Gulf Wars XXXIII
A Summary of Ansteorran Court held at Gulf Wars XXXIII
by Maitre Etienne De Saint Amaranth
It was March 13th, a Thursday (not a Friday), while at war, that Their Stellar Majesties, Jean Paul and Gilyan, opened court among their forces gathered. This was the Feast of Saint Ansovinus, he who is patron for gardeners and the protection of crops. He is credited with the miracle when the granaries of Camerino ran empty and the poor were starving that he prayed and then the granaries were suddenly full again so that the poor might not starve. Holding court on this date was particularly auspicious given it following Centurion Taco Tuesday and the Wednesday night cookie extravaganza. No one came to court starving.
As court prepared to open, the crowd was asked to reflect on how much time we spend studying history and the middle ages and perhaps we spend too little time reflecting on our own history. The memory of Ivar Battleskald was then invoked and his tale told, and court was opened with song as all present who knew it sang “Born on the Listfield”.
Their Majesties entered court, joined by their Heirs, Jason and Margherita. Her Sanguine Highness, Adria, Princess of VIndheim joined them before the thrones facing the crowd. Their majesties then asked all to remain standing and to further welcome to court those landed Barons and Baronesses present at war. Earlier in war, Their Majesties had distributed business to their landed nobility which was presented prior to court. Their Excellencies were given close seating to observe the rest of court business, to be close as members of their populaces might be called, and in thanks for their service. The court then assembled, all were invited to take their seats.
As has been their tradition, Their Majesties called for newcomers at their first SCA events and called for those needing Sable Shields.
In a moment of necessary sadness, Their Majesties met in court with Sir Vilhjalmr Thursaspengir who will be moving out of kingdom and who asked to be released from fealty to the Ansteorran Crown. The Crown did not really want to release him and let him go; but they understood and reminded him that wherever he travelled or lived that he would always be Ansteorran. They released him from fealty to Ansteorra and reminded all that he remained a Knight of the Society.
Their Majesties then had announced that the winner of the Ansteorran Rose Tourney was our own Master Miguel Vaello de Villa Joiosa. Further, at the time court started the War Point standings were Ansteorra 11, Trimaris 7.
Their Majesties were happy to announce that the following awards which had been previously read into law for people not present at court reached their recipients:
- Elisa of Seawinds – Award of Arms dated 2024-10-26
- Satiago el Rojo – Sable Crane dated 2025-02-01
- Two Ansteorran youth received charters for winning Guardians of the Queen’s Hope in the prior reign:
And for those who missed it, the crowd was made aware of recognition given by the Crown of Northshield for services to its populace who became stranded in Ansteorra in the last year.
- Wulfgar Martel – Joint Cypher of Northshield
Additionally the following awards were planned and dated March 9, and were presented prior to the Thursday court:
- Nicaise Synger – Sable Thistle for String Braiding
- Olivia Archambeau – Rising Star
- Steffan Ennis – Sable Thistle for Metalsmithing
- Meurik the Humble – Sable Crane
- Gilli Refsson – Sable Talon for Thrown Weapons
- Titus von Konstanz – Sable Talon for Armored Combat
- Andsvar Lorenzoson – Sable Talon for Rapier Combat
- Nikoli Vladislav – King’s Archer
- Eliza de Rouen – Rising Star
- Eliza de Rouen – Aquila Aurea for Rapier Combat
- Albrecht Catsprey – Court Barony
Further, Their Majesties announced the following awards which were given at the field, not previously planned, on the dates as shown:
Sigurd Hrafnsson – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-10
Amelot Lisette – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-11
Throstr Ulfriksson** – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-11
Heinrich Wissen – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-11
Thaddaeus Starr – Queen’s Rapier dated 2025-03-11
Drew Drake – Queen’s Rapier dated 2025-03-11
Fastrada the Furious – King’s Archer dated 2025-03-12
Hakon the Blacksmith – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-13
Rollo Svensson – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-13
Merewen Wyllt – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-13
Throstr Ulfriksson ** – Sable Falcon dated 2025-03-13
**Yes, in what may be a historic first, Throstr received two Sable Falcons within the same week
Their Majesties then summoned and bestowed order membership on the following:
- Sofia Speranza – Iris of Merit
- Rafael Fernando Montes del Castillo – Blade of Merit
- Melody MacGregor – Iris of Merit
- Saebjorn I Eydigardi – Blade of Merit
Their Majesties summoned Goldweard of St. Golias to whom they gave a completed charter for the Sable Thistle for Period Gaming they awarded him at Bryn Gwlad Candlemas. But after presenting him the completed charter, Their Majesties kept him and talked about his service. They asked his baroness, Kolfinna inn kyrra Óttarsdóttir, to step forward and also to speak of his service and the things he has done locally. The Crown took the opportunity to then make clear that many of the characteristics she described also applied to her. Then with both Goldweard and kolfinna kneeling before their Crown, the Order of the Pelican was summoned. Goldweard and kolfinna were announced as candidates to the Order of the Pelican and there was much rejoicing.
The Crown then spoke of the King's Battle Ribbon, its meaning and history, and announced before the assembled court that it was now awarded unto the Shire of the Shadowlands.
The Queen’s Banner was brought forward. Again there was discussion of the banner and Her Majesty called for and awarded the banner to the Southern Region Rapier Army.
As the Southern Region Rapier fighters knelt before the Crown, Her Majesty handed the banner to their commander, Don Havaar Ericsson, and spoke of their deeds. The Crown then asked him to hand the banner to his deputy or lieutenant. The Crown went on to speak of his leadership and deeds and summoned the Order of Defense. He was formally announced as a candidate and there was much rejoicing.
The Crown then summoned more populace and indicted them into additional orders.
- Esmeralda Malaspina – Iris of Merit
- Sven Karlsson – Iris of Merit
- Mathias Grunwalt – Blade of Merit
As the Crown was allowing the members of the Order of the Blade of Merit to depart, the Crown’s herald asked an indulgence and asked those members to remain standing before the court. As the beginning of court had asked people to consider Ansteorran history and to prevent it being forgotten (using Ivar Battleskald as the example), the herald then spoke of the history being made around us that we are unaware of if we only participate and interact with those close to us or who do the same things we do. Those who are not active in the rapier community and who have never attended a Queen’s Champion, have never seen the love and veneration that community hold for our Queens. The herald asked all Ansteorran Roses present to stand and then told the assembled populace that if they had never been to Queen’s champion, never understood the devotion with which they hold Queen’s, then they had never heard this song… And at those words Ashildr inn Harfagri began and was joined by many in leading the song this community sing’s to our Queens at that event. As all in the crowd who knew the song joined in, Her Majesty stepped forward and signaled to the other Roses to join her as the swelled voices sang their praise.
At the conclusion of that song, His Majesty remarked that it might have been the best performance of that song he had heard. And as the herald spoke for the Crown and released the Roses and the rapier community to their seats, all were released except Ashildr. Ashildr was called to kneel before her Crown and there they did reward her:
Ashildr inn Harfagri – Iris of Merit
Their Majesties then shared closing words. The baronies present at war were given vivats, VIndheim was given vivats, and our heirs and Crown were given vivats and court was closed.
The next day, Their Majesties visited the camp of the Kingdom of Calontir and presented to Alan Smyth of Darkdale the award of the Amicitia of Ansteorra.
