Military History
In Our Words
The Military History of Meridies
Archived here from The History of Meridies, 2nd edition.[1]
Very few things happen at the right time and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.-Herodutus (484-425 BC).
I make it up as I go along.-Padruig's translation
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.-Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
History will be kind to those who are kind to the historian.-Padruig's translation
Now that we are all in the proper perspective, let us turn to the matter of the military history of the Kingdom of Meridies as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our merry band of medievalists. Meridies has always been in a very interesting position in regards to the development of arms, armor, and military science in that we are much like England was in the Middle Ages. Our heartland has always been geographically isolated from the surrounding kingdoms by the widely uninhabited areas of mundane Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisiana, at least until very recent times. Thus we have been cut off from the trends and patterns that shaped the fighting styles of the Kingdoms of the Middle, the East, the West, and Atenveldt. As a result, the forms of SCA combat in Meridies have been based on original thinking and the twisted perceptions that have trickled down to us from other kingdoms. With that in mind, one should view this work not so much as a history but a guide to the rituals, historical patterns, and present fighting styles in Meridies. It is hoped that this may be of use to some of the readers in understanding some of the forces that have shaped your lives and answer some of the questions you have been asking for years, but have only received silly or contemptuous looks.
This chronicler wishes to thank all those who have aided in this work: Lady Gisela Kientzheim von Drachenwald, Kingdom Historian; TRM John and Heather for sharing their experiences; Baron Sir Siegfried of Wiltekinde for his information on the Royal Army of Meridies; the State of Tennessee for supplying me the time I needed to write this work; Herodotus and Winston Churchill (who are no doubt spinning in their graves) for their quotations; all of the kind and gentle persons who have given me information, inspiration and good joke material; and a special thanks to Baroness Falada of Englewood for her illustrations and for putting up with me as this work was assembled.
This work is dedicated to the Kingdom of Meridies, wherein the highest standard of chivalry, honor and enjoyment in the Knowne World can be found and is the blessed land that has many of those out of time persons, including this chronicler. Long live the King! Long Live the Queen! Long Live the good people of Meridies! Long Live the Kingdom of Meridies!
Arms and Armor
Arms and armor have followed no exact pattern in the Kingdom of Meridies and, as such, this section describes more trends than any clearly definable periods. However, there have always been certain constant factors that have influenced the style, use and development of arms and armor -- cost, technology, availability of materials, marshallate rules, and (to a lesser extent) persona, combat style, and climate.
Helmets
In the period of AS VIII-XIII, most fighting helms were of the freon can variety made from the 22 or 25 pound freon can and modified by the addition of bars, grillwork, visors, paint, wins, crests, and other doodads that did nothing to dramatically change their appearance as freon cans. These helms were inexpensive to produce, readily available, and were within the technological abilities of most early armorers. Being constructed of a fairly good 16 gauge steel, they were more than adequate for SCA combat in its infancy in Meridies. however, due to the development of heavier weapons and stronger sword blows, these helms had a disturbing tendency to buckle, particularly if one's opponent were Sir William Colquitt or Sir Francois. This led to a new phase of development for the freon can fighting helm when, in the spring of AS XIII, the Earl Marshall decreed that freon can helms had to be reinforced with straps of metal across the crown and sides of the helm. This led to a rush of modifications by fighters just prior to Border Raids IV, but more than a few fighters felt that the new rule sounded the death-knell of the freon can helm and threw their time and energy into the construction of barrel and spangen helms.
Both of these types of helms had been in use to some extent by the fighters of Meridies since the founding of the Principality, but since most of the fighters were poor students, the idea of buying the materials and building a helm from scratch to wear on the field took SCA combat from anachronistic to masochistic.
The barrel helm followed the 13th century pattern fairly closely -- narrow occulariu (tunnel vision), small patterned breathing holes (stiflingly hot), flat top (nice bucket you're wearing, milord) -- and was very period looking. Many of these helms even features a visor that swung to either side of the opening and was known as the wicket visor, a little known style from the late 1200s. A later variation of the barrel helm that enjoyed some success in Meridies was the conical sugarloaf or great helm. Barrel helms of various types still remain popular due to their simplicity and appearance.
The spangenhelm has not been the most popular style with armorers due to the difficulty in shaping the teardrop-shaped panels that must be riveted to the helmet frame. However, the rounded dome of the spangenhelm is and was very popular with fighters since blows had a tendency to glance off the helm. Personae play another part in the continued use of this style, since the spangenhelm was used from the late Roman Empire through to the Renaissance and can be adapted for a wide range of historic period personae. Spangenhelm were also some of the first SCA helms fitted with vertically movable visors as well as wicket visors, thus increasing the medieval effect for the SCA fighter.
A variation of the spangenhelm was the Phelan (or Tir Ysigthian) helm that was widely produced in the western and southern parts of Meridies during the period of AS XIV-XVIII and still is seen today. It was constructed from the bowl of a mundane army pot helmet (the rim being removed by a torch) attached in some manner to one or two pieces of steel to form the back and front. This helm was an excellent compromise in relation to the cost, appearance and function of an authentic spangenhelm. had it not been for a less expensive and somewhat easier to work dome coming from the west, the Phelan helm would probably have continue into wider use within the kingdom.
The phenomenal population growth in Meridies between AS XV-XIX combined with the dispersal of more professional armorers and material on armoring (i.e. The Hammer, At Stake, The Fighters' Handbook, etc.) lead our kingdom into its present phase of arms and armor. With the rise of higher levels of armoring technology and certain SCA-wide armor regulations that created standard costs, helms became more refined in appearance and more tailored to the persona, as did entire harnesses of armor. On the mundane side, by AS XVI many Meridiens had embarked on their professional careers and had more money to spend on helms, armor and other toys.
Bascinets were one of the first of the new styles to come into use, at first with the medieval pig-faced or dog-faced visor, and later, with a visor of welded steel bars. Both of these visor styles were usually movable and interchangeable, but as time moved on many fighters chose to have their visors welded directly to the helm or otherwise made a permanent part of it. Mail coifs increasingly gave way to the aventail riveted or laced to the bascinet in an effort to reduce weight and cost while improving appearance, so that today, SCA bascinets are little different from their 14th century counterparts. Bascinets of this type also represent the first major appearance of gorgets integrated directly to the helm on a widespread basis.
From Old Atenveldt (now the Kingdom of the Outlands), the spun metal helmet bowl began to be seen in Meridies about AS XV/XVI and has become even more popular than the Phelan or period spangenhelm. These bowls are usually of the 12-14 gauge steel, thus making them extraordinarily hard to dent and the cost is usually low. Brilled and attached to a variety of steel parts, the spun metal tops are transformed into Roman cassis, Japanese kabuto, Norman nasal helms, Renaissance burgonets, Vendel mask helms, and a host of others.
features integral and rather distinctive brass breast-plates that offered excellent protection and mark the wearer's identity plainly.
Persona-oriented body armor and harnesses have also come into the fore in recent years as is demonstrated by Earl Sir John of EanAirgead and his squire, Artos, who represent some of the finest SCA adaptations of Roman-British armor in the kingdom. Not only is it authentic in style and appearance, but as Artos is squire to Sir John, their harnesses are those of an Arthurian cavalryman (equestrian or knight) and an auxiliary infantryman (escutifier or squire). For more examples of 'personified' armor, please see the illustrations at the back of the text.
Other Armor
It has only been in the past five years or so that Meridies has moved en masse away from basketball and hockey pads, cervical collars, welders' gauntlets and hockey gloves, baseball shinguards and karate suits into the realm of more period forms of limb, hand and neck protections. The development of such armor has followed the medieval pattern fairly closely in certain cases.
For example, when the marshallate required better knee and elbow protection than pads, the fighter responded by simple leather or steel cops to fulfill those rules. Later, articulations were added to insure that the joint was fully covered when flexed. The extension of metal provided by the articulation could support additional leg or arm protection, so that it was simple to attach leather or metal cuisses (thighguards, you dolt!) to the top of the knee cop and greaves to the bottom or rerebraces and vambraces to the elbow cop.
When more rigid neck protection was required than thin leather over a cervical collar, many fighters began to use mail coifs and aventails, but some made aventails out of leather or even brigandine. Other chose to separate the gorget from the helm by the use of plate, leather, or brigandine gorgets.
Hockey gloves and kendo gloves can still be seen on the field, but they are giving way more and more to gauntlets made of plate or covered with scales, thus presenting a far more medieval appearance fro themselves and the SCA in Meridies.
Shields
"Round shield, man! That's what life is all about!"
So spoke a fighter in AS X, just before they took him away to the Meridien Home for the Brain Dead, but he was essentially correct at the time. The flat plywood round shield with the bicycle tire rim is as much a part of SCA history as the Bellatrix Snap. It was and remains the first shield most fighters will use, but it was not the only form that was used in the early years of Meridies, as witnessed by the 'rat-door shield' of Sir William Colquitt and the square shield of Michael of Grey Niche.
However, there was a trend that filtered down from the Middle Kingdom around AS XIV-XVI for fighters to adopt the use of heater and kite shields, particularly the overlong 'cheater heater' for single combat. As shields grew in size, there was less emphasis placed on skill and more on the ability to strike harder blows in an effort to wear down one's opponent. This may be one of the primary reasons why armor had to be increased at that time, since serious bruises and broken bones occurred when the harder blows landed on an unarmored party. The larger shields also led several earl-marshals to place a size restriction on shields in an effort to reverse the process and reinstate the practice of skill in individual combat.
This is not to say that large shields were completely bad, for in wars and melees they were to prove their worth again and again. The Trimarian Romans under Artorius made excellent use of the Roman scutum shield at Salt Wars I (Atlantia v. Meridies), as did the kite shieldwall of Iron Mountain during Sleep Wars I (South Downs v. Iron Mountain).
Since AS XVI, most fighters have chosen to use different shields that reflect their fighting style in tourney and melees. The round and wankel shields (such as those used by HRM John or Duke Sir Lawrence) are most useful for the aggressive fighter, while heater shields remain the most popular and versatile shield in regards to both attack and defense. The kite shield is the mark of a defensive style, as is the scutum and curved round shield (aka the Kane shield) since these shields make the effective charge difficult to maintain but make shield overruns more potent since the weight of the fighter can be put entirely behind the shield. The oval and hexagonal shields should be classified with the heaters and the coffin-shaped shields with the kites. The principal change in shields in recent years is that steel and aluminum have replaced plywood as the primary base material.
Weapons
The earliest weapons used in Meridies were those of the medieval knightly class: the broadsword and mace, followed by the axe and the spear. Prior to kingdom status, only swords were necessarily made of rattan. Many mace handles and spearshafts were made of hardwood dowels, while combat axes featured real axe handles. Many double-ended weapons were also in evidence, such as the Key-a five foot weapon with a cut and thrust shorsword at one end and a mace with thrusting tip at the other to be used as a quaterstaff. There were also a few halberds, bills, and Lucerne hammers in use but they were not very useful in the fluid forms of combat in Meridies and were more popular formerly than presently.
During the first year of the kingdom, rattan became the only accepted base material for weapons, but two-ended weapons were still allowed if used quarterstaff fashion. At this time the use of the second generation weapons was at its height. The latter were usually maces, axes and swords. The maces were weighted with lead foil or modeling clay, then covered with a minimum of padding and rattan plints over that for the flanges. Maximum weight was about 4 pounds. The axes typically had rattan splints for the edges over the minimum padding, thus concentrating the full force of the blow into about 4-6 square inches. The swords were of laminated construction and were unusually heavy and came the closest Meridies ever got to the falchion. A good sound blow with any second generation weapon could seriously injure another fighter even if it struck him on the armor. Such weapons were forbidden entirely in Meridies by the beginning of AS XIV, but since most of those weapons were designed for the more heavily armored fighters of other kingdoms, their absence was not generally missed.
By the end of AS XVI, the style of weaponry had reached the pattern with which most Meridiens are now familiar. The halberd and spear have given way to the 6-8 foot glaive as the standard polearm due to its speed and cut and thrust use, but spears are still in use by some fighters and are especially effective in bridge battles. The broadsword remains the standard sidearm, followed in preference by the shortsword, mace, axe and warhammer. Florentine, especially the two sword style, and bastardsword (or katana) remain as the main form for flankers and the more aggressive types. Greatswords are still used by those who realize the devastating effectiveness of such a weapon in skilled hands.
Missile Weapons
Sir John the Bearkiller introduced war archery into Meridies in about AS IX when he taped some cork float balls to some target shafts and let fly. Had he known that in the next few months he'd be killed by war arrows at least a dozen time, he might have left the cork floats at the tackle shop. (There are times when the clock should go back, eh?) Under the early kingdom rules, war arrows replaced the cork balls with drilled rubber or foam balls but this had an undesirable result of reducing range due to the heaviness of the tip. At the beginning of AS XVIII, the Earl Marshal began to officially adopt the Markland arrow and encouraged the use of the boffle tube javelin, the sling, and the staff sling. The shot used in the slings was usually a slit tennis ball, but the level of skill needed to use a sling made it a rare sight on the battlefield. The javelins were constructed of one or two boffle tubes, weighted with newspaper, tipped with a slit tennis ball, and had streamers for stability, but the weapon lacked range and stability at all but the shortest distances. the recent introduction of heavy cardboard tubes as the javelin shaft have finally produced a functional infantry weapon that can be carried by fighters. Another popular weapon is the throwing axe made from hose, foam, and tape. Under the current rules, a fighter can carry up to four axes or javelins.
Royal Army of Meridies
In the spring of AS XIV, TRM John and Heather announced the establishment of the Royal Army of Meridies (RAM) as an official body for the defense of the Realm against external foes. The concept and organization were created by Lord Heinrich von Altmark as a means of boosting esprit de corps and fighting prowess for our annual Border Raids with the Middle Kingdom. Originally, the royal Army was organized into companies of not less than 15 fighters each and were based in several of the Kingdom's Baronies; Shire and Canton levies generally attached themselves to the Baronial Companies of nearest proximity, but there was also considerable freedom for those who so wished to join other companies. The company commanders werechosen by the Crown in consultation with the knights and barons. The original companies their commanders were:
First Company (South Downs): Sir John of Ean Airgead Second Company (Thor's Mountain): Sir Siegfried Wilterkinde Third Company (Draconia): Sir Francois du Vent Fourth Company (Iron Mountain): Baron Louis de l'Anguille Fifth Company (Grey Niche): Sir John the Bearkiller
In addition, there was a general staff for the Royal Army consisting of the Crown General Commanding His Majesty's Foot, the Crown General Commanding the Royal Archer Corps, and the Brigadier Commanding the royal Scouts Brigade. These positions were always appointed by the reigning Sovereign, usually but not exclusively from the Royal Guard.
The Royal Guard itself was separate from the Royal Army, being chosen from the personal household of the Crown, friends, and the Royal Champions. It was primarily a ceremonial or court unit, but the Crown could augment it in times of war by conscripting various personnel from within the various companies.
The uniform of the Royal Army for both officers and enlisted was a surcoat falling to the knees and open at the side. The surcoat was divided sable and argent (the argent over the heart); the beausant banner of the Knight's Templar-black for resolve against our foes and white for goodness to our allies. Rank badges were worn on the left shoulder for officers and on the right shoulder for enlisted fighters.
Crown General Gold Aigulette
Crown Colonel Red Aigulette
Crown Major Two Black & One White Ribbons (8 inches)
Crown Captain Two Black Ribbons (8 inches)
Crown Lieutenant One Black Ribbon (8 inches)
Sergeant Major Two Red & One White Ribbons (8 inches)
Sergeant Three Red Ribbons (8 inches)
Master-at-Arms Two Red Ribbons (8 inches)
Fighter One Red Ribbon (8 inches)
The officers and enlisted Scouts substituted green ribbons for the black or red ribbons and the officers or enlisted archers substituted royal blue ribbons for the black and red ribbons. Any sort of pin or attachment was suggested for the rank ribbons. Personal badges, company insignia, or baronial identification should be worn on the opposite shoulder from the rank ribbons or aigulettes.
The Royal Army made its fighting debut at Border Raids IV during the period it was still organizing. Lord Heinrich was the Crown General Commanding His Majesty's Foot at that time, and (to the best of my sources) still retains that rank. Sir Francois led the vanguard, Sir Siegfried the right wing, and Sir John Ean Airgead and Sir William Colquitt were leading the left wing; the center and reserve (with the Royal Guard) were under King John and Crown General Heinrich. For a description of this battle, please see the attached section "A Treatise on Four SCA Battles."
By the time of Salt Wars I (April XVII), there was a reorganization of the Royal Army and an additional Company was created. The Royal Archers and Brigade of Scouts was consolidated into the Ninth Company (aka the Meridien Yeomanry) and placed under the command of Lord Edmund the Sentinel with the rank of Crown General. The rank of Brigadier Commanding the Royal Scouts Brigade was abolished. At that time the Sixth Company (Trimaris) was created and placed in the Command of Sir Tetsuo Sakura. The designations for the Seventh and Eighth Companies were held in reserve but were never given out.
At the present time (AS XXIII), the Royal Army of Meridies remains active to a degree, but there have been some losses over time -- the First Company is still active under Prince John of Ean Airgead; the Second Company has been raised to the status of battalion under Sir Siegfried with the addition of companies from Vulpine Reach and Nant-y-Derwyddon; the Third Company was dissolved with the BoD's dismantling of the Barony of Draconia; the Fourth Company remains on the rolls, supposedly under the joint command of Baron Cipriano and Baroness Aelfrida; the Fifth Company is now under the direct command of King John; the Sixth Company was lost when Trimaris became a Kingdom; and the Ninth Company of Archers, Scouts and Crossbowmen is presently commanded by the Hon. Lord Brandon Smythe.
The Royal Army of Meridies is to come together for at least 2 events a year at present: Border Raids and Pennsic Wars, when our Sovereign pledges us to one of the main combatants.
Knighthood in Meridies
Knighthood is the highest honor that can be obtained by a fighter, for it singles one out from among thousands of fighters as meeting the highest standards of chivalry, honor and weapons skill in the Knowne World. This section deals with the ideal qualities of a knight, according to the guidelines of the SCA and the Kingdom of Meridies. This is followed by a description of the process and ritual of knighthood in the tenth year of our Kingdom.
Requirement for Knighthood
According to the majority of SCA sources, a candidate fro knighthood must demonstrate prowess equal to his prospective peers with the basic weapons of tournament combat, namely the broadsword and mace and mace and the round and heater shields. The candidate must also be skilled in the use of other weapons commonly used in the lists. In Meridies, this last qualification usually means that fighter should be competent with a glaive, spear, and florentine. Unfortunately for so many who wish to become knights, weapons skill is the easiest requirement for elevation to the Chivalry, and there are many sword jocks who never understand why they are not knights since they can usually beat the living daylights out of most of the knights they know.
Weapons skill must be coupled with a continuing desire to learn, as well as a willingness to teach these skills to all who ask. A candidate fro knighthood should maintain control of himself on the field and always give the opponent the benefit of the doubt when a blow is questionable.
A candidate should display and practice truthfulness, generosity, restraint, gallantry, courtliness, and gentleness. Patience is perhaps the hardest virtue of the knight; one may be asked the same question a thousand times, but to the person asking the question, it will be the first time they may be hearing the answer and how you state it could affect their actions from then on.
The candidate should be familiar with, obedient to, and respectful of the By-Laws, the Rules of the List, and the Laws of the Kingdom of Meridies. One should endeavor to support the ideals of the SCA in dress, equipment, and manner.
When one is a squire, the request of another knight should be taken as if it came from the lips of one's own knight. Respect should be shown to all peers, and acquaintance with the SCA arts and sciences can be learned from everyone. Do not consider it wrong to learn from other knights than one's own, since no single person can know everything or teach everything in one lifetime. Take criticism and advice from peers with good grace for they have been in your place and probably know what they are talking about, even if it may not appear so.
No candidate can be perfect, even as no peer can be perfect, yet one should strive for perfection with dignity and honor. One cannot help being human and making human mistakes. The forgiveness that is shown should always be reciprocated whenever possible.
Knighthood is the highest form of slavery that a Scadian can ever know, particularly in the Kingdom of Meridies, when men and women are blessed with a rich freedom. When one strives for knighthood, one also strives for always being in the public eye and being held up for show for as long as one remains in the SCA.
Ritual of Knighthood
Herein follows the ritual of knighthood as practiced by the Order of the Chivarly within Meridies during the tenth year of our Kingdom, in the form of a stylized description of the elevation of Sir Lee Fribrand at the Fighters' Collegium in April, AS XXII. The candidate for knighthood had been informed by the Crown and the representative of the Order of Chivalry that he was to be made a knight and was given his choice at what event the accolade was to be given his choice at what event the accolade was to be given. The night before the ceremony, the candidate laid his armor and weapons out in a quiet place and stood his vigil, where he received visits from Knights of the Order. These knights imparted what advice and encouragement they could to the candidate and told him what to expect in the ceremony.
King John then summoned his herald, who bade that weapons be sheathed and the populace should gather before Their Majesties. The herald called for the King's knights and there were four who answered the call-Lawrence of Ashana, third Duke of Meridies and Earl Marshal; John of Ean Airgead called the Mad Celt, who some name Shield-climber; Harald Bodvarsson, the Meridien-born; and Pare de Almoane, a Lord of Stonecastle-yet when these knights knelt before Their Majesties, King John was not content. He bade his herald summon the Warlord of Meridies and Lord Lee Fribrand strode forth clad all in sable, save for the argent crescent and sword upon his breast and the blood-red belt of squirehood. Lord Lee knelt before King John and Queen heather and Their knights, while Duke Lawrence took the Sword of Meridies from its bearer. The King did ask if Lord Lee was ready to take upon himself the unforgiving white belt of knighthood and the unbreakable golden chain of fealty and Lee gave his affirmation. So he was girded in white, and the knight's chain, that is the heaviest burden a fighter can bear, was placed upon his shoulders. King John spoke of the lineage through which this knighthood had passed and he took the Sword of Meridies from its sheath and bestowed the accolade of knighthood with the blessing of Queen Heather. King John then raised the new knight to his feet and dealt him a strong buffet, decreeing that he should bear it and no other. The ritual of knighthood ended with the cheers of the populace.
The Earl Marshallate in Meridies
The standards of combat and safety in Meridies owe a great deal to those who have held the post of Earl Marshal since the founding of the Principality, when Sir Tetsuo Sakura represented the Marshallate of Old Atenveldt. It is right that some description of the accomplishments of these men should be given.
By AS XII, most fighters were wearing some form of body armor, everything from kidney belts through full mail. However, it was not until the first year of the Kingdom that the first Kingdom Earl Marshall, Lord Siegfried of Wilterkinde, issued the basic armor requirements of Meridies as a kingdom: that kidney belts, cups, gorgets, and special female armor were required. Interestingly, armor for the torso, leading thigh, weapon forearm, and shield hand were recommended but got required; footwear was not mentioned at all
The next changes came in AS XIV, when Sir Beorn Collen-fehrth introduced the reinforced freon can helm ruling, and armor for all fighters was made more extensive. Second generation weapons and two ended weapons were completely phased out under Sir Beorn and his successor, Sir Roderick Level Lance. The latter also brought about the first mention in the marshallate of standards of appearance: "... any offensively non-period armor may be banned from the field."
In AS XVII, Meridies was blessed (or cursed, depending on your opinion at the time) with an Earl Marshal who was to seep away much of the past and raise a new standard of excellence in Meridien fighting -- Sir Phelan Cathaoir-Mor. Under his administration, the freon can helm was to eventually be outlawed (except for scouts), the Markland arrow became the official arrow in war combat, the office of Archery Marshal wasestablished, the encouragement of the javelin and the ling began, the ten foot kill rule for archers was decreed, and armor was brought up to the highest standard of safety in the history of the Kingdom of Meridies. While there was a great deal of complaining and gnashing of teeth, Sir Phelan's administration as Earl marshal and his reign as Sovereign (when Sir Savogg Haraldsson continue his work) brought Meridies up to and in certain cases exceeded the standards of combat in most of the Knowne World.
Sir Phelan was succeeded in AS XX by Sir Richard Raefen, whose regulation we are presently using, except for where modified by the present Earl Marshal, Sir Lawrence of Ashana.
A Treatise on Four SCA Battles
The below is from The History of Meridies, 2nd edition.[2]
Compiled by THL Padruig Aoghann na Uladh
This work is the first attempt by the Meridien Military Historian's Office to chronicle the development and practice of military science within our fair kingdom. This introduction deals with four specific examples of SCA war combat: melees involving natural terrain, man-made fortifications, well-drilled tactics on an open field, and inter-kingdom war with both sides using unfamiliar allies.
Since this work is based on eye-witness accounts of the various battles, it is subject to all the frailties and prejudices of human memory and opinion. In this, the chronicle is much like any medieval chronicle, save for the exclusion of any reference to Divine intervention.
The chronicler wishes to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of Duke John the Bearkiller, Earl Roderick Level Lance of Rampart, Countess Miriam of Calontir, Baron Heinrich von Altmann, Sir Andras Salamandra, Lord Jorg Kratz, Laird Colin MacLachlinn, and Baroness Falada of Englewood.
This work is dedicated to all those gentle persons who have contributed to and upheld the ideals of chivalry and honor that are the cornerstones of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
Border Raids, Glaedenfeld (AS XIV)
The main war battle of this Border Raids was fought within the wooded area of the site in the new Shire of Glaedenfeld. The commanders of the Middle Kingdom's forces were Sir Polidor Haraldsson and the Baron Three Rivers, Lord Stephen Ironhand. The Meridiens were led by HRM John the Bearkiller with the aid of Sir Seigfried, Sir John Mad Celt, Sir William Colquitt, Sir Orlando, Sir Francois, and Baron Heinrich von Altmann. The Middle Kingdom was outnumbered by about 3:1 by Meridies, so King John and Sir Polidor decided to let the Middle Kingdom go on the defensive and the newly formed mercenary House Eagle was lent out to the Midrealm. While the Meridien army formed up on the field, Sir Polidor and Baron Stephen took their troops off to the woods.
The vanguard of the Meridiens was led by Sir Francois and consisted of the lighter-armed troops and most of the remaining archers (about 3). Twenty or so yards behind, the main body formed with Sir Seigfried commanding the right, Sir John Mad Celt and Sir William Colquitt the left, and a center/reserve led by King John, his remaining knights, the Royal Guard, and any uncommitted forces.
On a signal from King John, the main body began its advance towards the woods while the vanguard proceeded in to locate the Midrealm's position. The main body halted at the edge of the woods until Sir Francois' scouts returned. The scouts reported that the vanguard had been ambushed by archers and sustained some losses, but Sir Francois had driven the ambushers back and followed them to their home base. The scouts were then placed in the lead while the army formed a column and entered: right wing, left wing and then, reserves.
Sir Polidor had chosen the best defensive position possible in the entire area: not only did it give his troops the best possible defense, but it was also relatively safe from the standpoint of SCA war rules. At the junction of 2 wide, shallow streams was a triangular jut of land about 3 feet high and thirty feet on the side, with higher ground rising at the back of the peninsula. He had formed a shield wall around himself at the apex, polearms and spears in the second rank, and House Eagle archers and light infantry on the rising ground to the rear, giving them a full range of view in which to loose over the heads of the shield wall.
The Meridien right and left wings formed a counter-wedge on the far side of the stream, while King John held the center back. While the left and right shielded the center from the view of most of the Midrealmers, he sent a small force under Baron Heinrich around the enemy formation to look for a back door. On command, the right and left charged across the stream and engaged the shield wall, but this had very little effect as the stream broke the force of the charge and the foe's height advantage soon sent casualties streaming from the Meridien ranks. This action would probably have continued indefinitely, but for two events.
First, House Eagle was so engaged in observing the battle to their front, that they had forgotten to protect their rear until Baron Heinrich hit them from behind and began to drive into the back of the Midrealm wedge. At close quarters, the archers and polearmsmen had no room to retaliate. While this action was going on in the rear, a break occurred in the shield wall when a Meridien fighter, Lord James Dexter, charged right up the side of the peninsula and hit Sir Polidor at full speed. Even though Sir Polidor killed Lord James, the momentum of his suicide charge drove Sir Polidor back and created a hole through which the rest of the Meridiens rushed. Beset from two sides and with little room to swing, the majority of the Midrealmers fell until only Sir Polidor and a bastardswordsman were left. Sir Polidor managed to kill Sir Seigfried and Sir John Mad Celt in single combat before he was defeated by King John the Bearkiller.
The lessons learned by this battle were hard on both sides in terms of fighters 'killed and wounded'. King John had to expend a good number of fighters to keep the Midrealmers engaged in the hopes that Baron Heinrich would find a way to strike at the enemy's rear. If Baron Heinrich had not been successful, it is possible that the Meridiens might have won from sheer weight of numbers, but then again, maybe not. The Midrealmers learned the lesson that no matter how strong a natural position is, a commander cannot afford to allow any possibility of attack to be discounted, including the heroic, if mostly futile, suicide charge. For historical note, Lord James Dexter is roughly the size of King John, is almost six feet tall, and was wearing a full hauberk of mail at the time that he charged into Sir Polidor. A lesser fighter might have easily bounced off of Sir Polidor rather than vice versa.
It is rare that an SCA combat can make use of actual fortifications rather than the usual run of picnic pavilions, playground equipment, and polearm bridges, so the examples of this style of melee are rare. The Sire Osprey has regularly made use of historic Fort Gaines in Mobile, AL, a 19th century brick artillery fort overlooking the entrance to Mobile Bay. As there is only one entrance and the SCA bans siege ladders and towers, the only option is direct attack on the front gate in an effort to break through (open) the barred gate (tied), deal with arrows, boulders and dead livestock being cast down from the walls and murderholes, charge down a narrow corridor, through another gate, and across a courtyard to reach the goal, all the while having to engage the enemy hand-to-hand. Sounds easy, no? No!!
The turnout at Gatalop IV was the largest so far for this event site and included Duke John the Bearkiller and King Balldarr of Trimaris. As the fort was defended and attacked in turn by both sides, the battles produced good examples of various types of tactics.
The attacking force must start at the far end of a 75 foot long by 10 foot wide stone causeway that ends at a gate made of welded iron bars that opens outward. The walls of the fort at the entrance are about 12 feet high, and there is a 15 foot square murderhole just within the gate, with small alcoves to either side. The defenders of the first melee were drawn up within about 10 feet of the gate, so as to be able to utilize their archers at point blank range. Past the murderhole is a 12 x 40 foot long covered tunnel that ends with another outward-opening double gate and the goal, a cannon, is about 75 feet beyond that.
The attackers moved across the causeway in a dense pack almost to the gate while some of their archers tried to pin the enemy archers (Iron Mountain) down. Within about 10 feet of the gate, the front rank knelt and continued to advance at a crawl so as to present no targets for the archers within the gate or atop the wall. When the gate was reached, Duke John and several other polearmsmen moved up under the protection of a couple of sword and shield \men. They were joined by Lord Brandon Smythe (the bowman) who tried to keep the Iron Mountain front rank archer, Lord Wilhelm von Plausen, pinned down. The defenders had to move up to keep the gate from being untied, but this brought them into range of the attacking polearms. However, they could not really close, since hand weapons were no good at all when used through the gate, and the tactic would have eliminated the effectiveness of the defenders' wall archers. The battle at this point became a duel of polearms and spears.
Once the gate was opened, King Balldarr and Duke John went to close quarter fighting with the Iron Mountaineers, since most of their archers had emptied their quivers by now. The battle could have gone either way at this point, except that the defenders had been taking quite a few casualties while the attackers were still on the other side of the gate. The attackers' main body had remained organized and had taken few casualties from enemy missiles. Eventually, a few fighters broke through the crumbling Iron Mountain line and made it to the goal.
On the reverse of this battle, the Iron Mountain forces attacked. The defenders attempted to decimate them outside the wall with missile fire. When the attackers arrived at the gate, the defenders allowed them to open the gates, but kept them pinned there where they were vulnerable to arrows and javelins. The defenders stayed in the tunnel and did not emerge into the area under the murderhole until the attackers were sufficiently decimated, at which point they counter-attacked and tried to drive them back onto the causeway. In an effort to stop any of the attackers form getting to the goal if they should break through the first line, Duke John and King Balldarr had left a reserve line of sword and shieldmen stretched across the corridor at the beginning of the battle. However, as shieldmen started to go down in the front line, the commanders began to move a few of the reserves up to fill in the gaps, thus widening the area the reserves had tomaintain. This was the undoing of the defenders, since even though they did drive most of the attackers back out onto the causeway, two attackers got through the front line and past the weak reserves and made it to the goal.
Ultimately, it can be seen that the attackers learned much about defense of the gate during the first melee, but they broke their own plan by committing the reserves piecemeal and being over-confident in their apparent victory. Had this not been a goal battle, it would not have mattered, but as it was, it snatched defeat from the very jaws of victory.
Sleep Wars II, Iron Mountain (AS XVI)
At the time of this particular war, there was a Royal Army of Meridies in existence, the brainchild of Baron Heinrich, Duke Orlando, Duke John, and other notables. The basic organization was of companies formed around the Kingdom's Baronies with a numeral designation by order of precedence (i.e., Draconia was Co. I, Grey Niche was Co. V, the archer-scout unit was Co. IX). The main field battle of this war exemplified that a well-drilled and versatile unit can easily defeat a unit composed of better or more numerous foes. The Barony of Iron Mountain had 'hired' the Grey Niche Fighter's Guild for this contest, and also some Trimarian volunteers. The opponents were the forces of South Downs, Bryn Madoc, and their allies, who had been trounced in the first Sleep Wars.
The Fifth Company (Grey Niche) had developed a new variation of the old Roman formation called the pig's snout, with the new tactic called the parrot's beak, named for the animal on the Fifth Company's banner. This formation had drilled for several months prior to the event and had allowed for the incorporation of mercenaries and allies without disrupting the formation.
The foe was drawn up on the far side of a double soccer field with most of the knights and squires of South Downs and Bryn Madoc in the center; the Fifth Company and its auxiliaries were drawn up opposite them with the Iron Mountain forces off to the left and slightly separated. Lord Richard of Wales had a bolt throwing engine set up to one side of the Iron Mountain line and slightly advanced. The first line of the Grey Niche formation consisted of the newest fighters, the new auxiliaries, and the steadiest sword and shieldmen under the command of Lords Aylwyn de Tregarth and Padruig Aoghann in the center. (Note: Lord Aylwyn led the left wing and is left handed and Padruig was just the opposite, so their shields touched at the center of the front line.) The second rank was broken into three groups: two groups of light-armed, agile troops under Sir Andras Salamandra and Lord Alvan Rauchen flanking a tight group of large, hard-hitting troops under Duke John the Bearkiller.
The opposing sides began to walk towards each other at the marshal's command, but at approximately 20 feet apart the front ranks under Lords Aylwyn and Padruig split and advanced obliquely, opening up a ten foot wide gap. Through this gap charged a tight column of troops under Duke John that went clear through the foe's ranks, effectively cutting their line in half. The second rank wings under Sir Andras and Lord Alvan circled quickly around the wings of the foe and joined with Duke John to engage the enemy's second line and reserves. The Grey Niche front line anchored the enemy center facing front and did not allow them to turn and engage with those behind. To the South Downs right, The Iron Mountain troops were massacring the enemy in toe to toe combat. Eventually, the enemy center was completely destroyed along with their left, but the Grey Niche front had been almost completely annihilated in the process, because even good tactics will suffer when subjected to the combative skills of the largest group of knights in the Kingdom.
Sleep Wars II was the largest internal war in Meridies' history up to that time, as there were between 95 and 100 fighters and archers present.
Ironhand's March to Grey Niche, Three Rivers (ASXXI)
This is the first purely Calontir-Meridien War in our Kingdom's History, the result of an alleged promise by a former Meridien king to cede the Barony of Grey Niche to the Baron Three Rivers in exchange for his aid at Border Raids, AS XII.
The Calontireans and Meridiens fought only one war melee to decide this the issue and it gives great insight into the tactics and practices of Calontir. Under the direction of the Three Rivers Warlord, Master Juan Macies, Calontir's fighters were assembled in leg harness and put to a foot race to determine the fastest and most agile fighters. These neo-Mercuries were divided into cavalry and assassins, with the larger, slower fighters and the most skilled being designated scutum-bearers or heavy foot.
A Calontir scutum is a rectangular, semi-cylindrical shield some four feet tall and three feet wide, when measured along the outer curve. They are constructed of light metal and are controlled by the use of a metal bar that spans the back of the shield about two thirds of the way up, with an armstrap beneath. The shields are blazoned with the falcon of Calontir, Or on Purpure, with the arms of the group or individual in canton. In a shield wall these shields are very impressive and protective, but in individual combat they are as easy to maneuver as a door strapped to your arm. The scutum-bearers represent the sturdiest unit in Calontir and are usually used in a defensive manner, such as at Pennsic Wars bridge battles where they are rightly feared by the opposition.
Calontir cavalry are regular fighters in arms and armor, but they are expected to be versatile in both defense and attack. They can be used as a single bloc of troops, small melee teams, or on the wings. The assassins are the most fleet and lightly-armed of all Calontir troops. They can act as scouts or a skirmishing unit, but their principle use is as a killer-commando unit to destroy select nobles and their retinues. According to Sir Valens (aka Mike the Knight), Earl Marshall of Calontir, the assassins usually act independently of any formation.
For this battle, the Calontir Army was formed with the scutum-bearers and heavy polearms on their right wing, probably commanded by Baron Three Rivers. The center was formed of cavalry under King Gabriel ap Morgan, Earl Aesgirr Gunarrsson, and Master Juan. The assassins on the left were under Sir Eric, Squire Conn MacNeal, and Squire Colin MacLachlinn.
The Meridien army and their 'mercenary' allies were drawn up opposite in an apparent static line of sword and shieldmen in the first rank, with spears and polearms in the second. In actuality, the Meridiens were also divided into a center and two wings. The left was commanded by Duke John the Bearkiller and Sir Valens leading Grey Nichers and mercenary troops. Earl Phelan Cathaoir-Mor led the center where the majority of the Meridiens were posted. The vulnerable right wing was led by TRH Kane and Ilissa and was composed of House Eagle. 'renegade' Calontireans, and Ansteorran-Atlantian allies (including King Olav of Atlantia). There were archers and javelin-armed troops sprinkled through out both armies.
Overall, the battlelines were like a mirror image of heavy, medium and light troops facing their opposite numbers across the battlefield. The field itself was an almost featureless area about 50 yards wide by 100 long bounded (from the Meridien side) by the populace on the left, hedges behind, and deep sloping hills to the right and front. Its only unusual feature was a large persimmon tree towards the Meridien right; its overripe fruit lying on the ground described a slippery hazardous circuit about the tree.
By recollection with my sources, Master Juan's overall plan was either to attempt a double envelopment or to have the Calontirean army close with our line with the scutum-bearers anchoring their right wing and tying up the Meridien left; while their left and center would hold Earl Phelan and try to roll-up the Meridien right, since the right wing of an army has a tendency to move to the right so as to keep their shields toward the foe.
Both armies (50 to 60 strong) moved across the field about half-way to the foe when the Meridien center halted as the left moved obliquely across the center to the Calontir left and the right circled behind the center to take up a position opposite the scutum-bearers. TRH Kane and Ilissa's wing engaged the foe and began to draw them off with rushes of small melee teams. The Calontireans did not break formation, but they did drift away form their own center.
Meanwhile, Duke John and Sir Valens had smashed at full charge into the assassins, who attempted to counter-charge. The assassins had no time to build up speed, however, and the Meridiens threw them back in disorder. Naturally another gap developed and the Calontir center was isolated. Before they could go to the aid of the assassins, the Meridien center hit them from the front and left, holding them in place until Duke John and Sir Valens could roll up the survivors of the assassins. Beset from three sides, the Calontir center was annihilated in moments.
On the Calontir right, the strongly cohesive scutum-bearers were still engaging the Meridien left wing; indeed, from the chronicler's vantage point, it seemed that the Calontireans had suffered virtually no losses in pursuit of their foe. However, even their resolute defense could not stand against the arrival of the rest of the Meridien army, but it was a gallant last stand.
In examination of the battle, the principal weakness of the Calontir formation lay in their organization and, to a lesser extent, in their command. By dividing troops into classes of heavy, medium and light according to speed and armament in the SCA is to invite disaster, since no commander can ever be sure that his troop types will engage with opponents intended for them. While there are heavy and light designations for certain groups within Meridies, such as the Order of St. George or House Eagle, most fighters are expected to be able to move quickly and be able to go toe to toe with any opponent. In regards to command, the Calontir troops may have had a sound battle plan that would have gone over well had they not allowed their enemy to gain the initiative, but in this case they did not seem to react well to a sudden and complete change in the formation of the Meridiens. By breaking ranks on both wings and losing the cohesiveness of their lines, they allowed themselves to be dealt with piecemeal.
Although the Meridien battle plan showed much merit by the integration of the various allies into their own troops and seizing the initiative at the very beginning of the melee, there was a major weakness in the tactics. At the moment that the left wing advanced in front of the center and the right swung around the back, the Meridiens were in a rough column and were very vulnerable to a double envelopment by the Calontir lines. Such a maneuver would have crushed most, if not all, of our forces together and left very little room for the Meridiens to use either weapons or mobility.