,
Well my back was doing great, but I had to put in the bedroom a/c (no family or friends to help) and my back is sore again. Now this heat wave really has me down. Too hot too quick.
Thanks for asking.
Sir John
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Take your time sir John, well done on your thread.
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In winter, I (Ulrich) rode on a visit to the land in which sat my Frowe, thinking back and forth as I could find a messenger to tell her my will. The summer (1225) came again with its beautiful days. I rode joyfully to Carinthia, Carniola, and Istria. In Trieste, the Count Meinhard hosted a tournament in which I myself broke 15 lances and learned that a tournament would be held in Bressanone. When I arrived, I was warmly welcomed and friendly, the knights was a dear guest. A beautiful joust happened – but during a joust with Herr Uolschalk of Bolzano one of Ulrich’s fingers was seriously wounded, and in his anxiety to save it he offered a surgeon a thousand pounds for a cure. The treatment was unsuccessful, so off to the home of the inexorable went a new the story of unflinching devotion, the loss of a finger in a tournament.
The knight passed the summer (1225) in Steierland (Styria) under arms, and after pleasant experiences he sent his messenger again, only to have his suit repelled with the same coldness and decision as before. The report was even more discouraging, for the lady, who had been told of his losing a finger in her service, had now learned that he still had it; nor was she moved by the assurance that it was almost useless.
Ulrich responded by having a friend hack off the finger and sent it to the lady in a green velvet case. She was so impressed by his show of devotion that she sent back a message that she would look at it every day. With such a speech, he came to me, and I was glad of her heart. But then came another message that he should not believe that he was closer to his goal, because I keep the finger. His effort is lost on me." The news saddened, but did not cast down. Poor Ulrich became terribly downcast, sang a song of dreary winter, and when the next summer 1226 came went again in quest of tourneys, breaking innumerable lances in honor of his lady-love.
Secretly, I (Ulrich) want to steal from the country and as a pilgrim who makes his journey to Rome. But I will - this winter it should be - stop me to Venice and stay there until May. There I will prepare myself well, as befits a queen.
Preperation for the Venusfahrt
Now a large idea visits this sanguine gentleman. Gone to Rome on a pilgrimage, that is what he will pretend. It is to Venice that he goes— cautiously, so as not to be observed. He arrayed himself in the garb of a pilgrim, left his castle Lichtenstein, and wandered on foot out of the country. When he came to Venice he stopped at a small tavern.
There he spends the winter, and ordered to be secretly prepared for him twelve white ladies' dresses, thirty fine chemise-sleeves, three white velvet cloaks, and two ladies' head-dresses adorned with pearls. He then engaged twelve foreign servants who did not know his name, dressed them all in white clothes, bought white helms, shields, and a hundred white spears for himself and his followers, and white saddles, bridles, and dressings for his horses ; and thus prepared, sent thirty days before his own departure a messenger with an open letter to all the knights of Lombardy, Austria, Bohemia, etc., telling them that on the 24th of April 1227 the Goddess of Love, Venus, would arise from the Venetian sea and travel northward to Bohemia.
(To be continued)
(In case I failed to mention...Ulrich uses "break a lance" to mean "Joust")
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Venusfahrt
When spring came, he rode on horseback, dressed in his gorgeous female attire of velvet and satin; white silk gloves covered his hands, white sleeves his arms, and a thick white veil his face. His helmet decorated with a rather large female torso representing the goddess Venus in a flowing gown, holding in one hand an arrow (symbolizing love) and a torch in the other hand. The helmet towered on his head, from which two long pearl-embroidered braids hung down to his waist. He was preceded by his twelve squires, all dressed in white and carrying a white banner; two white-dressed maids, and a half-dozen or so of fiddlers, trumpeters, and flute-players.
The narrative of this '' Venus-journey '' is prolonged, detailed, and tedious. Wherever the knight goes, numerous contestants are awaiting him, in this idle age when no one had anything to do. Some of these, also, assume disguises, one as a monk, another in female costume, his shield and spear aesthetic with flowers. But the travelling combatant (Ulrich) is always the winner.
The first day to Treviso, the second day of the Piave River, the third to Sacile, the fourth to St. Odorico ,the fifth to Gemona ,the sixth to Chiusaforte , the seventh to Thoerl (ze the gate), the eighth day until Villach. There they rested the ninth day.
The tenth day he comes to Feldkirchen , the eleventh to St. Veit , the twelfth to Friesach , the thirteenth to Scheufling , the fourteenth of Judenburg , the fifteenth to Knittelfeld, the sixteenth to Leoben , the seventeenth to Kapfenberg, the eighteenth to Mürzzuschlag , the nineteenth to Gloggnitz . The twentieth day it remains there.
On the twenty days they come to Neunkirchen , on the twenty to Wiener-Neustadt (Niwenstadt), on the twenty-third to Traiskirchen ,on the twenty-fourth to Vienna, where it remains the twenty-fifth day. On the twenty-sixth they stayed in Kornneuburg (Niuwenburg) on the twenty-seventh Mistelbach , on the twenty-eighth in Feldberg, on the twenty-ninth day it is on the other bank of the Thaya (Tye) in Bohemia. There, their journey has an end and they rode back to Liechtenstein.
On one of the days he had gone to a retired place for a bath, and his attendant had gone to bring a suit. While thus left quite alone and unprotected, a lady sent by her servant a suit of female garments, a piece of tapestry, a coat, a girdle, a fine buckle, a garland, a ring with a ruby red as a lady's sweet mouth, and a letter. To receive such a gift from a lady not one's love was treason.
The Venus-journey ended, and Ulrich counted up the results: he had broken three hundred and seven lances (won 307 jousts) and defeated all comers.. (To break a lance means to Joust) At any rate, the next visit of the messenger brought a bitter dismissal, with cruel charges of inconstancy. She would always hate him, and never hold him dear; she was angry with herself for giving him a ring; she bade him return it at once.
(to be continued)
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That is awesome Sir John. It's funny, not even a week has passed since my lady and I and her two-year old enjoyed "A Knight's Tale." After watching the bonus features, we had to look up and see if a "Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein" ever existed in history because of how well done and plausible the rest of the story was. It's nice to see even more detail into that fine Knight
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Glad you like it, I still have more on this particular knight. Thejn I'll have to find something else to post.
Sir John of Felsenbau
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Another message from his dream brought a renewed expression of coldness. She felt kindly to him, but she never would grant favor to anyone. But another song and messenger secure at last the promise of an interview. She says she will see him if he will come the next Sunday morning before breakfast, dressed in poor clothes, and in company with a squad of lepers who have a camp near her castle. On Saturday lie rode thirty-six miles, lost two horses by the forced journey, very likely over rough country, and was wearied by the exertion of so hard an effort. But he succeeded, and as soon as they reach the neighborhood of the castle, he and his two companions put on poor clothes—the shabbiest they could procure,—and with leper cups and long knives for their safety among such outcasts of society, they go to the spot where thirty lepers are huddled together.
Toward evening he secured another interview with the maid, and received directions for the night. He and his companion hid in the ditch before the castle, skulking from the observation of the patrol, until well after dark; then when the signal light appeared at a certain window he went beneath it, and found a rope made of clothes hanging down. In this he fastened himself, and hands above began to raise him, but when he was half way up they could raise him no farther, and he was let down to the ground. This happened three times, but finally was lifted into the window by the waiting ladies above, and then Ulrich himself arrived there.
He was ushered into the presence of the woman whom he had so long served without even a glimpse. Ulrich began to tell the story of his heart, and entreats her to respond to his devotion. She assured him that she had no thought of ever loving him; she had consented to this interview only to assure him of her kindly feeling, and satisfy him from her own lips that he must cherish no romantic hope.
Now or never, he sends her word of his determination, and then rushes in and tells her that if she will not say she loves him, he will kill himself then and there. The lady sees that such a suicide would be compromising, and tries to persuade him that perhaps she may some time. Ah, no such coyness; she must confess her love to-night.
Finally, as a last resource, she thinks of employing the usual right of a courted woman—putting her lover to a test of his devotion. He has already given her so many that a trifling, a merely formal one will serve now. Let him just get into the clothes-rope again and be lowered part way down, and pulled back; then she will say she loves him. A glimmer of suspicion flits over his mind, but she gives him her hand as a pledge, and he gets into the rope. Now he is hanging outside the window, still holding the dear hand, and such sweet things as she whispers, as she leans out—no knight was ever so dear to her; now comes his contentment, all his troubles are past now! She even coddles his chin with her disengaged hand, and bids him kiss her. Kiss her! In his joy he lets go the hand he was holding, to throw both arms about her neck, when suddenly he is dropped to the ground so swiftly '' that he ran great peril of his life."
The lady, as the squire alleged, had excused herself by saying that the sudden entrance of an unfaithful maid had compelled her to so cruel a proceeding, and that she had pledged herself soon to admit him to her favor. Meanwhile, Ulrich was to return to his castle and wife; which the rueful knight did.
In another freak of coquetry sent him word that he must join the next Crusade in her service. Ulrich was delighted to be able to do something for his mistress's glory, and sent her a glowing poem descriptive of her unparalleled kindness and his unparalleled bliss and glory in that his noble lady had permitted him to go and fight for God and the cross in her service. For this poem and a new song she returned him her kindest thanks, and bid him prepare himself for the Holy Land, but not to leave till he had been called by her to another meeting.
There she relieved him from the Crusade, and bade him stay with her. In the full enjoyment of her love Ulrich passed two years (1228-1229) of roaming, singing, and tourneying — two very happy years. About the end of that time, however, his lady, the countess, played him a trick of so outrageous a nature that Ulrich dares not tell what it was. Finally he conceived himself treated shamefully (we are not told what the discourtesy was which he could not idealize), and he made a final break with his old worship. (1231: Lady Beatrix dies.)
(To be continued)
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Artusfahrt
When Ulrich recovered from the defeat with his first Lady love, he embarked on a second quest together with 6 companions in 1240, this time for a new lady’s favor.
If we look at Ulrich's relationship to the first and second lady, we can notice a large discrepancy. The first lady was married and acted hostile towards Ulrich. Also, the fact that she was of higher social, spoke against that love. It comes to the turn. A "crime" that explains Ulrich unspecified, is the trigger for his service Ulrich of the first lady announces over. He sings two songs and five Scheltlieder action and looking for a new lady that will bring him joy again. The second service runs much quieter, because he no longer needs to fight for the favor of the lady. Communication in the second part of the novel, where Ulrich desires other lady is completely different. There are no more mutilations, perhaps just because the second lady returns his affection. The courtly love does not fail and so does not fail to communicate.
Unfortunately, the beginning of his artusfahrt is missing. Regrettably, the first two pages of the beginning have been lost to time.
The tournament circuit went through Carinthia. Dressed as King Arthur, he journeyed through the land and promised admission to his “Round Table” to any knight who would break three lances with him.
He probably began from Liechtenstein Castle, since the other two hadn’t been built yet.. His journal begins with him already at a tournament. The first mentioned in his Journal is Eppenstein, however Klangenfurt probably was his first stop. At this location we only know that he jousted with Konrad von Stretwich (His joust was good. He stabbed me in the helmet's chin that it sounded loud. The lances broke. Then there came forth against me Conrad of Saurau with a beautifully colored lance he went in haste to approach me. His lance missing me, but I stabbed him with my iron through the shield that the lance broke. Then we rode to Eppenstein. There he jousted with Leutfried von Eppenstein, who broke 3 lances on me and whom I named Calogrenant also called Colgrevance – a name of a knight of King Arthurs Round Table )
Joyfully we left and rode to Krabat (Kraubath). Two tents were pitched and four cottages on flowery meadow. There we spent the night. In the morning, there was a Knight, with spears up who all wanted to joust. I had broken 7 lances and 13 were broken on me.
Singing and glad we moved to Bruck. (Bruck an der Mur). I rode with some good knight, who spent the night in Bruck with me. Herr Herrman of Krotendorf and Herr Dietmar came forth against me from the wall. The two broke 4 lances, but I broke 5. There were 8 more against me. Yet I left without companions, because no one had won the right to participate in the Round Table, as no one had three lances broken on me.
From there I rode to Kapfenberg, where Herr Henry of Spiegelberg was waiting with erected lances. We rode to the joust, so that the lances broke on the helmets. Quickly gave us one other lances. At the third time I met his helmet, but he was missing. I took the fourth lance. The next time we were missing both times.
I rode next to (Krüge)Lach (Krieglach).
I rode next to Hohenwang (Hohenwang Castle). There we met Erchenger von Landesere. Six lances were broken without me missing a single time.
I rode next to Semmering where I fought many good knights, then to Gloggnitz, where we stayed the night. The next morning came Sir Segramors (the true name Herrenalber of Arnstein). We braced ourselves and went to the field. We broke 6 lances, so he had the right to belong won the Round Table. Then came Mr. Heinrich von Buseck. He broke 3 lances and was named Sir Lancelot.
Then we moved to New churches (Neunkirchen bei Lambach), where many knights expected me to joust with them. This lasted until the evening. Only when the night came on, we cleared the field.
The next day I rode, accompanied by Herr Nicholas of mountain life, which I had called Sir Tristram to Schwarzau am Steinfeld. And there came a messenger burst against us with a welcome of the Duke of Austria. He said to tell you that he likes to break three lances with you, for it is his desire to be included in the Round Table.
So happy we moved to Neustadt (Weiner Neustadt). Once again a multitude of knights came to meet us which greeted us warmly. Henry Habbesbach came with forty or more knights. Then, two knights, gentlemen Wernhart and Heinrich Pruzel came. With them twenty or more knights had come. Then we met Heinrich of Liechtenstein, a brave sword with eleven knights. Then rode the Meissau of twenty-four knights to meet us. No sooner had we welcomed, as was already another band einhergetrabt. One was Herr Tröstelin, the other of Hutensdorf Ulrich, Herr. Ebran the third, the fourth of the Schwarzensee. Courteously greeted Ulrich of Saxony village, the bull of Lachsendorf, Prunrich of Toblich, Weikhardt of Spitz, Ekkehardt Posch, Schenk Dietrich of Dobrach, Friedrich von Witeginsdorf, Mr. Leupold and Siegfried of Mödling, Druslieb and Leupold of Haimburg, Zlawat of Falkenstein, the Pfaff of Freistadt, the. von Spaun, Sigfrit Rebestock, Dietmar of Schoenkirchen, Leutold von Tobel, Potschmann of Potscha. These knights were from the household of the Duke of Austria. Herr Otto Haslau rode up and behind him came Herr Rapot of Falkenberg. Then came Herr Kol Frohnhofen with twenty-six knights, then Herr Kadolt with nineteen knights.
Next we went to Katzelsdorf. Eight tents and four cottages me there were pitched to which we rode. All around were probably two hundred lances, every, collided with a pennant in my colors in the ground. In this ring was allowed no one, except where the gates were displayed. No one was allowed in the ring was not ready to joust. No sooner were the ready - there already Meissau of Otto came up with maybe thirty spears and some brave knight.
Afterward came eighteen knights in the ring. Finally the day came to an end. It went through five days from morning to night. On the evening of the fifth day, a messenger rode up to me and said: King! My Lord, the Duke Frederick, you can tell that he wants to break three lances with you and wants to fight here under the banner of Pruzel. This conversation took place in the morning. Then we rode to church. After the Mass, but we went to a beautiful garden and shared the tournament there. I myself had come with nine, but to my followers had increased to three - Kadolt came to my way. Behind us came from the Habbesbach, Herr Heinrich of Liechtenstein, Otto Haslau.
The journey ended with a tournament at KROMAN. Unfortunately, the final joust was delayed and then banned altogether by Duke Frederick of Austria. His reasoning, political events meant a need for cautious sobriety rather than celebratory sport. Thus ended the tournament! In the morning I rode to Vienna. Frederick was obliged to march against a more earnest and more dangerous enemy. He fell in battle near the Leitta, fighting against the fierce Hungarians.
(To be continued)
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From 1241-1245, Ulrich is the Lord High Stewart in Styria.
The Battle of the Leitha
After all these came a day that I will always hate, because I grieve today. Because it was the summer of the year 1246, to the Duke Frederick was killed miserably. He was my Mr. Right and I will be right service man. I can not complain about it enough. Because he honored the brave and good, shared his possessions with them, was a true prince and lord.
Woe is me, that I must now tell how he met his death! It happened on the day of St. Vitus. The prince lay with his beautiful army, his country the defensive against the King of Hungary. On St. Vitus day the king went with bright bunch against us closer to the Leitha. Since the Duke ordered his forces. I told you like the fight, as flock was against how you came across the Leitha, and how that was.
The Russians (Ruthenians) started the fight… he overlooked the fact that the Russians approached, so that they overran him from behind. At the same moment also already bounced along the rows so that no one knew that the leader of one part lay on the ground. Yes, there was just the battle, so that the Duke was killed. Over him, it went back and forth - but the victory finally remained the Liechtenstein family.
Sir Ulrich escaped the dangers of the battlefield, only to fall a victim to the treachery of false friends. Two knights attacked him in his castle of Frauenburg, and took him prisoner. His attendants were driven out of the castle, his wife and children were obliged to flee from it. Only one son remained in captivity with him. For fifteen months he was kept chained in his own home, often threatened with death, and, on one occasion, brought to the window with a rope around his neck and shown to his wife and a few retainers, who had gathered about her, with the assurance that the first attempt at rescue would be the signal of his immediate execution. At last, however, by the intervention of Count Meinhard von Giirz, he was released. Neither captivity nor the loss of his estate—for he had to pay heavily for his ransom.
When Philip of Sponheim, the Archbishop-Elect of Salzburg, was deposed by Pope Alexander IV for refusing to take holy orders, Philip raised an army to defend his title. In 1250, Ulrich agreed to fight for Philip's cause in return for Philip's arranging a beneficial marriage of Ulrich's son, Ulrich II, to Kunigunde of Goldegg and Philip added a dowry of 400 Salzburg pounds to the agreement. In return Ulrich I agreed to provide Philip with 100 fighting men for his cause.[4]
In 1251, Ottokar acquired Austria through his marriage with the 30 years older Marketa, of the Babenberg family. This event led to a quarrel of many years with the King of Hungary Béla IV, who was also interested in the Babenberg heritage and mainly in Styria.
In August 1252 Philip's forces decisively defeated his enemies at the Battle of Sachsenburg on the Drava, and Ulrich was one of seven who mediated the ensuing peace. The treaty of Ofen (1254) gave Styria to Bela and Austria to Ottokar.
1255 sees the completion of his work titled „Frauendienst.” Ulrich wrote in 1257 his second work, the "women's book" (Frauenbuch). This work is a mixture of Action time and instruction.
In 1258, the Styrians again rebelled, and in eleven days drove every Hungarian out of the country.
Bohemian-Hungarian. War of 1260–70.
However in 1260 the conflict rekindled. Both Bohemia’s King Ottokar II and Hungary’s King Bela IV sought control of Austria and Styria. (In this war the castle Murau was destroyed, but was later rebuilt by Ulrich’s son, Otto)
Troubles in Salzburg, stemming from a conflict between Bohemia and Hungary, inspired a rising among Steiermark's (Styria’s) nobles. Later the nobility of Styria rebelled, asking Ottokar to become their lord. From 1267-1272 Ulrich appointed Styria’s Marshal by Duke Frederick II of Austria.
About 1269 Ulrich as the leader of an unruly faction there, was arrested on a charge of treason, though released after six months' imprisonment.
From 1272-1278 Ulrich was appointed Supreme Provincial Judge and Governor (Regent)of Styria.
Ulrich died at the age of 78. Ulrich von Liechtenstein was buried in Seckau.1278.
(Next time I shall continue on another topic)
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I thought I'd take a break from the serious, since I found this story online. Considering I also call myself the purple knight, I thought the story interesting.
“Ye Legend of the Purple Knight”
“Ridiculous!” roared King Arthur, slamming his beer mug on the Round Table. “Purple, you say?”
“All purple, my liege,” said Sir Launcelot, nervously wiping the foam from his face, “head to toes. Completely.”
“I say! Most irregular. Well, what does he want?”
“He wants audience with you, my liege. It seems he’s done ole Cholmondesley in.”
“Cholmondesley?”
“With an axe, your grace. A purple axe. He says he’ll do the same to us all if we don’t send a challenger to fight him in fair battle.” “Well?”
“Well, he— he’s— twenty feet tall.”
“Twenty! Oh, I say! Ghastly business! Who’ve we got crazy enough to fight him? How about you, Launcelot?”
“Oh, no, my liege. Cut my finger last night peeling potatoes. The pain is beastly.”
“Rotten luck, old chap. Well,” he addressed the knights of the round table, “there’s a big purple idiot outside who’s looking for a fight. Who’s game?”
Then up spake Sir Bushwack, a sturdy youth with a broad beam and a low center of gravity: “Where is the bloke? I’m not afraid, even if he is twenty feet tall!” Sir Bushwack had been drinking.
Then spake King Arthur to Sir Launcelot, telling him to bid the knight enter. And Launcelot did this, and the horns sounded, and in staggered a tremendous giant, perhaps four feet in height, dragging behind him a ten-foot purple axe. He had a vast quantity of purple hair which fell down over his eyes, and was clad in purple armor, and his feet in purple shoes. He led a noble steed, also purple, which resembled a cross between a Shetland pony and an armadillo.
King Arthur whispered to Launcelot, “I thought you said he was twenty feet tall.” “That’s what he told me, your majesty.”
“That’s what he what? Why you ...”
The rest of King Arthur’s tirade was drowned out by the purple giant, who was bellowing in a mighty voice:
“Okay, I can beat any man in the house! I ain’t scared of nobody ‘cause you’re all ... “ he hiccoughed “ ... chicken to fight me! Come on, who’s first?”
Up spake Sir Bushwack, shouting, “I challenge thee, Sir Knight!” The purple knight laughed. “Look what’sh challenging me! You slob, I can,—hic—can lick you with, — hic— one hand tied behind my back! Come ahead!” Then did the purple knight pick up the purple axe and begin to whirl it about his head, faster and faster. Sir Bushwack waddled up dubiously with sword in hand, feebly attempted to parry, then quickly retreated. The purple knight stood and laughed.
“Chicken, all of you! Scared to fight me! Har! Har!”
Suddenly, the horns sounded and into the hall rushed a very brave and manly knight, Sir Stupid.
“I say!” he shouted to all and sundry, “Old Fotheringay’s run amok! He and his horse fell into that newly-pressed grape juice up at the distillery, and ...”.
Then he caught sight of the purple knight and stopped short. King Arthur started to laugh hysterically, spilling beer hither and yon.
“I say, old Fotheringay’s gone and fallen into the wine vat! Old Fotheringayl Haw, Haw, Haw! Old Fotheringay’s got high on grape juice! Haw! In the still of the knight!”
The purple knight stood digesting this in silence. Then slowly he began to chuckle and whirl that axe.
“Oh, oh,” Sir Stupid whispered to Arthur, “here he goes!” With a savage yell, the purple knight charged the Round Table, swinging his axe. In an instant, the hall became the scene of a free-for-all. The purple knight was in the thick of the whole mess, smashing furniture, beer kegs, and anything else that happened to be in his way. The hall resounded with the clanging of swords, the splintering of wood, and the demonaical chuckling of the purple knight. In the midst of the noise and confusion, Sir Stupid buttonholed Bushwack.
“Noble knight,” he said, “art thou truly dedicated to thy leige?”
“Yes.”
“And wouldst thou suffer discomfort to rid thy liege of this menace?”
“Surely,” Sir Bushwack said absently, as he ducked a flying beer mug.
“That’s all I wanted to know! Fotheringay! You feeble-minded halfwit cretin! Over here!”
Infuriated, the purple knight whirled toward Sir Stupid and raised his axe. Sir Stupid lifted the protesting Bushwack and hurled him bodily at Fotheringay. There was a loud, splintering smash as the purple knight went down, and then all was silent, except for the gurgling of beer from a shattered keg. Sir Stupid stood over the horizontal Fotheringay.
“Now, thou proud knight,” roared Sir Stupid triumphantly, “now what hast thou to say?”
Slowly, the purple knight looked up and sneered. “CHICKEN,” he said.
(Next time back to more serious topics)
[By the way, I haven't taken a picture yet, but I have a completely purple outfit, even my underwear! more than in the above story.]
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I see a knightly version of Grimace coming. Or perhaps Barney with a sword.
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My new topic is "The Making of a Knight":
The Five Steps to Knighthood
Step 1 The right connections
Step 2 Upbringing
Step 3 The Page
Step 4 The Squire
Step 5 The Knight
Step 1 The right connections
A Knight was recognized by Middle Ages society as a man who possessed great combat skills and who adhered to the Code of Chivalry. During the Middle Ages, it was technically possible for any free man to become a knight. However, the process of training and equipping a knight with a horse and appropriate weapons was very expensive. Knights would therefore generally come from a noble, or wealthy, family - a would-be knight had to have the right connections. The origin of the term ' Knight' derives from Anglo-Saxon word "Cniht" meaning "boy" or "page boy". The steps to knighthood started as a boy. The honor of being a knight eventually passed from a knight to his sons.
Step 2 Upbringing
His future role as a Knight would be recognized at the birth of a son. His early upbringing would therefore be governed by this ambition. Up to the age of 7 years old a young boy would be brought up in the home of his parents. During this time he would be expected to learn basic good manners and basic literacy from their mothers and to understand the role of the knight, chivalry and loyalty to his liege lord. Games would be played mimicking the role of a knight. Toys would include a wooden sword and shield. A boy's aspirations to becoming a knight would be fuelled by attending tournaments and hearing stories of brave knightly deeds and combats.
(To be continued)
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Step 3 The Page
There was no definitive age for pages, but boys commonly began the process of learning to be a page at about 7 years of age. At the tender age of just seven years a young boy would be sent to commence his education at the home or castle of a noble. His role would be as a page, the third step towards becoming a knight. A page was also referred to as a 'varlet' meaning 'little vassal'. A page or page boy is traditionally a young male servant, but may also have been used for a messenger at the service of a nobleman or an apprentice knight.
A young boy served as a page for about seven years, running messages, serving, cleaning clothing and weapons, and learning the basics of combat. He might be required to arm or dress the lord to whom he had been sent by his own family. Personal service of this nature was not considered as demeaning, in the context of shared noble status by page and lord. It was seen rather as a form of education in return for labour. While a page did not receive reimbursement other than clothing, accommodation and food, he could be rewarded for an exceptional act of service. In return for his work, the page would receive training in horse-riding, hunting, hawking and combat - the essential skills required of adult members of his rank in medieval society.
Less physical training included schooling in the playing of musical instruments, the composition and singing of songs, and the learning of board games such as chess. The initial education received as a child in reading and writing, would be continued to a level of modest competence under the tuition of a chaplain or other cleric. He learned manners from the nobleman's wife.
It was the duty of a Page to wait at table, care for the Lord's clothes and assist them in dressing. The page was also expected to acts as servants to the ladies of the court or castle her served in. The Page was provided with a uniform of the colors and livery of the Lord. There were many pages, the number depending on the wealth of the noble. There was a 'pecking order' amongst the pages which was dependent on age. The ages of the pages would range from seven years old up to fourteen years old when they would take the next step to becoming a knight by serving in the position of a Squire.
The young page would receive an education being taught religion, manners, riding, hunting, hawking and strategic games such as backgammon and chess. A Page would soon start to acquire the skills required of a Knight by practicing the skills of tilting a lance and watching the prowess and training of their seniors. The use of the lance would be practiced together with the skills of horsemanship. A target was erected and the Page would mount a wooden 'horse' on wheels holding a lance. The wooden horse would be pulled along by two other pages towards the target and the page would aim the lance. Sword play was practiced using wooden swords and shields. Fighting on piggyback introduced the young knights to the balance and skills required in mounted combat. Obviously dangerous weapons were not used by these young boys! Great emphasis was placed on physical fitness and strength. The page would attend their superiors at Tournaments which were always seen as great occasions in the life of pages from the Middle Ages. As a page, a boy learned how to fight, how to use weapons, and how to ride a horse into battle. Training in other physical skills included climbing, swimming, throwing stones, javelins, archery and wrestling.
(To be continued)
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Thank you, Sir John - good compilation, nice to have this info in one place.
My youngest daughter (now age eight) has been my faithful page in all our exploits over the past few years - my older daughter has served as my squire. I'll share this with them.
We're actually getting ready to attend Drachenfest in Diemelstadt, Germany next week. We went for the first time last year and had a lot of fun.
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Step 4 The Squire
If the page showed promise, at age fourteen, the young noble could graduate to become a squire. The Medieval Squire of the Middle Ages was aged between fourteen and twenty-one. Each squire was assigned to a knight. A knight could have several squires. The squire assisted the knight to whom he was assigned. A squire was the shield bearer or armor bearer of a knight, and at times squires included a knight's errand runner or servant. The Medieval Squire was a servant to a knight during the Middle Ages. The role to a squire was one of the most important steps to Knighthood and started when a page reached the age of fourteen years old.
The typical jobs of a squire included:• Carrying the knight's armour, shield, sword,
• Holding any prisoners the knight takes,
• Rescuing the knight should the knight be taken prisoner,
• Ensuring an honorable burial of the knight in the event of his death,
• Replacing the knight's sword if it were broken or dropped,
• Replacing the knight's horse or his own horse, if either be injured or killed,
• Dressing the knight in his armor,
• Carrying the knight's flag,
• Protecting the knight if needed,
• Taking care of the knight's horses,
• Accompanying the Knight to tournaments and during the time of war to the battlefield,
• Ensuring the armor and weapons of the knight were in good order
Other duties of a Squire were to learn about Chivalry, the rules of Heraldry, horsemanship and practice the use of weapons and the skills required of a Knight. It was also their duty to enter into the social life of the castle and learn courtly etiquette, jousting, music and dancing. The Squire served in this role for seven years and became a Knight at the age of twenty-one. Sometimes knighthood was conferred on a squire at an earlier age as the reward for bravery on the battlefield. In time of war Squires accompanied Knights on the battlefield, leading and tending the horses and dressing them in the Medieval Knights Armor. They came under fire from arrows and many squires were killed doing their duty.
As Squires they were seen as men capable of fighting in battles. Their Knighthood training became far more dangerous. Injuries were a common occurrence during their knighthood training. Their skills with the lance had to be perfected. The tool used in the practice of the lance was called called the quintain. The quintain consisted of a shield and dummy which was suspended from a swinging pole. When the shield was hit by a charging squire, the whole apparatus would rotate. The squire's task was to avoid the rotating arms and not get knocked from his saddle. A variation of the quintain added heavy swinging sandbags which also had to be avoided. Accuracy was also an important factor and squires practiced "Running at the Rings" where the lance was aimed at a target in the shape of a ring - these rings were obviously much smaller to lance than a man and this skill was therefore difficult to master. Fighting with quarterstaffs could also result in injuries. Fighting with swords and other weapons were strictly supervised and only wooden, blunt or covered weapons were used. General fitness levels had to be high and the strength of an apprentice knight was expected, regardless of size.
(To be continued - More on the Squire next time)
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(The Squire - Continued)
Siege warfare was a common occurrence during the Middle Ages. An important requirement to capture the enemies power base - their castles. Knighthood Training included learning about the strategy, process and weapons used in siege warfare. Siege Warfare during the Middle Ages was conducted according to Chivalric Rules and a truce or settlement would always be attempted, according to the Chivalric Code before Siege Warfare commenced. Knighthood training included all of these aspects of siege warfare. The Squires would be expected to understand the options available when defending a castle - the layout and traps included in the castle design. A young squire, or even a page, would be expected to defend a castle according to their skills and strength. A crossbow might be issued to a squire or page as it required minimum strength and few skills to operate. Attacking a castle would also be studied. This would include learning about Siege Weapons - the Trebuchet, Ballista, Mangonel, Battering Ram and Siege Towers. Skills in climbing were important - scaling castle walls. Knighthood training would also include the process of undermining a castle.
The knighthood training of both the Pages and the Squires of the Middle Ages continued with acquiring excellent equestrian skills. A horse played an extremely important part in the life of a knight. A knight would own several horses which were built for different duties. These ranged in various sizes starting with a palfrey, or an ambler for general travelling purposes. Bigger and stronger horses were required as warhorses. The Courser was the most sought after and expensive warhorse, owned by the most wealthy knights. The more common warhorses were like modern hunters, known then as Destriers. The apprentice knights would learn how to ride and control their horses and the art of this type of warfare. Starting with small ponies they would hone their equestrian skills in their Knighthood training. The pages and squires were also expected to play their part of caring for the horses in the stables.
While he was a squire, he was allowed to carry a sword and a shield, which showed what rank he had achieved. The squire was taught not to kill many knights. Most knights held other knights for ransom. The squire would sometimes carry the knight's flag to battle with his master. But a squire did not stay a squire forever. A knight would take his squires (a knight could have multiple squires but a squire could only have one knight) into battle with him and that was a squire's chance to prove himself. If he proved his loyalty and skill in battle, he would have a dubbing, an official ceremony to become a knight.
(To be continued)
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Step 5 The Knight
If he got through all of that, he was knighted or "dubbed". Before a squire was dubbed, he did lots of things in preparation. First, he prayed all night. He prayed without sleeping or eating. When morning came, he would take a nice, warm bath. Then the almost knighted squire would put on a white tunic. The tunic was white because white is the color of peace. He put on a red hooded robe to show the blood that he may have to spill as a knight. And lastly black boots or shoes to show that he was mortal. He knelt before his lord. Then his lord would slap him with his hand or the flat of the sword. As his lord was doing that, his lord would say, "I dub thee Sir Knight." Then the new knight would receive his sword, lance, and golden spurs.
Each of the weapons had a good meaning. The lance had a saying. It was said, "As fear of the lance drives back the unarmed, so the knight drives back the enemies of the church." As for the sword, it was said that, "The two edges of the sword show that the knight serves God and the people." Then the knight was free to roam. He usually rode off on quests of adventure. He either stopped by the road and challenged any knight that passed by or he did battle for a damsel in need. After many long years of training and learning the skills of combat and chivalry required of a Knight during the Middle Ages the steps to Knighthood were completed and symbolized in the order of Knighthood ceremony. The culmination of the ceremony was when a knight was dubbed and the words "Arise, Sir Knight" were uttered. This final part of the ceremony would have been knighted by a local knight, or if they were very lucky, by a greater noble or even the king. The ceremony marked the final steps to knighthood made by a Medieval Squire.
All knights, like all people from all walks of life in the Middle Ages, had to behave in a certain way. This way was called the Code of Chivalry. The code said that all knights had to be brave in battle. They had to keep their promises.
For the ritual on the knighting ceremony please see:
• ModernChivalry.org »
• Main »
• The Round Table »
• The Knighting of Sir John
(To be continued)
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Once knighted, there were 4 choices, to serve under a knight’s Banner as a Knight Bachelor, to be a Knight Errant, to be a Household Knight, or to be a member of a Knightly Order:
Household Knights
Ministerials or Household knights were servant-knights who were the direct vassals of some greater lord. Household knights were similar to the old Germanic war band or hearth troop, and lived with their lord at which ever castle or manor he happened to be residing. Their upkeep was paid for by him, and in return the knights were employed on various duties, such as forming a bodyguard wherever he went, escort duty, carrying messages and, most importantly, forming the nucleus of his troops in battle. This group was called the familia and their relationship with their lord was often close. Equally, the king also had his familia regis, made up of bannerettes, knights bachelor and troopers. It formed the main body of men in an English army, men who could be detailed for special duties such as escorting workmen or provisions.
Knight-Errant
A knight-errant is a figure of medieval chivalric romance literature. The adjective errant (meaning "wandering, roving") indicates how the knight-errant would wander the land in search of adventures to prove his chivalric virtues, either in knightly duels (pas d'armes) or in some other pursuit of courtly love. A knight-errant typically performed all his deeds in the name of a lady, and invoked her name before performing an exploit. In more sublimated forms of knight-errantry, pure metaphysical idealism rather than romantic inspiration motivated the knight-errant (as in the case of Sir Galahad).
Orders of Knighthood
For Example: The Order of the Teutonic Knights
It was during the Crusades that Orders of Knights came into being. One such Order was that of the Teutonic Knights. Formed at the end of the 12th century in Acre, in the Levant, the medieval Order played an important role in Outremer, controlling the port tolls of Acre. After Christian forces were defeated in the Middle East, the Order moved to Transylvania in 1211 to help defend the South-Eastern borders of the Kingdom of Hungary against the Kipchaks. The Knights were expelled by force of arms by King Andrew II of Hungary in 1225, after allegedly attempting to place themselves under Papal instead of the original Hungarian sovereignty.
In 1230, following the Golden Bull of Rimini, Grand Master Hermann von Salza and Duke Konrad I of Masovia launched the Prussian Crusade, a joint invasion of Prussia intended to Christianize the Baltic Old Prussians. The Teutonic Knights had a strong economic base, hired mercenaries from throughout Europe to augment their feudal levies, and became a naval power in the Baltic Sea. In 1410, a Polish-Lithuanian army decisively defeated the Order and broke its military power at the Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg).
Ranks within the Order are:
The Hochmeister (Grandmaster) was the highest officer of the order. Hermann von Salza served as the fourth Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights (1209 to 1239).
The Großkomtur (Magnus Commendator), the deputy of the Grandmaster
The order was divided in three national chapters, Prussia, Livland and the territory of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. The highest officer of each chapter was the Landmeister (country master).
Because the properties of the order within the rule of the Deutschmeister did not form a cohesive territory but were spread over the whole empire and parts of Europe, there was an additional regional structure, the bailiwick.
Komtur
The smallest administrative unit of the order was the Kommende. It was ruled by a Komtur, who had all administrative rights and controlled the Vogteien (district of a reeve) and Zehnthöfe (tithe collectors) within his rule. In the commandry, all kinds of brothers lived together in a monastic way.
Kuno (Konrad, Kunz) von Liechtenstein (A relative of Ulrich von Liechtenstein)- He came to Prussia from Franconia and Swabia. (born in 1360 died. in 1410) - and was the Grand Commander of the Order of the Teutonic Knights from 1404. He was killed in the Battle of Grunwald . In 1404 he was appointed by Grand Master Konrad von Jungingen Grand Commander, so was one of the five Großgebietiger of the Order. He served as Deputy Grand Master. This important office he was also elected in 1407 under the Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen confirmed.
In the battle of Tannenberg Kuno von Lichtenstein commanded the right wing of the religious army, and thus the majority of Western European "guests" of the Order under the banner of St. George . Among those were to Duke Konrad VII "Old White" from Oels and Casimir, younger son of the Duke Swantibor III. of Pomerania-Stettin , with their train. After the death of the Grand Master, he tried to claim the battlefield. As a result of the enclosure through superior Polish-Lithuanian forces his wing was cut off and the Grand Commander was killed.
Kuno was descended from the family of the Frankish Lichtenstein . The exact date of his birth, and entry into the Teutonic Order is not known. Kuno is first mentioned as a religious Vogt of Samland during 1389 until 1392 From 1392 to 1396 he served as Commander of Ragnit . The leadership of this far east located Commandery was given the permanent Lithuanian threat this administration in general ensured only by specially qualified knights. To 1402 Kuno was then Commander of Mewe .
Kuno von Lichtenstein was known by his contemporaries as one of the most skilled swordsman of the known world.
(To be continued)
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Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organized Orders of Chivalry. Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight (the rank existed during the 13th century reign of King Henry III), but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of the various orders. In battle, that knight carries a pennant either triangular or with a swallow tail. He was part of a monarchs army.
The Medieval Army
Armies were counted by lances.
LANCE: (6 men) each "lance" composed of six mounted men—a Knight Bachelor (heavy armoured horseman), a more lightly armed fellow combatant (coutillier), a page (a non-combatant) and three mounted archers meant as infantry support. The archers were intended to ride to battle and dismount to shoot with their bows, and did so until late in the fifteenth century. A knight was, in general, in command only of his own lance. A knight of the lowest order; he was permitted to display only a pennon. A Lance was usually led and raised by a knight in the service of his liege, yet it is not uncommon in certain periods to have a less privileged man, such as a serjeants. (Knight-Serjeant - A knight of lesser rank…serjeants who were men who had trained as knights but could not afford the costs associated with the title. Serjeants could fight either as heavy to light cavalry… The serjeant class were deemed to be worth half of a knight' in military value.
Bannière:
Ten lances (60 men) create a "bannière" (Banner) commanded by a knight banneret; the knight Banneret was entitled to display his arms on a square banner. When a knight rose to the rank of knight banneret, the point of his pennon was cut off to turn it into a banner. This ceremony was called faire de pennon bannière.
Company:
Knight commanders were in charge of a company of knights (50 Lances – 300 men.) This commander could be called a Captain.
Regiment:
A Regiment – several companies (2,100 men – 350 Lances) is commanded by a Lord Knight Commander.
Army:
An Army of 2 or 3 of these regiments (6,300 men – 1,270 Lances) were under the commander (a noble such as a Count) of the battle. A noble was entitled to fly his standard, the length of which corresponded to his rank. A “standard” has a shape that is an elongated and tapered pennon shape, usually terminating in two rounded ends or swallow-tailed ends, but on occasion a single rounded end its size varied with the owner’s rank.
Rank Standard Length
The Sovereign 21 feet
Dukes 20 feet
Marquises 18 feet
Earls (Count) 16 feet
Viscounts 15 feet
Baron 13 feet
Baronets 12 feet
Knights 10 feet
Knight Baronet
A baronet (traditional abbreviation Bart), is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy. A baronetcy is the only hereditary honor which is not a peerage. A baronet is styled "Sir" like a knight but the baronetage, as a class, rank above the knightage. The earliest mention of baronets was in the Battle of Battenberg in 1321 where baronets took part, along with barons and knights. Unlike knighthoods—which apply to an individual only—a baronetcy is hereditary. A baronetcy is not a peerage, so baronets, like knights, are commoners as opposed to noblemen. All Baronetcies are distinguished by having a territorial designation.
Baronets may command troops of knights or men at arms, though many do not. The largest force a baronet would tend to command would be 10 knights and 50 men at arms. Baronets who attended powerful lords may be dubbed their liege’s Lord Marshal, and be placed in charge of huge numbers of troops that their lord commands.
Baronets have the privilege to bear in a canton of their coat of arms, or in a whole escutcheon, the arms of Ulster, viz. “in a field argent, a sinister hand, gules.” The Baronet was entitled to a standard of 12 feet in length.
(To be continued)
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While most concentrate on the stereotype knights, one must remember that the Vikings, in their own way, were knights.
THE VIKINGS
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INTRODUCTION:
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There are a lot of misconceptions of the Vikings. One is that they were an aggressive warrior group. This is not true. There were Vikings who conducted raids, but most were explorers and settlers. A romanticized picture of Vikings as noble savages began to take root in the 18th century, and this developed and became widely propagated during the 19th-century Viking revival. The received views of the Vikings as violent brutes or intrepid adventurers owe much to the modern Viking myth that had taken shape by the early 20th century.
The Vikings (from Old Norse víkingr) were seafaring north Germanic people who raided, traded, explored, and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia, and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th centuries. Their explorations were tremendous…discovering America 500 years before Columbus, exploring the Mediterranean Sea, they made their way to Constantinople, sailed up Russia's rivers and became the first rulers of the Kievan Russian state and even sailed as far as the Orient, bringing back items from there and establishing trade routes between the two cultures. They discovered Greenland, Iceland and established settlements in both of them. They also established settlements in Northern England and many other places. Vikings travelled up the Ob to the Irtysh River and followed the Irtysh to it's source in the Altai Mountains. At that point, they were only 150 miles from the Uighur empire of Kara Khitai on the Silk Road to China. The Vikings even traded with the Muslims and even people farther east. The Vikings would follow the Dnieper River to the Caspian Sea and goods like furs for other things. The trade routes may very well become a refuge for the non-Christian Norse, merging with Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Evenki, Turkic and Tengrist Mongols in a syncretic stew of a new civilization.
Another misconception is that the Vikings wore horned helmets. While they did wear these, they never wore them in battle, fearing the horns on the helmets would make fighting difficult. Mostly they were worn in ceremonies.
Dragons held a special place with the Vikings. Longships were called dragonships by enemies such as the English because they had carved heads of dragons mounted on their bow. The dragon head was to scare away enemies. It also had a magical function: It would provide protection for ships and crew – and it was simply to frighten away sea monsters and to ward off evil spirits both on land and sea. The Icelandic law code Grágás says that the dragon head should be taken off the ship when the Vikings returned to their homestead, not to intimidate the spirits of their native land. Viking shields and other items were of a dragon motive as well. It is important to remember that most people of the Viking age were very superstitious by our standards.
(To be continued)
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Sir John, I am new to the forum and have been reading the material that you and other have posted. Your posts on the
"Knight of the Week" are great. i am still reading and enjoying them a great deal.
As to the best movie "The Lion In Winter" Sir William Marshal is portrayed by Nigel Stock. He is shown in the beginning rounding up King Henry's three sons and Queen Eleanor . I think he is seen in a few other scenes.
Again great series on the knights.
Tim
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By the way, a movie called "Robin Hood" starring Russell Crowe fairly follows the actual story of Sir Robert's time at the end, with King Richard and sets the stage for Robin "Hood." Sir William Marshal is also portrayed in the movie.
I was going to say, your history seemed like it was taken directly from the movie- that the movie tried to tie in historicity w/the legend of Robin Hood is very cool to me. Thanks for sharing!
Ironclad was an excellent movie in my book, altho I do not think Thomas Marshal, if he ever existed, was any relation to William...he could've been son to another Marshal (maybe of France).
Not sure who Thomas Marshal was supposed to be but he was not a son of William Marshal. William Marshal had six daughters and five sons. The sons were William, Richard, Gilbert, Anselm and Walter. William Marshal's living descendants are all descendants of his daughters, Margaret, Sybil, Eve, Maud, Isabel, and Joane . Four of Sir William's sons had no children. His son Gilbert had one illegitimate daughter Isabel. The lack descendants of his sons is said to be the result of a curse placed on him my an Irish prelate.
Tim
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Sir Timothy,
Thank you for your enthusiasm. I enjoy doing research online on the various subjects. And welcome to the group.
I am, with great respect,
Your most obedient servant,
Sir John
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The Vikings (continued)
They also developed a writing system based on runes. The Viking peoples could read and write and used a non-standardized alphabet, called runor, built upon sound values.
Another difference was that the Vikings didn’t wear armor as such, although they did wear helmets and carried shields.
Their favorite weapons were the sword and battle-axe. This was unlike the normal battle axe as it had a long point that hung down from the main part of the axe head. (Called a bearded battle axe.) The head was often decorated.
The dress of the Vikings was also different. Their clothes normally had a lot of fur to keep them warm, as they originated in a cold climate.
The last photo is of : "Jóhann Hárfagri de Grjótbjǫrg- gren, Somairhleson, við klæn Neacal"..."John Fairhair of Felsenbau (RocksBurrow), son of Samuel, of the Clan Nicol"...
Since I can only post 4 pictures, this will be continued in my following post.......
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continued.......
THE VIKINGS IN NORTERN ENGLAND:
The first Vikings arrived in Orkney in 793 AD. The Vikings saw the Orkneys as an ideal base for their swashbuckling expeditions around the North Sea. In general none of the native Britains or English were able in any significant way, to stop the Northmen whatsoever. They appeared unbeatable, even when outnumbered. These Vikings made the islands the headquarters of their pirate expeditions carried out against Norway and the coasts of mainland Scotland.
But they made too many raids against their homeland, and in 875, a force led by Harold Hårfagre ("Fair Hair") and Earl Rognvald of Møre in West Norway came to Orkney to put down the Viking "sea pirates" who had attacked Norway from bases in Orkney and Shetland. Harald set up the area as a “County” of Norway, ruled by a Jarl (Earl.) He made a grant of Orkney and other territory to Earl Rognvald, but he transferred these lands to his brother, Sigurd (Sigurðr). Finally the Vikings began to settle more than invade. Within a few generations Orkney was a distinctly Norse earldom. Sigurd (Sigurðr) the Mighty ruled Orkney as the first Jarl or Earl (ruled circa 875–892.) His son, Nikolaus (Nicholas or Nicail), was a follower of King Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway, 1093-1103.
The islands were ruled by a succession of Norwegian 'jarls' or Counts until 1231. The Scots seemed to have something in common with the Vikings and after a while intermarriages, both common and noble, with established clans took place in north Scotland. To this day you can find Scottish Clans with direct Viking (Norse) descent. Clan Gunn in the North, Clan MacDonald of the Isles and Clan MacLeod (pronounced Mac-loud), in the west mainland and Isles, along with other Clans (such as McNichol, MacQueen and MacAulay) are of Norse-Scot origin. The sigil of the Orkney Earls was the famous Raven Banner. The banner was first created for Sigurðr Hlodvisson. The Norwegian crown exercised royal authority over the Orkneys in the 13th century. By the end of the 13th century, the fact that Orkney was a part of Norway and fell under Norwegian jurisdiction is without question. To this day you can find Scottish Clans with direct Viking (Norse) descent. Clan Gunn in the North, Clan MacDonald of the Isles and Clan MacLeod (pronounced Mac-loud), in the west mainland and Isles, along with other Clans (such as McNichol, MacQueen and MacAulay) are of Norse-Scot origin. They even spoke both Norwegian and Gaelic for several centuries in the Western Isles.
(To be continued)
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The Vikings (continued)
THE NICOLS OF ORKNEY:
It is agreed that the name MacNicaills is of Norse origin. It is known also that the MacNicaills formed the larger part of two Viking bands which ravaged the East coast of England in the Tenth century and established colonies from which have sprung the English houses of Nichol and Nicholson in Northumberland and Cumberland. With the rule of the Scottish Kings and their gradual overlordship of the Islands, coincident with the recession of the Viking power and assimilation of the Vikings into the populations of Ireland, Scotland and England the MacNicaills became a Scottish clan. The MacNeacails are of Scandinavian origin, and their ancestors likely belonged to the House of Ivar, a medieval Norse dynasty that had great power in the British Isles and Scandinavia. The Dynasty of Ivar, were a royal and imperial Norse dynasty whose members ruled much of Northern England, the Irish Sea region, the Kingdom of Dublin and the western coast of Scotland, including the Hebrides, from the mid 9th century. In the 15th century takes the earlier ancestry of the MacNeacails back to the Viking princes of 10th century Dublin. The Clan chose for its symbol (on their shield) and later as their badge, a hawk's head erased Gules.
Haakon IV, the last Norse king to attempt an invasion of Scotland, sent a war party to Scotland under Anders Nicolassen: (Nico Andersdatter Lassen) (his Chief Baron and foster brother and Legend has it that King Haakon relied heavily on Nicolassen for his bravery and battle knowledge and was one of the main reasons he managed to create such an expansive empire.), and tradition says that he settled in Scotland after the Viking defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263 and the Treaty of Perth in 1266. When King Haakon of Norway was defeated in the Battle of Largs, the result was that the Western Isles were ceded to the Kingdom of Scotland. On the treaty that was signed was the signature of Andrew NICOLASSEN . Nicolassen's decision after that to settle in Scotland is believed to be the start of the Nicolson (son of Nichol) legacy.
From this time until 1475 the Clan is known in Scottish history as the MacNicols and the families, are variously called MacNicol, Nichols and Nicholson. The MacNicols are of mixed high Norse and Celtic descent. They even spoke both Norwegian and Gaelic for several centuries!! Tradition has always maintained that the family once were Vikings who ruled the Orkney Isles. There is a tradition that NICHOLSON is not really an Anglicization of the Gaelic name 'MacNEACAIL' or 'MacNICOL', but that the reverse is true: 'MacNicol" is really a gaelicisation of the Norse "NICOLASSEN." Some elements of the name Nicolson are thought to derive from the Norse personal name Olsen and "Nic" - the Gaelic for "son of Nicholas” a very common medieval name Nicholas, a name popular in Scandinavia. MacNeacail (Scottish Gaelic) is anglicized as MacNicol, Nicholson/Nicolson and literally means “Son of Nicol.” The name McNichol comes from the Viking settlers of ancient Scotland. (The name was used in a variety of spellings: Nicholls, Nichols, Nickols, Nickolls, Nicolls, Niccols, Nicholes, Nickoles and Nickels, McNichol, MacNichol, Nicholson, MacNicol) Today many members of Clan MacNeacail bear the surname Nicolson (and variations). This is because in the late 17th century members of the clan began to Anglicise their Gaelic name (Modern Scottish Gaelic: MacNeacail) to Nicolson. The surname Nicolson means "son of Nicol". The personal name Nicol is a diminutive of Nicholas, derived from the Greek Νικόλαος meaning "victory people".
In 1314, Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, defeated Edward II of England at the Battle of Bannockburn. Soon after he sent an army commanded by his brother Edward Bruce, High King of Ireland, to help the Irish fight the Anglo-Normans. In September 1315 he besieged Carrickfergus Castle and burned the town. Attempts to bring food to the castle failed and by April, 1316 the starving English garrison were forced to eat animal hides. It was even rumored that they ate 8 Scottish prisoners.
In September, 1316, MacNicols and his 200 spearmen came to the aid of Edward Bruce, and turned the tide of the battle and the castle finally surrendered, resulting in the first Irish independence from England. The MacNicols Spearmen are credited with saving the Bruce's crown. This same MacNicols captured four or five of their (English) ships by a strategem and utterly deprived the men of their lives.
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The Nicolsons of Lasswade were established in Midlothian for many generations and a knighthood was conferred in the 17th century.
Scorrybreac is the land that the clan occupied for 800 years, and was seat of the Clan MacNeacail chief until 1826.
Today members of Clan MacNeacail may show allegiance to their clan and chief by wearing a Scottish crest badge. This badge contains the chief's heraldic crest and heraldic motto.
During the 19th century the Clan was badly affected by the Highland Clearances in which many of the clansfolk were forced to emigrate from Scotland.
(As a side note, my great-grandmother was Mary Nicols, whose family emigrated from Scotland to Ireland and finally to England. Her son migrated to the US.)
(The last picture is me as a Nicols spearman.)
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Lief Erickson and the Discovery of America
Erik Thorvaldsson (Old Norse: Eirīkr Þōrvaldsson; 950 – c. 1003), known as Erik the Red (Old Norse: Eirīkr hinn rauði), is remembered in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland. The Icelandic tradition indicates that he was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway, as the son of Thorvald Asvaldsson, he therefore also appears, patronymically, as Erik Thorvaldsson (Eiríkr Þorvaldsson). The appellation "the Red" most likely refers to his hair color. Leif Ericson, the famous Icelandic explorer, was Erik's son.
Leif Ericson (Old Norse: Leifr Eiríksson; Icelandic: Leifur Eiríksson; Norwegian: Leiv Eiriksson c. 970 – c. 1020) was a Norse explorer regarded as the first European to land in North America (excluding Greenland), nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. According to the Sagas of Icelanders, he established a Norse settlement at Vinland, tentatively identified with the Norse L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland in modern-day Canada.
Leif was the son of Erik the Red, an explorer from Western Norway and his wife Thjodhild, and the grandson of Thorvald Asvaldsson. Though Leif's birthplace is not accounted for in the sagas, it is likely he was born in Iceland, where his parents met—probably somewhere in Breiðafjörður, and possibly at the farm Haukadal where Thjodhild's family is said to have been based. Leif had two brothers, Thorstein and Thorvald, and a sister, Freydís.
Thorvald Asvaldsson was banished from Norway for manslaughter and went into exile in Iceland accompanied by young Erik. When Erik was himself banished from Iceland, he travelled further west to an area he named Greenland, where he established the first permanent settlement in 986. Tyrker, one of Erik's thralls, had been specially trusted to keep in charge of Erik's children, as Leif later referred to him as his "foster father".
In 1000, Leif was asked to captain his first voyage. This was to bring gifts to King Olaf in Norway. Many preparations were made and Leif was very excited. Leif took along a crew of 14 and his crew travelled from Greenland to Norway. Blown off course to the Hebrides and staying for much of the summer, he arrived in Norway and became a hirdman of King Olaf Tryggvason. The king was so impressed with Leif that he invited Leif to stay in Norway. Leif decided there was no reason to rush back home to Greenland, so he accepted the offer. While in Norway, he marveled at all the wonderful things and rested in the lap of luxury.
One day, while playing chess with Leif, King Olaf told him of how he used to also worship the gods Leif did. He also told him of how a plague had struck Norway and how many people had died. Then he told Leif of how he turned away from those gods and began to worship the living Christ. He was baptized along with thousands of Norwegians, and then the plague stopped. Leif, not being very faithful to the Viking gods, became very interested in Christianity. He finally agreed to be baptized and accept this new faith. On his return voyage, he brought along a priest to spread the Christian faith to Greenland.
The Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders, both thought to have been written around 1200, contain different accounts of the voyages to Vinland. According to the Saga of Erik the Red, Leif apparently saw Vinland for the first time after being blown off course on his way to introduce Christianity to Greenland. There he found "self-sown wheat fields and grapevines". He next rescued two men who were shipwrecked in this country, and went back to Greenland (and Christianized the people there). Consequently, if this is to be trusted, Bjarni Herjólfsson was the first European to see America beyond Greenland, and the two unnamed shipwrecked men were the first people known to Europeans to have made landfall there.
According to a literal interpretation of Einar Haugen's translation of the two sagas in the book Voyages To Vinland, Leif was not the first European to discover America, nor the first to make landfall there: he had heard the story of merchant Bjarni Herjólfsson who claimed to have sighted land to the west of Greenland after having been blown off course. Bjarni reportedly never made landfall there, however.
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Leif Ericsson (continued)
The story and inspires Leif Ericsson to organize an expedition, which retraces in reverse the route Bjarni had followed. In 1001, Leif then approached Bjarni, purchased his ship, gathered a crew of thirty-five men, and mounted an expedition towards the land Bjarni had described. His father Erik was set to join him, but dropped out after he fell from his horse on his way to set sail, an incident he interpreted as a bad omen. Using the routes, landmarks, currents, rocks, and winds that Bjarni had described to him, Leif sailed some 1,800 miles to the New World with a crew of 35—sailing the same knarr Bjarni had used to make the voyage. Leif followed Bjarni's route in reverse and landed first in a rocky and desolate place he named Helluland (Flat-Rock Land; possibly Baffin Island). He described Helluland as "level and wooded, with broad white beaches wherever they went and a gently sloping shoreline." After venturing further by sea, he landed the second time in a forested place he named Markland (Forest Land; possibly Labrador).
Finally, after two more days at sea, he landed in a place he named Vinland (Often translated Wineland but more correctly "Land with great grass fields"). There, he and his crew built a small settlement which was called Leifsbúdir (Leif's Booths) by later visitors from Greenland. Leif wintered in 1001 probably near Cape Bauld on the northern tip of Newfoundland, where one day his German foster father Tyrker was found drunk, on what the saga describes as "wine-berries." Squashberries, gooseberries, and cranberries all grew wild in the area. There are varying explanations for Leif apparently describing fermented berries as "wine."
After the houses were built, Leif sent out an exploration group to explore the land. After one of these expeditions the men had found grapes on this land. Leif ordered his men to load grapes and timber onto the boat, and then they settled in for the winter. But the winter here was very peculiar. No frost came to the grasses. They also noticed that the days and nights were of more equal length here.
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Leif Ericsson (continued)
When spring came and the men were ready to go, Leif gave this land a name, Vinland, which either means Wineland or Pastureland. We now know Leif's Vinland to be L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. Leif returned to Greenland in the spring with a cargo of grapes and timber. On the return voyage, he rescued an Icelandic castaway and his crew, earning him the nickname "Leif the Lucky". Leif spent another winter at "Leifsbúðir" without conflict, and finally sailed back to Brattahlíð in Greenland. Surprisingly, few people ever returned to Vinland, only Leif's sister and a small group of settlers who were killed by Indians. Because of this, Europe remained almost totally in the dark about the discovery of this new world. The only references to it are in the Norse sagas where most of the information concerning Leif Erikson is recorded.
Leif was described as a wise, considerate, and strong man of striking appearance. During his stay in the Hebrides, he fell in love with noblewoman Thorgunna who gave birth to their son Thorgils. Thorgils was later sent to Leif in Greenland, but he did not become popular. After his first trip to Vinland, he returned to the family estate of Brattahlíð in Greenland, and started preaching Christianity to the Greenlanders. His father Erik reacted coldly to the suggestion that he should abandon his religion, while his mother Thjodhild quickly became a Christian and built a church called Thjodhild's Church. Leif is last mentioned alive in 1019, and by 1025 he had passed on his chieftaincy of Eiriksfjord to another son, Thorkell. Nothing is mentioned about his death in the sagas—he probably died in Greenland some time between these dates. Nothing further is known about his family beyond the succession of Thorkell as chieftain.
Leif's successful expedition in Vinland encouraged other Norsemen to also make the journey. In 1004, Leif's brother Thorvald Ericson sailed with a crew of 30 men to Newfoundland and spent the following winter at Leif's camp. The first apparent contact between the Norse and the indigenous people, so-called skrælingjar, was made by his brother Thorvald. In the spring, Thorvald attacked nine of the local people who were sleeping under three skin-covered canoes. The ninth victim escaped and soon came back to the Norse camp with a force. Thorvald was killed by an arrow that succeeded in passing through the barricade. Although brief hostilities ensued, the Norse explorers stayed another winter and left the following spring. Subsequently another of Leif's brothers, Thorstein, sailed to the New World to retrieve his dead brother's body, but he only stayed for one summer.
Settlements in continental North America aimed to exploit natural resources such as furs and in particular lumber, which was in short supply in Greenland. It is unclear why the short-term settlements did not become permanent, though it was in part because of hostile relations with the indigenous peoples, referred to as Skrælings by the Norse. Nevertheless, it appears that sporadic voyages to Markland for forages, timber, and trade with the locals could have lasted as long as 400 years.
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Leif Ericsson (continued)
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In the end there were no permanent Norse settlements in Vinland, although sporadic voyages at least to Markland for forages, timber and trade possibly lasted for centuries. The casual tone of references to these areas may suggest that their discovery was not seen as particularly significant by contemporaries, or that it was assumed to be public knowledge, or both. It has been suggested that the knowledge of Vinland might have been maintained in European seaports in the 15th century, and that Christopher Columbus, who claimed in a letter to have visited Iceland in 1477, could have heard stories of it.
Stories of Leif's journey to North America had a profound effect on the identity and self-perception of later Nordic Americans and Nordic immigrants to the United States. The first statue of Leif was erected in Boston in 1887, as many believed that Vinland could have been located at Cape Cod.
In 1960 archaeological evidence of the only known Norse settlement in North America was found at L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland. This proved conclusively the Vikings' pre-Columbian discovery of North America.
INTERESTING VIKING FACTS
The drinking toast: SKOLL:
At the end of the battle, Viking warriors would decapitate the king or leader of the tribe/army they had just vanquished and that night would drink from his skull--spelled skoll--as a sign of respect for the fallen opponent. In battle, Vikings would urge each other forward by yelling "SKOLL" to one another. By doing so, they were telling each other to keep it up so they could drink from the skull of the Vanquished that night. Vikings drank out of skulls (not recently killed or extracted skulls, of course, but cleaned and carved-out skulls. They used wax to fill in the nose and eye and ear holes) At Viking victory celebrations, they drank draughts of their enemies’ blood out of drinking vessels fashioned from human skulls. The toast “Skoll!” is derived from this custom. "May we always drink from the skulls of our enemies! – Skoll!”
Know why Russia is so-named?
Yep, you guessed it, it was the Vikings! The name “Russia” is derivative of the word “Rus,” meaning Red. Many used this word as a name for the Norsemen, as their ruddy and blonde hair left quite an impression on many people of non-European descent. Because of early Norse travel deep into what would become Russia, their “name” came to be used to describe the land there.
Vikings are the cleanest people of the Ancient/Medieval world:
You may think of Vikings as dirty, Meade-swilling murderers, and while they may have been those latter two sometimes, they were actually about the cleanest people of the Ancient/Medieval world. Excavations of most every major Viking settlement reveal not only combs, but also tweezers, razors, mirrors, and various grooming “products” that were essentially primitive soaps. The Vikings bathed at least once a week, both for ritual and hygiene, and many likely washed themselves daily, which may seem expected these days, but come on, this was a while back, things were different!
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(INTERESTING VIKING FACTS Continued)
Days of the week:
For some reason the Christian-dominated calendar ultimately adopted the names of four Norse gods for days of the week.
Tuesday - Is derived from the Norse god Týr (Tyr's day)- a god associated with law and heroic glory.
Wednesday - Is derived from the main Viking god Odin (also spelled Wodin)- a god associated with war, battle, victory and death, but also wisdom, Shamanism, magic, poetry, prophecy, and the hunt.
Thursday - Is named after the most popular Norse god, Thor- hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing and fertility.
Friday - This day of the week is named after the goddess Freyja- a goddess associated with love, sexuality, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death.
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(INTERESTING VIKING FACTS Continued)
Berserker:
The name berserker derives from the Old Norse berserkr (plural berserkir). This expression mostly likely arose from their reputed habit of wearing a kind of shirt or coat (serkr) made from the pelt of a bear (ber-) during battle.
Berserkers (or berserks) were Viking warriors who are primarily reported in the Old Norse literature to have fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. Berserkers are attested to in numerous Old Norse sources. Most historians believe that berserkers worked themselves into a rage before battle, but some think that they might have consumed drugged foods.
The Úlfhéðnar (singular Úlfheðinn), another term associated with berserkers, mentioned in the Vatnsdœla saga, Haraldskvæði and the Völsunga saga, were said to wear the pelt of a wolf when they entered battle.
Viking King of England:
Sweyn I Forkbeard (Old Norse: Sveinn Tjúguskegg; d. 3 February 1014) was king of Denmark and England, as well as parts of Norway. He was the son of King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark. He was the father of Cnut the Great. In the mid 980s he revolted against his father and seized the throne. In 1000, with allegiance of the Trondejarl, Eric of Lade, he was ruler over most of Norway. Sweyn's father, Harald Bluetooth, was the first of the Scandinavian kings to accept Christianity officially, in the early or mid-960s. Sweyn was baptised Otto, in tribute to the German king Otto I, who was the first Holy Roman Emperor. Forkbeard is never known to have officially made use of this Christian name.
Sweyn was involved in raids against England during 1002–1005, 1006–1007, and 1009–1012, to revenge the St. Brice's Day massacre of England's Danish inhabitants in November 1002. In 1013, he is reported to have personally led his forces in a full-scale invasion of England. King Sweyn with his fleet to Sandwich. He went very quickly about East Anglia into the Humber's mouth, and so upward along the Trent till he came to Gainsborough. Earl Uchtred and all Northumbria quickly bowed to him, as did all the people of Lindsey, then the people of the Five Boroughs. He was given hostages from each shire. Then he went south with the main part of the invasion force, while some of the invasion force, as well as the hostages, were with his son Cnut. They went to Oxford then eastward to London. King Æthelred sent his sons Edward and Alfred to Normandy, and retreated to the Isle of Wight, and then followed them into exile.[14] On Christmas Day 1013 Sweyn was declared King of England. Sweyn began to organise his vast new kingdom, but he died there on 3 February 1014, having ruled England unopposed for only five weeks.
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(INTERESTING VIKING FACTS Continued)
Patron Saint of Norway:
Olaf (Óláfr ) II Haraldsson (995 – 29 July 1030), later known as St. Olaf, was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae (English: Norway's Eternal King)
During his lifetime he was known as Olaf 'the fat' or 'the stout' (Ólafr digri; Modern Norwegian Olaf digre). As a teenager he went to the Baltic, then to Denmark and later to England. In 1014 he led a successful seaborne attack which pulled down London Bridge. Olaf returned to Norway in 1015 and declared himself king. But Olaf's success was short-lived. In 1026 he lost the Battle of the Helgeå, and in 1029 Olaf was driven into exile in Kievan Rus. Traditionally, Olaf has been seen as playing a significant role in the Christianization of Norway. Olaf, a rather harsh ruler and prone to rough treatment of his enemies, ironically became Norway's patron saint.
In 1030, Canute's Norwegian regent, Jarl Håkon Eiriksson, was lost at sea. Olaf seized the opportunity to win back the kingdom, but on 29 July 1030 he fell at the Battle of Stiklestad. His canonization was performed only a year after his death by Bishop Grimkell. His remains were enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral. Olaf's local canonization was in 1164 confirmed by Pope Alexander III, making him a universally recognized saint of the Catholic Church.
Courtesy of:
John Fairhair of Felsenbau (Rocks-Burrow), son of Samuel, of the Clan Nicol
Jóhann Hárfagri de Grjótbjǫrg- gren, Somairhleson, við klæn Neacal
(To be continued with a new topic next week)
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Wizards and Magic
INTRODUCTION
A magician is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources. Magicians, sorcerers, wizards, and practitioners of magic by other titles have appeared in myths, folktales and literature throughout recorded history, with fantasy works drawing from this background. A magician is, of course, a person who does "magic. That is, a magician is a person who can make things happen that wouldn't happen under the normal or familiar laws of nature. Something is transformed in a mysterious way, or disappears, or appears.
We know also, if we reflect on our use of the word, that a "magician" could be an entertainer (a "conjuror" or "prestidigitator") or a "real" magician (something like a "witch doctor," "medicine man," or, perhaps, "sorcerer"). In passing, it should be noted that a distinction is often made between the "white magician" and the "black magician.” The basic distinction seems to be in whether the magic is being used for helpful or for harmful purposes. This is, of course, to some extent relative to the standpoint of the observer. "Entertainment" magic, on the one hand, and ceremonial, ritual, or "real" magic, on the other.
In medieval chivalric romance, the wizard often appears as a wise old man and acts as a mentor, with Merlin from the King Arthur stories representing a prime example. Other magicians can appear as villains, hostile to the hero.
Magic has long been associated with the practices of animism and shamanism. Shamanic contact with the spiritual world seems to be almost universal in tribal communities, including Aboriginal tribes in Australia, Maori tribes in New Zealand, rainforest tribes in South America, bush tribes in Africa, and ancient Pagan tribal groups in Europe. Ancient cave paintings in France are widely speculated to be early magical formulations, intended to produce successful hunts. Much of the Babylonian and Egyptian pictorial writing characters appear derived from the same sources.
Traditional or folk magic is handed down from generation to generation. Not officially associated with any religion, folk magic includes practices like the use of horseshoes for luck, or charms to ward off evil spirits. Folk magic traditions are often associated with specific cultures. Hoodoo, not to be confused with Voodoo, is associated with African Americans, and incorporates the use of herbs and spells. Pow-wow is folk magic generally practiced by the Pennsylvania Dutch, which includes charms, herbs, and the use of hex signs.
While some organized religions embrace magic, others consider any sort of magical practice evil. Christianity and Islam, for example, both denounce divination and other forms of magic as originating with the Devil. Contrary to much of magical practice, these religions advocate the submission of the will to a higher power (God).
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(Wizards and Magic...continued)
APPEARANCE
The association with age means that wizards, both men and women, are often depicted as old, white-haired, and (for men) with long white beards. Some theorize the look of the wizard is modeled after the Germanic god Wōden or Odin as he was described in his wanderer guise as being an old man with a long gray beard, baggy robes, a wide-brimmed hat and walking with a staff. Their clothing is often typical as well. Wizards commonly wear robes or cloaks and pointed hats. These are often brightly colored and spangled with stars and moons, astrological symbols, or with magical sigils. Wizards may accessorize their wardrobe with magical props, such as crystal balls, wands, staves, books, potions, scrolls or tinkling bells. The amount of knowledge known by a wizard may also limit what spells a wizard knows and can cast. The Magician's hat can also be seen as a complement to his clothing in general.
TITLES
People who work magic are called by several names in fantasy works, and the terminology differs widely from one fantasy world to another. While derived from real world vocabulary, the terms "wizard", "witch", "warlock", "enchanter", "enchantress", "sorcerer", "sorceress", “Alchemist”, “Shaman”, "magician", "mage", and "magus" have different meanings depending on the story in que. The term archmage, with "arch" (from the Greek arché, "first") indicating "preeminent", is used in fantasy works as a title for a powerful magician, or a leader of magicians. These Master Wizards used the symbol for Mercury in Orange as their symbol. The concept of a magus takes its name from the priests of the Magian religion of the ancient Medes, who wielded considerable power and influence, until they were suppressed as a result of a revolt by the pretender Smerdis against Cambyses II.
The term "wizard" is more often applied to a male magic-user, just as a "witch" is more often female. While "enchantress" is the feminine of "enchanter", "sorceress" may be the feminine equivalent, not only of "sorcerer" but of "magician", which term has no precise feminine equivalent.
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Sir John, ever think of writing a book :) I would be your 1st costumer and would ask for an autograph lol
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Well, it's just my research on the internet finding out about these things. I do keep a copy, so have my own book.
Thanks,
Sir John