Recreating the (real) Middle Ages

[klwilliams]

[I posted this as a comment in red6count's journal, but wanted to post it here, too, because it's something I've been thinking about while I've been researching a project.]

I'm currently reading England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings 1075-1225 by Robert Bartlett. It's a wonderful book, that describes in detail life in the twelfth century in England, based on historical sources. What Bartlett has to say about court life is this:

"The description of Hugh of Avranches, earl of Chester (d. 1101), given by Orderic Vitalis, exemplifies the hedonistic, materialistic, athletic, public, and noisy nature of the great aristocratic household:

'He loved the world and wordly pomp and thought that they were the highest blessing that human beings could attain. He was always the first in battle, lavish in his giving, took great pleasure in games and luxuries, in actors, horses, dogs and other vanities of this kind. He was surrounded by a huge household, in which there were crowds of boys, both nobles and commonors, making a great noise, as well as honourable clerks and knights with whom he shared his labours and his wealth.'

... Feasting, hunting, joking, love, gifts -- that is the ideal picture of the aristocratic court." [p. 235]

For those of you complaining that the Spartans* care only about fighting and partying, and that artisans are ignored, I have this to say: Congratulations. The SCA has successful recreated the Middle Ages.


* An SCA household known for its members' emphasis on armored combat and partying. Due the former interest, members of this group tend to frequently win Crown tournaments and reign as King and Queen.

Comments

[loup_noir]

There are some great descriptions of courts from the 12th century. I love some of the incredible snark in Wace.

The SCA's version of the MA is a moving target. When I joined, it was all about freon can helms, Ren Faire, and Tom Lehrer songs around the campfire.

Nice icon! Do you have a shot of the whole outfit?

[mad-duchess.livejournal.com]

Amen!! This is an attitude I learned from Ob many, many years ago and hold it dear to my heart. Life in the MA could be hard and short--our ancestors made sure to enjoy the time they were given to the fullest extent--so we should too. :-)

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I love a good typo -- He loved the world and wordly pomp. They did love spoken poetry and ballads, yes?

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Even after you pointed it out it took me a couple of tries to see it. :-)

[galeni.livejournal.com]

It's a day-job skill.

How's the knee?

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Are these different Spartans than the ones in Greece? (I didn't know that they cared about partying.)

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

The Spartans I'm referring to are a household in the local SCA. They are a strong fighting household, whose members frequently win crown tournaments and reign as king. The complaint about them is that they aren't interested in anything except fighting and partying and ruling.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

*That* explains a great deal of my confusion. (:

[maryosmanski.livejournal.com]

I've always thought one of the wonderful things about the SCA is that it is large enough for diversity, so those who want to be artisans can hang out with those who share their interests, while those who want to bash each other with rattan swords and then go get drunk together can hang out with each other.

I particularly enjoy writing for the newspaper at Pennsic because I get to talk at length to people whose faces just light up when they get to talk about whatever it is that "floats their boat" in the SCA.

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Evidently there was regression among European royal courts in the Renaissance, at least according to the first hand descriptions provided by Lefvre's essay on Court life in 1533, of Francois I.

It was spent on horseback. Constant traveling.

Not so good for the ladies' complexions, he points out.

There is documentation for every day of Francois I's 30 years' reign. Perhaps his longest non-stop perigenation was 45 months straight. The longest stay anywhere was 3 months, and that was extraordinarily exceptional for Francois I.

Love, C.

[vincam.livejournal.com]

Re: Spartans. I guess people are still people, and always will be.