89th Coronation at Namron Protectorate

Coronation of Jean-Paul III and Gilyan III

It was a bright and clear day on the Feast of Saint Meinulph (October 5), he who saw the stag with a cross in its antlers, became an archbishop, and founded the convent of Böddeken in Westphalia, Germany, when Jean-Paul de Sens and Gilyan Alienora of Clonmacnoise, each third of that name, claimed the Stellar thrones and crowns of Ansteorra and declared themselves King and Queen.

The coronation occurred as part of the festivities hosted by the Barony of Namron where their champions are chosen.

This was a Coronation which included a few things, if not firsts, then certainly of rarity. First was Coronation not being an event solely dedicated to that momentous occasion. But Namron’s generosity and hospitality solved some misalignment of stars and conflicts of calendars. It was intentional on the part of Their Royal Highnesses to streamline coronation court as much as possible to preserve time for Namron’s activities and for the King’s Champion tourney which would occur later that afternoon (also a change as it traditionally happens in the morning).

Their Royal Highnesses appeared that day with themselves and their court dressed in finest Elizabethan. And they included in their day elements inspired by the Coronation of Elizabeth the First of England as will be pointed out below.

Their Royal Highnesses were heralded before the assembled populace and approached the vacant thrones which were guarded by the chivalry of the realm. But, where normally the chivalry issue a challenge before letting the claimants pass to the thrones and crowns and later the Lions of Ansteorra, Defenders of the Dream, issue a separate challenge before handing over the sword of state, this time in a surprise to the claimants and most present the kingdom’s newest knight who was also the newest Lion, Sir John Drake, issued a single combined challenge.

The challenge was met and thrones and crowns were claimed. They crowned themselves and the reign of Jean-Paul III and Gilyan III had begun. They took the sword of state and swore the following to the people of Ansteorra (inspired in part by Elizabeth the First’s oath to her people at her coronation).

Here do we swear to serve the Kingdom of Ansteorra
To rule according to the laws and traditions of these lands.
To uphold chivalry and honor, support the arts and sciences, cherish those who serve, defend the courtiers and scholars, and aim to encourage the hope of the populace.
We will deal fairly in all matters great and small and set an example of justice and compassion.
Till death take us, the world end, or our rightful heirs are prepared to take up these Crowns.

Their Royal Majesties then began the process of receiving fealty oaths. First, Their Royal Majesties asked the chivalry to stand witness as they received the fealty of the Prince and Princess of the Principality of Vindheim. Their Serene Highnesses swore the following:
Here do we swear fealty
to the Crown and Kingdom of Ansteorra,
We will be your Spear and Shield of Vindheim.
We will nurture her people,
increase her station,
and stand fast on your Northern lands.
To the populace entrusted to us,
we will present your Honor.
To you, our Crown, we will present
the fidelity of your lands and people.
To the Knowne World,
Vindheim will raise the glory of Ansteorra.

Their Majesties replied with the following response oath which was their response to all oaths given to them:

We accept your oath,
and in return we swear to you.
We will heed your wise counsel in all things.
We will keep the welfare of Ansteorra first and foremost in all of our decisions.
We will work with you to enrich the lives of Her people.
We will reward that which is freely given,
By protecting you with our aid and giving you our love.
May all strength fail and the world turn against any who break this solemn oath.

The knights then renewed their fealty, as their station requires.
One Master of Arms then swore fealty, though it is not required of them.
Those holding Mastery in the Order of the Laurel who wished to swear fealty, an option and not a requirement, then came forward and so swore.
Those holding Mastery in the Order of the Pelican who wished to swear fealty, an option and not a requirement, then came forward and so swore.
Those holding Mastery in the Order of the Defense who wished to swear fealty, an option and not a requirement, then came forward and so swore.
Their Royal Majesties then summoned those Barons and Baronesses holding lands in fief to the crown to renew their fealty and give homage, as their entitlements require. Following the response, all of the Barons and Baronesses in-fief were given leave, save only Baroness Beatrix Funteyn who was retained by Her Majesty for additional words.

Baroness Beatrix had previously given Her Majesty an act of service or of courtesy for which Her Majesty returned her thanks and a handkerchief. As was then explained, that specific act by itself was not sufficient to receive a Sable Sparrow or other award from the crown, but that act did not stand alone. There were many things Her Excellency had done that had been brought to the Crown’s attention, including words from out of kingdom. Their Majesties then told her they had hoped to have those words spoken to her by one from out of kingdom but travel arrangements had required an emissary to deliver them instead. The emissary, Mistress Tatiana, came forward and read the words sent concluding with the comment that thoughts could be summed up in one phrase if Their Majesties would allow a foreigner friend of their court to request a boon. Then to the surprise of Baroness Beatrix the voice of her Laurel from the Kingdom of Calontir, Countess Jane, spoke from behind her and asked if “for all she has done and all that she will do” would Their Majesties admit Beatrix to the Order of the Laurel. The Laurels were summoned, the candidacy of Beatrix confirmed, and then the order and candidate and friends exited court to congratulate the candidate on her upcoming elevation.

The Greater and Lesser Officers of State then came forward and renewed their oaths of service, as required.

Those holding Companionship in the Order of the White Scarf who wished to swear, an option and not a requirement, then came forward and so swore.

Then those members of the populace who wished to swear personal fealty were invited forward and their oaths accepted. Throughout all of the oaths, Their Majesties presented tokens to those who swore fealty without having a requirement to do so. This included the populace.

Then court was paused to continue later and the events and competitions of the day could begin.

During the tournaments to select Namron’s martial champions in chivalric and rapier combat, between the rounds, Their Majesties left their pavilion and visited five groups who shared thoughts with them concerning topics or concerns they wanted to be in the forefront of Their Majesties minds throughout their reign. Their Majesties went to the pavilions or spaces of the Stronghold of Hellsgate, the Barony of Wiesenfeuer, the Shire of Brad Leah who were joined by the Barony of the Eldern Hills, they received via herald emissary words from the Barony of Stargate, and the Barony of Namron. These pilgrimages to receive these words and thoughts were modeled after the pageants Elizabeth I attended on the way to her coronation.

Elizabeth inherited a kingdom wracked by religious turmoil in the wake of her father’s (Henry VIII) conversion to Protestantism, her brother Edward’s continuation of that, and the bloody reversal that was the reign of her sister Mary. In addition, the memories of the civil wars of the roses were not out of mind to the general populace. Elizabeth used the pageants as morality plays to set a tone of unity and peace (internally at least) for her coronation. Jean-Paul and Gilyan attended these sessions after crowning themselves to also collect thoughts and set a tone for their reign. While it is not the most authoritative source, the summary in that library known as Wikipedia of the “Coronation of Elizabeth I” offers a decent high level summation of the events for those who desire to read more and includes a nice set of works cited for deeper study.

The court of Their Stellar Majesties continued that evening and will have a summary posted soon.

In closing, let the scribe of these events share that while he will try to post summaries as quickly after an event as possible (something he has done when holding this position previously) there may be delays due to work or health or familial obligations. It is also his intent, where ever possible, to follow in the steps of his predecessor (Sæbjørn) and include images of the charters given for those receiving awards.

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Evening Court - Coronation of Jean-Paul III and Gilyan III

The sun had set so this court resumed during the vigil of the feast of Saint Bruno the Carthusian (began evening of October 5, prior to the feast day on October 6), who fled after protesting against misdoings by his Archbishop and thereafter refused all ecclesiastical offices and helped establish the Carthusian Order.

Most processions see all of the (to be) seated royalty and nobility enter in order of precedence (Crown, Heirs, Territorial Principalities, Baronys, etc.). But, though less common, it was not unusual in the Middle Ages to observe a landed noble who was rose from their seat or who waited at the gates of their castle to greet their liege lord and lady and then give them the seat of honor. (Think of the production of The Lion in Winter where Henry, as Duke of Normandy, comes out in crown and coat to welcome his liege, nevermind him being King of England, the King of France.) So this court began as the Baronesses of Namron rose from their seats and asked the assembled populace to rise with them and welcome the royal house of Ansteorra. Their Royal Majesties entered and were followed by Their Serene Highnesses of Vindheim.

Once all were seated, the court of Jean-Paul III and Gilyan III resumed. Their Majesties used their opening words to announce the new Baron and Baroness of the Elder Hills, Abe no Saburou Sadasuke & Abe no Murasaki, to be invested at Eldern’s Samhain event. They also announced that, owing to Their Majesties attending Seawinds that same weekend, they had deputized Their Serene Highnesses of Vindheim to invest the new B&B in their place. By law, the Crown may delegate the giving of awards and rank to others. This commonly happens when the Crown has multiple events on the same weekend and most frequently when they ask Landed or Court B&Bs to hold court for them at an event they cannot attend. Some Crowns will not hand off grant level awards and it is vanishingly rare for Crowns to hand off Court Baronies, peerages or investitures, but it can and has been done. Legend says that there was a time before Ansteorra was a principality where Michael of Moria, Kingdom Seneschal of Atenveldt, was given blank letters patent and told to go find and make peers in the lands that became Ansteorra. More recently (about a decade ago-ish), a Crown could not reach a baronial investiture due to weather (an ice storm) and they deputized a Duke and Duchess from the royal family to do it for them. So, Their Serene Highnesses will perform this investiture at Samhain.

Their Stellar Majesties then made three announcements related to Gulf Wars. First, they announced some changes to war points. Second they announced that opening ceremonies would happen on Sunday. And third they announced the A&S champions who would represent Ansteorra at Gulf Wars. Look for a separate post (not from this scribe) listing those champions if not already posted.

In recent years, it has become a tradition for companions of the Order of the Rose or Order of the Golden Dove to give tokens at evening court (not always but at many events) for specific people who inspired them that day. On this day, those tokens were given during the day and at feast. At court, the following were announced as having been given:

• Lady Mani from Viscountess Caterina
• Armiger Ekaterina Stepanova doch Novgorodskaia from Viscountess Emmelina
• Willoc from Duchess Margherita
• Maral of Mooneschadowe from Countess Michelle

At this point, Their Serene Highnesses of Vindheim opened their court and had words.

Then the Baronesses of Namron resumed their court and had words, called the event stewards, gave awards and announced their champions from the various competitions of the day.

Following this Vindheim gave principality awards and conducted business.

I have not included, with one exception below, what Vindheim or Namron did in their courts but hope those things will be announced from those channels. That one exception, because it involves kingdom precedence, is to share that Iarll Owen ap Aeddan was made a companion of the Order of the Sable Storm of Namron, the baronial service order.

At this point, business returned to the Crown.

• His Majesty was pleased to announce that his King’s Champion would be the Armiger Kobayashi no Hotaru. They gave their oath and took their place to guard the king.
• Jehanne de Montauban was awarded a Sable Sparrow for being one of the top submitters of award recommendations.
• A representative of the Moneymakers Guild brought Their Stellar Majesties a royal pound in coins that they could give as tokens or to improve the kingdom’s economy and two silver coins of this coin strike to keep as personal momentos.
• Alice Livene was given a Sable Thistle in Weaving that was originally read into law during the prior reign.
• Their Graces, Sven Randullsson and Antigone of York, were called and presented Sable Cranes for Royal Mentoring. Following this, Their Majesties retained Duchess Antigone and made her a companion of the Order of the Iris of Merit.
• Úallach inghean uí Dhubshlaine was given a Sable Crane that was originally read into law during the prior reign.
• Matthew Marcus (aka Matthew Marcus Tulius) was given a Sable Thistle for Cooking that was originally read into law during the prior reign.
• Magnus Creppinson receive a Sable Talon for Rapier Combat.
• Úna of Marata was given a Sable Comet for service to the Riding of Marata that was originally read into law during the prior reign.
• At this point, Her Majesty took a moment of court to show the scroll covers that were being given with charters instead of just envelopes. She explained how they were easy to make, thanked her mother who had made about a hundred, and encouraged people to return them when possible so they could continue to be used.
• Muirenn Nia inghean Nath-i was made a companion of the Order of the Star of Merit. This was originally read into law during the prior reign.
• Maral of Mooneschadowe was given an Award of Arms.
• Gelis of Iron Mountain was given an Award of Arms.

Following the above awards, Their Stellar Majesties summoned the Order of the Laurel and before the assembled court called Cera ingen Fháeláin as a candidate to the order. Reminder that, at Their Majesties coronation earlier that same day, Beatrix Funteyn was also called to this order. Announcements of dates for vigils and elevations to be announced separately from this accounting.

The Order of the Laurel was released and the Order of the Pelican was summoned. Their Majesties then called (separately) before the assembled court Sorcha McCullogh and Lillias MacGuffin as candidates to the order. Announcements of dates for vigils and elevations to be announced separately from this accounting.

Following this, Namron and then Vindheim closed their courts. And Their Majesties court was closed as they, their attendants, and the courts of Vindheim and Namron processed out.

A couple of charter images for people called at the step down court for Sven and Antigone have been added to that posting. I will be working to get images of the new awards given at this evening court session added to this post.