International Medieval Seminar - Portugal - 2001

 

 Many of you will have read our piece about the first Seminar (2000) hosted by the "Order of Chivalry of the Sacred Portugal" (OCSP) at the Portuguese Medieval Castle in "Terena, resulting in the formation of an International Medieval Alliance. It formulated a set of international guidelines for; Safety, Combat, Armour & Equipment (originally and loosely based around Great Britain's - National Association of Re-enactment Societies (NAReS) and the Early Medieval Alliance (EMA) edged weapons safety guidelines, augmenting the customs of the member nations). The principle aim being to provide a platform for international medieval activities, promoting everything from: - Medievalism in Europe, to Cultural awareness - living history presentations, International Marketing & Trading, youth education and the interchange of information and ideas.

 

This year the membership had grown considerably with the following nations adding to the delegates at the meeting:-

Jorge Rafael Araujo (& Co) OCSP ...................................................Portugal

Roger Lankford (& Co)        MCS.....................................................Britain

Chris Young/Sapper (& Co) The Woodville household.....................Britain

Will Valance (& Co)              Y Cantref Breheinol..............................Wales

Chris Tatner                          Order of the Lilac...................................USA

Martin  (& Co)                       (Chancellor of Gniew Castle).................Poland

Tomec Szajewski (& Co)        Barons League...................................... Poland

Fabrizio Fiori (& Co)               Archers of the Silver Flower..................Italy

Philippe Bertrand (& Co)        Medieval Culture Centre of Maine.......France

Note: please forgive us for missing your name, there were too many people for us to mention every-one!

 

Jorge called everyone together for a meeting, he began the meeting by welcoming everyone and introducing the IMA council members.  He explained that unfortunately Brian Price had left the council and the IMA following a number of queries that may reflect poorly on the IMA. Last years combat guidelines were introduced in written form for the meeting to discuss.  Each section was discussed and unanimously agreed upon.

***(Full extract on the OCSP webb site – [  www.ocsp.pt/html/ima_Guidelines.html  ]). ***

Jorge had also worked on creating a logo and a new name for the alliance – “INTERMEDIEVAL” both were agreed upon.

 

In the afternoon the process of integrating people from different cultures began.  Each group briefly demonstrated their fighting techniques. Then we spent time sparring with members from the other groups.  We really enjoyed this time and learnt a great deal from the exercise. 

 

The weather turned very bad (mini Lakes, rivers and indoor waterfalls effecting almost every tent), so Jorge transported us and all our medieval kit to a local gym.  While he organised the relocating of the food and bar we turned the hall into a makeshift medieval area.  We set up an archery range at one end and stalls around the outside of a fighting arena.  The stalls were taken by a silversmith Portugal’s leading Silversmith, coin maker from Poland, traditional doll maker Portugal; ring mail by the Welsh; calligraphy writing and braid weaving by Sapper’s group, and Weapons and Armour displays by the other groups.

 

Each nation entered contestants for the 12th; 13th; 14th & 15th Century Tournaments and the Archery Contest on Saturday.

 

 

A surprisingly large number of the public turned up to watch the Tournaments. Despite the individual fights happening all afternoon and well into the evening they were fascinating, displaying every concept of combat from classic stylised techniques to pure barbarian force. 

 

The winning contestants of the four centuries were: - 

12th century was won by Marcin Ostrode from Poland’s Brotherhood of Knights of Gniew Castle. 

13th century by Lukasz Norwak from Polands Brotherhood of Knights of Gniew Castle. 

14th century by Roger Lankford.  MCS Britain.

15th century by Ettore Cattoli from Italy’s Company of Archers of the Silver Flower. 

The bow tournament by Przemislaw Szajewski from Polands Brotherhood of Knights of Gniew Castle.  

 

The different eras were interspersed with jugglers, fire-eaters and displays of traditional Polish dancing.

***(see the OCSP Webb site [  www.ocsp.pt/html/IMA_Tournaments.html  ]). ***

 

One of the more interesting contests was between two Polish fighters from the same group. Picture this… they entered the tournament ring with Helms,  “one large Axe, a dice and a goblet” and sat in the middle of the fight arena.  One of them shook the dice and both peered into the goblet, one then quickly put on his helm… Which was just as well because the other snatched up their war Axe and walloped him on the head with it… confused? So were we until the second throw aptly demonstrated “the ever changing fortunes of war”. This (one of the funniest moments of the week) continued for a “best of three”.

 

Saturday night saw a great deal of socialising, networking, stick sparring games and teasing about fighting styles. All of which helped to forge a very strong sense of “brother hood”, despite language barriers… which seemed to disappear with alcohol consumption.  First the beer ran out. About midnight the “Porto” ran out and we moved onto “Muskadelle”.  When we had drunk the bar dry we moved onto our own supplies.  Finally at three o’clock in the morning this also ran out so every-one went to bed. 

 

Sunday morning came with the sad realisation it was all over! Four days of exciting new friends, fantastic traders, vigorous tournaments, stick sparing bouts and the Archery had come to an end. BUT! They’ll be there next year… and (with luck) the OCSP and the Italians will make it to Tewkesbury.

 

The flight home was uneventful and four very tired but happy travellers returned to “L.H.R” six days after leaving it. The Whole exercise cost 4 of us a little more than £700.00 “including freight shipping charges” (about £177.00 each) for a fully catered - intensive fun holiday.

 

I know there were a number of people considered going this year, who eventually didn’t go. Coining the phrase “this is the most fun you can have with you’re clothes on” would be an understatement. The membership to “Intermedieval (IMA-UK)” is growing, currently there are 27 UK groups who are members and there is space for traders, archers and medieval groups who feel they can gain & offer something. So! Please think again - call me.

 

What does membership cost? Nothing at the moment!  We should almost certainly be prepared to contribute to newsletters and the like, there may be some funding from EEC educational, cultural and heritage grants which will be available for a well supported international organisation… INTERESTED? Simply contact ROGER for a UK registration form and return it to:-            “Intermedieval” (IMA – UK)

C/o: Roger A Lankford.

18 Ashgate Valley Road, Ashgate,

Chesterfield, Derbyshire,

S40 4AX;        England.

Phone: (01246) – 270090. 

 E-mail: roger@lancasters-armry.demon.co.uk

 

Note:-   MCS & EMA MEMBERS ARE AUTOMATICALLY MEMBERS OF THE IMA.