You'll find more pictures of the team and the encampment on their Facebook Page
The Knights Of Skirbeck are a medieval reenactment society depicting the life of a medieval household, helping defend England from raids and competing in tournaments during the late fourteenth & early fifteenth centuries.
(The rule of the House of Lancaster)
Some members also take part in battles of the period known as The Wars of The Roses,
They then portray the household of Sir Richard Tunstall KG.
Though based in the medieval town of Boston, membership extends throughout Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire.
All members are volunteers who gladly devote their time to educating & entertaining the general public.
The Knights of Skirbeck are proud to be a member of
The Wars of The Roses Federation.
As seen on TV
You may have seen them on BBC TV's The One Show or films such as Gangsters, Guns and Zombies, or Outlaw and possibly even documentaries such as Prepare For Battle and Big Narstie The Real Game of Thrones - among others.
They are based in Boston, Lincolnshire, and their household includes Knights, Squires, Men-at-arms, Militia, Ladies, Cooks, a Wise woman and assorted Camp followers. The Knights of Skirbeck was formed by 3 experienced medieval re-enactors in early 2008 and has gone from strength to strength.
"Where do you sleep?" - Is a question they frequently get asked, the answer? In the very tents you're looking at.
The Knights of Skirbeck
"A unique blend of living history and entertainment".
Reenactment combat
Until they see one of their shows, people often say, "You don't really hit each other though do you?".
Many of The Knights of Skirbeck like to fight 'Full Contact'. This does NOT however mean they flail indiscriminately or try to knock their opponent over. What it does mean is that they strike specific strike points on their opponent without pulling the blows. Imagine a 3kg. steel bar travelling at over 200 miles per hour, hitting you full on the head - that's REAL full contact combat - Knights of Skirbeck style!
If you think the fights are choreographed, or that the weapons are not real, or perhaps you just like watching people hitting each other - hard - watch some of their videos
Vikings! But that doesn't really begin to describe what
Jötunns Wrath
are. Among their numbers they represent Danish Mercenaries, Irish Clans circa 1014, Great Heathen Army 865 and a boat!
The boat not only makes a great backdrop for the living history camp but is very popular with the kids that take part in their Kiddie Vike. Also look out for a colouring competition and kids quiz!
Their living history camp is authentic and filled with the sights and smells of a Viking village.
A combat group with an encampment representing a Byzantine unit from the Fall of Constantinople (1453) including Byron Robinson's forge...
The word "SÆXIA" essentially means the combined historical Anglo-Saxon territories that were ruled by the Saxons, as opposed to the Angles, Frisians, or Jutes. The present day regions of Wessex, Sussex, Middlesex, and Essex all began as the relevant Saxon territories:
the lands of the West Saxons, the "Mid" region of Saxon dominance, the Southerly Saxon lands, and the realm of the East Saxons.
During the times of the development of the first "English" language, and into more modern times too, names and terminology often borrow from old Latin.
It is from the Latin linguistic influence that we have the modern word "area", which when applied geographically means an expanse or designated space, such as a "live firing area" on an army range, a "wooded area" on a map, or a telephone "area code" for a designated residential/commercial "area".
This is used today in the names of some of the worlds nations albeit with the slight variation of using "ia" instead of "ea": examples are "Bulgaria", the historic homelands of the Bulgar people, and so being the "area of the Bulgars = Bulgar - ia". Romania is the traditional home of the Romany people, although some scholars claim this name goes right back to it actually being a Roman province settled by colonists and veterans of the old Roman Empire. Russia is reputed to be so named for the Rus, norse traders from present day Sweden who settled in that region and formed a nation. And also in history well known nations were referred to by slightly different names more dependent on the Latin language for meaning: France was referred to historically in the early medieval era as "Frankia", the "area belonging to the Franks", a Germanic people who took over the former Roman territorial province of Gaul.
But how does this apply to the Saxons?
The Saxon people have their origins in the region still called Saxony in north Germany today.
Although there is no unanimous agreement amongst scholars, a plausible reason for their name was that they carried and used the very distinctive "Seax" or "Long knife", which could be a tool or weapon as there were many different shapes and sizes developed.
To understand the Saxons, a big part of any study cannot avoid exploring the Seax, and it's totally unique place in early medieval history.
SÆXIA is managed and run by a core leadership team made up of three founding members, and who collectively have prior experience in the world of historical reenactment, performance combat for stage & screen, modern military field training in bushcraft and the outdoors, and martial arts.
In Anglo-Saxon society all important affairs were dealt with by the Witan, essentially an early form of Parliament, who were of such influence that even the succession of the monarchy was subject to their decisions. The SÆXIA Witan at this time comprises of the formative members:
Ældorman Wulfhelm oversees one of the smaller regions of West Sæxia, the Isle of Purbeck. This region begins at the fortress Burh of Wareham, crossing the Frome eastward across the old Roman causeway, and includes such diverse locations as Swanwic, the "Long town" (Langton Matravers), Studlund, the Purbeck Ridgeway, and southward towards Tyneham and Lulworth Cove. He resides in a Hall at the settlement of Kingston, from which he oversees the innovative construction of the new stone Royal Hall at Corfe Passage.
Thegn Ædwulf, a young and already experienced warrrior from the trading, fishing and market town of Swanwic. His favourite pursuits, when not on campaign with the West Sæxian army, are hunting and the sampling of mead and ale brewed on his lands...
Thegn Hærward has his fine Sæxian Hall on the opposite banks of the river Frome, at the settlement known as Sto-Burh, or "the holy-Burh". He assists the Reeve of the fortress market town of Wareham, and his Hall guards the route inland to inner Purbeck, via Corfe Passage. Thegn Hærward is an educated warrior, and when not on military duties can be found assisting in the learning and education of the common folk of Purbeck, and assisting with administrative duties in Wareham, as he is also a trained scribe. A favourite at the court and Witan of King Ælfred, Hærward shares a love of hunting. Whenever duties permit, he can often be found with Thegn Ædwulf, using his skills with the bow to bring down some tasty venision for a banquet in his Mead Hall...
Based in the Reading, Berkshire area this group fights in the western style
but are also training in the eastern style as well.
Not only fighters the group also have a wood/horn carver, a jeweller/caster
and a nun who is great in medicine and healing.
They have experienced fighters as young as 12 that have fought with adult Knights and Vikings on the battlefields!
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