Queen's Champion of Gilyan III

A Summary of Court at the 89th Queen’s Champion of Ansteorra

These words by Golden Staff Herald to our 89th Crown, Jean-Paul and Gilyan, Third of their Name, Maitre Etienne De Saint Amaranth

The weather of the day was clear but not overly remarkable. It was not bad weather but neither was it the glorious warmth of summer when the sun comes to visit your picnic. It was a good day, but the glory of the day was contained inside a building.

It was the 9th of November, 2024, and Gilyan, Queen of Ansteorra, had come nigh close to the Red River’s northern shoreline having declared a tournament from which she could choose a champion. This day, the Feast of Saint Benignus (he who succeeded Saint Patrick as Chief Bishop of Ireland), was also the anniversary of the Battle of Gammelsdorf in which the Dukes of Austria and Bavaria contended over the regency of the young Duke of Lower Bavaria.

Contention this day was not for political positioning or empire or domination. This day’s contentions were about joy and inspiration and the honoring of a person who inspires others.

There was no morning court. As Her Majesty was prepared, contenders came forward to present themselves to her. This continued until the youth began fighting the tournaments for Guardian of the Queen’s Hope. There were two age brackets and 5 contenders. While the youth fought, Her Majesty ceased to receive contenders so her attention could be focused on those fighting. When this combat finished, Her Majesty resumed receiving introductions from contenders for the adult Queen’s Champion Tournament.

Once the list was ready, introductions ceased and all fighters were called before the Queen. The list coordinators explained the tournament format and settled questions. Then the fighters dispersed to prepare to fight. The remaining introductions would occur between rounds moving forward. The tournament ran about 8 fields simultaneously as there were 70 fighters who entered. The tournament ran over four and a half hours with no eliminations; there was a lot of combat for all.

At the end of some rounds, Her Majesty would ask for repeat performance of two or three fights (with no bearing on the tournament or points). This allowed Her Majesty to see more closely combat that may have been across the room, or between combatants where she missed deciding blows, or purely because she wanted to see more. And once those command performances completed, she continued to received introductions until the pairings for the next round were called.

Her Majesty came to the fields and at conclusions of certain fights she chose to bestow the Award of the Queen’s Rapier to ten fighters over the course of the tournament. Recipients were told to come to the herald after fighting so their name could be properly recorded and those names were announced at formal court that evening. Those ten recipients of Queen’s Rapiers were:

• Judita Berest'e
• Alric Godwynson
• Mathias Grünwalt
• Graee na Uile
• Nadiha Ramthumer
• Dae Knarrarbringa in Bareyska
• Floki Geirrekkson
• Vittoria Maggiere
• Andsvar Lorenzoson
• Vlaho Pavlin

Following the tournament, Their Majesties sat and took counsel from the Orders of the White Scarf and the Order of Defense. They also stepped outside prior to court to discuss a matter with the Order of the Blade of Merit.

And then, there was court. I was assisted by Honorable Lord Thomas de Groot. Their Majesties and Her Serene Highness, Octavia, Princess of Vindheim were elevated on a stage among a canopy of flowers and visible to all in that hall. The stairs were steep and, in a change from normal curt arrangements, two pairs of Ladies of the Order of the Rose took turns standing to either side of the stairs. Those Roses were Duchesses Margherita and Sonja and Countesses Michelle and Elizabeth. To avoid the risk of populace members trying to go up the stairs or the Crown or Coronet coming down or kneeling or trying to bend over to bestow awards, the Crown and Coronet handed insignia to these ladies and the Roses placed the insignia upon the recipients and handed them their charters.

First Their Majesties called for newcomers. Then they called for those needing Sable Shields. Following this the Event Stewards came forward and made announcements.

Vindheim opened their court and had five pieces of business.

The Queen’s Rapiers given at the field were announced as a group so all could know who received one.

Her Majesty announced the two new (one per age bracket) Guardians of the Queen’s Hope: Patrick of Wiesenfeuer and Brendan of Wiesenfeuer.

The format of the tournament had an overall winner who received a gift from Her Majesty of a dagger that could be used on the field for fighting. The overall winner of the tournament was Master John Drake.

Their Majesties asked then for the list coordinators of the tournament who handled the scoring and list management to come forward. As Their Majesties spoke of the tournament and their thanks for these specific ladies who made it happen, they remarked on the qualities those before them shared. And based on those qualities they called forward others who share the same qualities, Their Majesties summoned the Order of the Pelican and invited Nicaize Maupetit to join the order.

Once the Pelicans took the new candidate out of court, Her Majesty announced whom she had selected as her champion for her reign; Marie de Girau was declared Queen’s Champion. Her Champion took her place on the stage as a guard.

Her Majesty also awarded the Queen’s Blade of Honor to Perrin de Beaujeu.

Their Majesties awarded a Sable Crane for Event Photography to Philippa Benintendi di Palermo.

Their Majesties awarded a Sable Thistle for Bobbin Lace to Vigdis Graefeldr.

Their Majesties called forward the Order of the Blade of Merit and, while not required to consult with them they took opportunity and had them present as they called Tuathal O’Sheill to this order.

Rafe Slater was awarded a Sable Crane for Lighting.

Bridgette of York was recognized with a Sable Talon for Rapier Combat.

Valeria Richila Navarro was made a companion of the Order of the Star of Merit.

Their Majesties summoned the Order of Defense and asked if their order was complete. It was not and the Crown called to join the order Facon du Prey. The order was still not complete and the Crown called Santiago Rodrigo Draco de Aranjuez to join the order.

Vindheim closed their court. The court of Gilyan and Jean-Paul, Queen and King of Ansteorra, was then closed.