The Golden Axe of Ansteorra

History

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A.S. LVII (57) The idea for the Golden Axe of Ansteorra was shamelessly stolen from the Kingdom of the East at Pennsic 49 after the at the time Ansteorra Kingdom Thrown Weapons Marshal Lord Aki Seulf met with THL Matteo Genovese of the East Kingdom. Wishing to bring back this idea to Ansteorra Lord Aki Seulf purchased an axe at Pennsic 49 and brought it home and applied real gold leaf to the metal head of the axe.

On August 27, 2022, the Tourney of the Golden Axe was held at the premier Vindheim Missile Academy in Guthrie, Oklahoma in the Principality of Vindheim in The Barony of Wiesenfeuer. In court the Queen Toryn Sevenstitches II blessed the axe in a ceremony concluding with the pouring of her drink from her chalice over the blade.

Golden Axe of Ansteorra Rules

-The only way to acquire the Golden Axe of your Kingdom is to challenge the current holder.

-The format of the challenge is fixed and shall be strictly followed to insure this does not alter from its original intent:

-To declare the challenge the challenger declares 'I request the Challenge of the Golden Axe'.

-The proper responses are 'I accept your challenge' or 'I am forbidden from accepting your challenge'.

-The Golden Axe may only be exchanged once in any given day; if another challenger requests a Challenge to the new holder on the day they have won the axe from another, the holder is required to decline the Challenge. Otherwise, the holder may accept up to three Challenges in a given day, assuming the holder is the victor of each preceding Challenge that day.

-The holder of the Golden Axe is required to accept the first Challenge in a day. The second and third Challenges are optional, and the holder should only accept those if they feel that they can show sufficient prowess and stamina after the exertions of the first Challenge.

-Once the Challenge is issued, it should be taken up as soon as is reasonable. (And really be reasonable here - if the challenged holder would like time to warm up, that's acceptable. If they are called away suddenly by an important commitment or royal command, that is also acceptable. "Calling dibs" on a challenge immediately after the current one may be acceptable, but calling dibs for tomorrow and expecting that challenges be refused until then is not.) A challenger for the Golden Axe may only issue a single challenge per day.

-Terms for what the contest will be determined by the participants. The challenger, as part of the challenge, will name the terms of the contest at the time of the challenge. The holder of the Axe can change ONE of the terms (distance, number of throws, method of throw, etc.).

-Throwers must comply to the safety standards of the Marshal in Charge of the range, the Kingdom of Ansteorra, and SCA rules.

-Weapons must be SCA and Ansteorra Kingdom legal. If it looks like an axe and throws like an axe, it's an axe. However, it is up to the competitors if weapons such as a double bladed axe or shovels will be allowed. Only the competitors can determine if something is fair or not.

-The Golden Axe may not reside outside of it's Kingdom's borders. As such, it will revert to the previous holder or Kingdom Thrown Weapons Marshal if the current holder moves from the Axe's home kingdom or stops playing.

-The Golden Axe shall be displayed prominently while at events and practices so potential challengers may know who is the current holder.

-It is the duty of the outgoing holder of the Golden Axe to make sure the incoming holder is fully aware of these rules.

-In the event that holder of the axe has not accepted a challenge in 3 months then the axe will be given to the Kingdom Thrown Weapons Marshal or previous holder who will hold a new tournament at the next practical official SCA event that has a thrown weapons range.

-Holders of the axe may modify the axe as long as it is done in good faith and in the spirit of advancing the prestige of the axe.

Photos

• The Golden Axe of Ansteorra
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  Queen Toryn II blessing the Golden Axe of Ansteorra

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  Master Isaac Bane - First holder of the Golden Axe of Ansteorra

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  Karl Thorgeirsson Second Holder of the Golden Axe of Ansteorra

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  Aki Seulf (3rd Holder) handing off the Golden Axe of Ansteorra to Count Romanius Vesperianus (4th Holder)

Holders

Holder #	Date	Winner	Location	Challenge
1st	August 27, 2022	Isaac Bane	Vindheim Missile Academy
2nd	November 5, 2022	Karl Thorgeirsson	Axeman XVII
3rd	November 19, 2022	Aki Seulf	War of the Rams
4th	January 14, 2023	Romanius Vesperianus	Coronation
5th	May 6, 2023	Skeggi berbeinn Sebbason ins Sterka	Kingdom Thrown Weapons Championship
6th	September 30, 2023	Raulff Smeithberde	Trade Days
7th	October 7, 2023	Jonathan of York	Namron Protectorate	Tick Tack toe 2 Rotations---WON Hat Trick
8th	October 23, 2023	Romanius Vesperianus	Samhain	(3x) underhand at 10 ft, (3x) at 15ft, (3x) at 20 ft
9th	Feb 24, 2024	Sean Tabor	Battle of the Pines	Tournament: last man standing trick shots
10th	March 15, 2024	Jonathan of York	Gulf Wars	1 axe per hand both hands 2x max score
11th	March 16, 2024	Dennis O'Maille	Gulf Wars	(3x) Gulf Wars War Points
12th	April 28, 2024	Caption Savage	Local Practice	baronial house rules

Trivia

-Queen Toryn Sevenstitches II blessed the axe in a ceremony concluding with the pouring of her drink from her chalice. She researched historical blessing of this type and found that blood or wine was often used. She decided to use water as it was a dry site and blood being a bit too dramatic.

-This item is similar to The Golden Spear of Ansteorra, The Golden Knife of Ansteorra, The Golden Plumbata of Ansteorra, and Thrown Weapons Royal Rounds