Issue 35 November

Captain Steve Howl

The Dolmen

Photograph by Marloes Visser

The Pirates

Photograph by Marloes Visser

The Wenches

Photograph by Marloes Visser

Features This Month 1: Sword & Fire Wild Dance

2: Competition

3: Making the Maciejowski-A follow up

4: Book Reviews-The Historical Novel Soc.

5: The Dolmen

6: Mediaeval Baebes Concert Details

7: Event Listings

8: My Amateur research on the history of

medieval food by Sara Seydek

Greetings All

Welcome to issue 35 of the Re-Enactor,

Congratulations to both Julie & Rachael

from the UK, for being the lucky winners of

last month‟s competitions. Your prizes will

be with you soon!

There is just one competition in this issue

but I do have a great book to give away-

Check out the competition page for more

details

The season is more or less over here in the

UK, although we do have various trade fairs

and Christmas markets to look forward to. I

am settling down to arranging all of my

events for 2012 and looking through my

equipment to see what needs repair or

replacement!

A colleague of mine from The Netherlands

has been in America for the last few weeks

and has managed to get along to a

renaissance fair and pick up various contact

details for me, so I will be looking to

increase the groups and traders listings!

As always, I am on the look-out for more

groups, traders, event details, stories,

articles and reports.

Please contact me at the normal email

address with details!

Editor.

Jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com

Competitions:

All competitions are free to enter

Winners will be selected at random on the 24th

of

each month for the relevant competition.

Winners will be notified via email shortly after

the draw takes place.

No correspondence will be entered into.

The editor’s decision is final.

The views and opinions expressed in the articles in

this ezine are those of the individual authors

themselves and not those of the Editor

To receive a copy of this magazine just send

your email address to:

Jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com

Sword and Fire Wild Dance

“Awesome event, TONS of fun, VERY intense fights - I enjoyed the hell out of it! A Huge thank you to all the

Scallagrims for being so accommodating, the food was utterly phenomenal - and all of you were such wonderful

people!”

By Aaron Joseph Bolarinho, AEMMA

In a charming place covered in field

flowers at the bank of Manitouwabing Lake

(about 30 km East of Parry Sound, Ontario,

Canada), a traveller can find Slutzak [Sloo‟tz/\k].

Each year, closer to the end of August, time stops

here somewhere around XII-XIII century and

opens its curtains to a Kievan Rus encampment.

Numerous pavilions and tabernacles are scattered

through the field, banners flap in the sky, the air

is filled with medieval music, laughter and excitement...

“Sword and Fire” is a unique week-end camping event

organized annually by Scallagrims Medieval Martial Arts

Centre, with the purpose of networking, sharing both combat

and living-history experience between medieval re-enacting

groups, performers, and artists, and promoting the study of

history, physical training, and learning foreign cultures. This

year Scallagrims were pleased to welcome guests from such

prominent groups and organizations as AEMMA, Torvik,

Hoplologia, Belarusian Ethnic Choir “Yavarovya Ludzi”, as

well as individual history-lovers.

“Sword and Fire” event‟s agenda included one-on-one Full Contact Live Steel

Tournament in two nominations – Sword and Sword-Shield, mass battles – bughurts, archery

tournament, axe and spear throwing competitions,

medieval costume contest, Saturday night Authentic Slav

Feast, games and other ethnic entertainment.

The Archery competition opened the first event day. Each archer, given 3 shots in

each round, had to collect a certain amount of points to move on. Dmitri Khandov, actually

shot the apple in his last round, which gave him the victory! Right away he named himself to

be a true Robin Hood and gave the apple to the starving crowd (joke). Erik Kowalski and

Greg Polevoy got the second and the third places accordingly.

We would like to say thank you to our friend Zack Djurica, who organized and the

judged the Archery tournament, and donated the first prizes – an authentic belt pouch and an

arrow. Zack possesses a deep knowledge of history of medieval archery – both Western and

Eastern European and is the top producer and distributor of the most accurate authentic bows,

arrows and quivers in Canada.

(Please visit www.nomadicartsarchery.com for more information)

The main feature of the “Sword and Fire”

event, the professional Full Contact Live Steel

Tournament, opened in the late afternoon. Although

it was planned to hold the Tournament in two

nominations – Sword and Sword-Shield – this year

due to the weather we were able to hold just Sword

nomination. Numerous participants applied. The

fighting was very intense and truly spectacular to

watch. Judging the tournament were Greg Polevoy,

the president of Scallagrims Medieval Martial Arts

Centre and two times international champion in full

contact live steel tournament Sword-Shield

nomination (2001 and 2007), Nikita Kizel, a senior

member of club Berg, Moscow. After four hours of

exhausting battle, the leaders finally emerged: first

place was shared by Egor Dourasov and Sash

Grybyuk; second place went to Kyryl Sochnev; third – to Dmitri Khandov. Champions were

awarded with custom-made “Sword and Fire” medals and certificates.

In the evening guests were greeted by Greg and Alexandra – Kievan Kniaz and

Kniazhna, and welcomed to the Feast grounds. Tables boasted authentic Slav and Rus dishes

and drinks, including traditional Krupnik (honey-based traditional home-made low-alcoholic

drink). Ethnic Slav music and songs, performed by

Belarusian Ethnic Choir “Yavarovya Ludzi”, filled the air. Games and dances around the

bonfire followed and were accompanied with the spectacular Fire show! The merriment

continued long after midnight under a starry mantle, guests enjoyed around-the-fire story-

telling and a quiet game of stones..

For more information, pictures and videos from the “Sword and Fire 2011” please visit

www.scallagrims.com

(c) SMMAC 2011.

Scallagrims Medieval Martial Arts

Centre 823 Manning Ave, Toronto Ontario, M6G

2W7

416-704-9448

info@scallagrims.com

www.scallagrims.com

Competition

I have a hardback copy of Rome, The

Emperor‟s Spy by Manda Scott to give

away this month.

AD 64: Sebastos Pantera is a newly returned

from five years‟ undercover work in Britannia.

Sick of spying, he plans to retire into peaceful

anonymity far from the schemes of his Emperor.

But no sooner has he set foot in Gaul than he is

summoned to Nero‟s presence, and ordered to

undertake one final mission.

Nero, Emperor of Rome, is passionate, erratic –

and utterly ruthless. He has found an ancient

prophecy predicting that Rome will burn.

Surrounded by courtiers who fear and hate him

in equal measure, he trusts no one to hunt down

the rebels plotting Rome‟s destruction – except

Pantera. But are they born too late?

Math is a boy charioteer who dreams of driving his team of horses in Rome. Loved by both

men, and lusted after by one, he soon becomes an unwilling pawn in a terrifying and deadly

game where no one is quite what they seem, and death stalks the charioteers – on the track

and off it.

From the author of the bestselling Boudica series, The Emperor’s Spy begins a compelling

new series of novels featuring Sebastos Pantera. Rich characterization and spine-tingling

adventure combine in a vividly realized novel set amid the bloodshed and chaos, heroism and

murderous betrayal of ancient Rome.

To be in win a chance of winning this book, visit the website and answer this

question

Website: http://www.mandascott.co.uk

Question: What did Manda Scott qualify as, from Glasgow University? Send your answer for this month‟s competitions along with your full postal

address to: jason.okeefe@btopenworld.com before November 24th

2011 to be in

with a chance of winning!

Making the Maciejowski-A follow up

Richard the Lionheart & Saracen Mercenaries: SOURCES

A reader has requested some clarification with regard to one of the claims made in the article

Making the Maciejowski, namely that Richard I of England had made use of Saracen

mercenaries in Normandy. Quite possibly this is due to that reader‟s familiarity with a

number of works, such as J.F. Verbruggen‟s The Art of Warfare in Western Europe during

the Middle Ages, which mention this fact without linking it to a source.

However, for Making the Maciejowski, we did manage to locate a source, who in turns bases

his observations on a number of primary sources. This source is Professor F.M. Powicke‟s

essay The Saracen Mercenaries of Richard I., which can be found in The Scottish Historical

Review.

Powicke mentions a number of sources, allocating generous reference to the input of a

number of other researchers into this subject, for the purposes of brevity I will skip these

names and focus on the primary sources.

Firstly, there is a passage referring to one hundred and twenty Saracens (Mamluks) from the

Holy Land who depart with or for Richard. This appeared in a 14th century manuscript

written by one of the continuators of William of Tyre. This particular manuscript contains

other references which make it a reliable source. It has been printed “as text D in the edition

of the so-called Histoire d'Heracles, published by the Academic des Inscriptions (Recueil des

Historiens des Croisades^ Historiens Occidentaux vol. ii. (1859) .

Where and when these mercenaries might have gone to, is revealed by the Norman

Exchequer roll. The roll of 1195 contains the following entries (ed. Stapleton, i. 221):

In liberationibus Saracenorum morantium apud Domfront per preceptum Regis, a die Lune

proxima post festum Sancti Michaelis usque de die lune post festum Sancti Egidii, c. li. ix. li.

vj. so. per breve Regis. . . . Gibelino Saresceno in solta pertae equi sui 1. so. per idem breve.

Two other entries on this page refer to the Saracens. Again, on the roll for the year 1198 (ii.

301):

Soubresaillant et Saracenis suis c. li. xxxv. li. de liberatione sua per breve Regis.

Powicke adds that some have put forth the argument that the reference to Saracens on these

rolls were actually references to Welsh mercenaries. However, tracing some of the names that

appear back to their origin we end up with names like Bait-Jibrint, the name referring to an

inhabitant of Jibrint.

As a further secondary supporting source Professor Powicke refers to Beha-ed-din‟s narrative

which demonstrates that Richard did enter meaningful communication with Saracen prisoners

and ambassadors after the relief of Jaffa in 1192 (Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society's

translation of Beha-ed-din, p. 371 seqq.) Moreover, references to the friendship between

Richard and Saladin‟s brother El-Adel Saphadin are common.

Powicke also refers to the persistent stories that Richard had Saracen Assassins in his armies,

mentioning that the 120 Mamluk mercenaries may well have provided the source for such

tales. We can presume that the language and culture barriers could have meant that the

Mamluk contingent in Richard‟s army kept to themselves and can almost hear the subsequent

campfire gossip about these mysterious warriors.

These revelations would also place into context the appearance of names such as Mahumet,

Bekmet and Peter the Saracen in various rolls from Angevin England, discussed in a number

of places such as Who was „Mahumet‟? Arabs in Angevin England by John S. Moore of the

University of Bristol.

I hope this clarifies matters somewhat.

Nils Visser.

PRINCE

Rory Clements, John Murray, 2011, £12.99, hb, 420pp, 9781848544253.

It is the year 1593, and England is a powder-keg of rumour and fear. Plague threatens

London, famine is rife and the aged queen (known to her enemies as the basilisk) is

surrounded by scheming courtiers. As the novel opens, London‟s Dutch community is

threatened by bomb attacks from those jealous of the Dutch immigrant population, and

Christopher Marlowe is mysteriously murdered in Deptford. Rory Clements‟ investigator,

John Shakespeare, older brother to Will, steps in to become entangled in a challenging

investigation, one which has a seismic effect on his personal life. He enters the opulent

chambers of Black Luce, the torture chambers of priest hunter Richard Topcliffe, the

elegant offices of his employer, Robert Cecil, country houses, a horse race, the torrid

streets of London and a terrifying desolate island situated in the mouth of the Thames. These are the physical

settings for Clements‟ Elizabethan thriller.

Prince is action packed, and its pages are filled with intricate layers of deception. The late Elizabethan world

is brilliantly portrayed with exciting narrative twists. As one character says, „Who is what they seem in this

world we inhabit, John?‟ Historical detail is expertly integrated into sophisticated plot strands to create a

seamless whole, inclusive of the investigation into the attacks on the Dutch community, Marlowe‟s death,

Spanish plots, witchcraft and James I, and a thrilling ship explosion on the Thames. John Shakespeare is a very

sympathetic hero. Clements‟ subsidiary characters are excellently portrayed, reaching beyond the page to haunt

the reader. As for the prince of the title, reader, read on and all will be revealed. Importantly, this novel is

extremely intelligent and exceptionally well written. I could not put it down until I reached its final startling

denouements. Prince is the third in a series involving John Shakespeare by this a Silver Dagger award-winning

writer.

-- Carol McGrath

THE HOMECOMING OF SAMUEL LAKE

Jenny Wingfield, Random House, 2011, $25.00, hb, 328pp, 9780385344081

Samuel Lake and his family are used to moving to a different town every year. Samuel

is a preacher, and though he is passionate about his calling, his opinions sometimes rub his

parishoners the wrong way. For the first time in his career, Samuel has not received an assignment, and he returns to his childhood home in Columbia County, Arkansas to live

with his wife Willadee‟s family. Their return coincides with the shocking suicide of

Willadee‟s father, the Moses family patriarch, leaving the family to regroup and determine

what to do next. Samuel‟s return sets off a series of events with unusual and unexpected

consequences for the Moses family and the community at large.

Despite the title, this novel is less about Samuel Lake than about the sprawling Moses

family that he married into. Wingfield‟s characters, both children and adults, are vivid and

believable. There‟s a darkness to this novel that is almost Faulknerian, a sinister

undercurrent lurking just below the surface. Wingfield captures the atmosphere of rural

Arkansas in the late 1950s – when she describes the Lake children playing in the summer heat, or Samuel‟s tent

revival, it‟s easy to feel that you are there. There is a villain who is spectacular in his villainy, and a lot of other

characters who inhabit a moral middle ground, neither wholly good nor wholly bad, but owners of their personal destiny.

It‟s rare that I read a novel in one sitting, but I did with this one. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake is a

marvelous debut from a strong new voice in American fiction. -- Nanette Donohue

For other reviews on other books why not visit:

http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/

The Pirates Keep …… Songs and Tales of Adventures upon the

Deep Green Sea

A quiet Saturday evening on the quays of Poole: People strolling down the quayside, seagulls

gliding through the air, fishing boats entering the harbour after a laborious day at sea,

sailboats bobbing gently on the waves and, in the distance, the sounds of a horn. The smell of

the salty sea and tar cling to the ships and permeate the air. Suddenly the peacefulness is

brutally disturbed by the sound of drums and the shouts and curses of pirates parading their

plunder along the quayside. Waving flags, protected by their swords and guns and of

fearsome appearance, these pirates are on their way to their den for a night full of mayhem

and stories.

Boldly, they make their presence known along the quayside and in the old town. On their

way to their meeting place they are stopped twice by a rival gang of Pirates, but the battle that

follows is quickly over and the attackers that did not die in the battle, change sides and join

the victors as Pirates often do.

Parading the Plunder

On the way goes to the Pirates Keep, wenches join the parade and are promised a night full of

song, dance and drink and in return they whisper their promises in the ears of the rugged

pirates. Promises the pirates are all too ready to store firmly in their minds and not to be

forgotten amidst the fumes of too much cider! The chest is heavy but has to be brought along

as the plunder, as always, will be equally divided in the den. The Dolmen Pirate flag is carried

by a proud young pirate. A special honour as he fought bravely in battles to obtain it.

The Wenches

The King Charles Pub in Poole is the chosen den for this Keep. Cider and Beer are generously

poured, tankards are raised and toasts are made to their famous predecessors. Soon the pub is

crammed full of cutthroats and their doxies. With the drink, the stories and the boasts are

flowing, tales of plunder, of killing, of treasure and of victories on the deep blue seas. The

stories are accompanied by sounds of horror, grunts of approval, curses and bursts of laughter.

The smell of baccy, sweat, and beer becomes more dense and pervasive as the night wears on;

the sounds of the voices louder and louder. Culprits are put in the stocks and are tormented by

pouring their tankards of cider over their heads. The booming voices of the pirates fill the

Keep and the shrieking voices of the wenches colour the atmosphere. The tales of plunder and

adventure are alternated with songs to celebrate the glorious, but usually short and doomed

life of pirates…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opLWoS8_uuI

The Pirates; Taloch Jameson, Josh Elliott and Mark Vine of The Dolmen

Narration of Black Bart, one of the narrations used in the Pirates Keep;

1) Bartholemew Roberts (Black Bart) :

Pirate 1) There aint no other profession in the world like Piratin‟. I mean, look at us

…. Here we sit with the arse „angin‟ out of our trousers and barely a pot to piss in, but

still with the hope of one day, striking it rich. Of sooner or later, hittin‟ that big prize

that will see us in the lap o‟ luxury for the rest of our born days.

(mutters of agreement)

2)

Pirate 2) Tis true mates. Just look to old Bartholomew Roberts, Black Bart as he was

known, to see the truth in them words. He be a shinin‟ example to any man who kisses

the skull n bones with a view to betterin' 'imself.

He first put to sea as a young lad, but his ship was captured by pirates and he, knowin‟

what side his bread was buttered, opted to join „em.

He soon proved himself and in 1719 was elected their Captain sayin‟ "It is better to be

a commander than a common man, since I have dipped my hands in muddy water and

must be a pirate."

(cheers)

Tis said that only two years after bein‟ made Captain he had amassed a fortune of fifty

one million pounds and plundered near to 400 ships throughout Europe, Africa and the

Americas !

(gasps of amazement)

Yep, set himself up for life he did. But …. he never lived long enough to enjoy his

wealth.

(groans)

No. Twas off Africa that the Royal Navy caught up to „im in a place called Cape

Lopez and old Bart, tryin to give „em the slip, sailed before the wind to gain an

advantage. And it worked until he bumped into another navy ship comin‟ the other

way. So he turned again, hopin‟ to sail past the first ship and on into the open sea. But

the first ship, HMS Swallow realised what he was up to and opened fire with a blast of

grapeshot.

(groans)

And when the smoke was gone, there, layin‟ across a cannon was Black Bart, as dead

as mutton !

(groans and muttering)

Killed him outright they did … and his crew, loyal to the end, threw his corpse

overboard so the navy wouldn‟t have the satisfaction of paradin‟ it. And they sailed on

for near three hours after, trying to get away, until their topmast was blown off and all

were taken prisoner and put to judgement in what was the biggest pirate trial of the

day.

Fifty five were hanged by the neck and thirty seven more jailed. And 70 of their black

African pirate brothers, sold into filthy slavery.

(loud angry groans)

So, let‟s raise a tankard to Welsh Black Bart, the most successful Pirate that ever

sailed the foamin' seas. Here‟s to „im and may he be an example to us all.

(Loud cheers)

© Mark Vine

More Pirates; Captain Steve Howl, Jack Piper, Bryan Archer and Steve Piper

This is the concept of the Pirates Keep, invented and thought up by Taloch Jameson, the front

man, guitarist and songwriter of the Celtic Folk/Rock band The Dolmen. Together with the

Poole Buccaneers they create an evening full of songs and piratical mayhem. People attending

the Keep are requested to dress like Pirates and Wenches, and requested to act along; this

adds to the atmosphere of being in a Pirates Den in the Golden Age of Piracy.

Keri Pinney, Kayleigh Marchant and Taloch Jameson of The Dolmen

It is a unique concept as it combines the re-enactment with the music of the band. Mark Vine,

lyricist and historian researched pirate history and came up with quite a few authentic stories

that he converted into narrations. Between Taloch, Mark and Josh Elliot, songwriter and

guitarist of the band, the lyrics and songs of the CD were created. The narrations were

studied and practiced by the Poole Buccaneers and together with the band and with

participation of the audience they come up with live entertainment that rocks the boat ……

and the Keep, transporting the onlooker back to a time when a cutlass did your talking and

reputation was everything .

These narrations and songs can be found on the CD “Spirits of the Sea”. A double CD with,

on one side, the Pirate songs, all penned from within the band set-up and on the other side a

live recording of a Pirates Keep; songs combined with true tales of Piracy.

The CD gives an excellent example of what this all is about….. an escape into the world of

Piracy and adventure.

As one of the songs from the album goes …. and any Pirate would tell you ….

“I‟d drink with the devil to get what I want

Dance a jig to his tune

I‟d cut a throat with no second thought

And spit in the eye of the moon”

www.thedolmen.com

http://www.thedolmen.com/album1.html

The Dolmen; Keri Pinney, Kayleigh Marchant, Chris Jones, Taloch Jameson and Josh Elliott

Written by Marloes Visser and Mark Vine

Artwork by Sem Vine

Photography Marloes Visser

“Melee” by Karen Sarkar (prints available to purchase-www.karensarkarart.com)

A New Forum for all

things Pirate!

Meet other Pirates

Event Information

Tall Tales

Traders

Pirate History

Check out the website for

more information!

www.forums.pyrates.co.uk

Archers Review

This is a website, run for and by archers with

a thirst for knowledge. Our extensive

collection of reviews is split in to a number

of sections to make it easy for you to find

what you are interested in

Steve Nicholson and Andy Gilfrin, are real

archers interested in the best archery

suppliers have to offer. In our search for the

very best bow, arrows and equipment we

have shot, used and worn pretty much

everything on offer.

We value feedback from users and suppliers

and are keen to hear from you if you wish to

contact us about anything on the website.

Website: www.archers-review.com

Email: steve@archers-review.com

The Hussar Christmas

Masquerade Ball The 15th Kings Light Dragoons (Hussars) are proud to host

and to be able to invite you to the Hussar Christmas Masquerade Ball. The Ball is to be held at Baronia Hall, 134 Boronia Rd, Boronia Victoria 3155, on the 26th November

2011. The evening will include Welcome Drinks, a Dance workshop, followed by Dinner and The Masquerade Ball.

The festivities will commence at 5pm with welcome drinks and a dance workshop; the bar will be open for those who

require some Dutch courage in order to approach the dance floor and dance workshop! The dances taught here will be

very simple and will be used throughout the evening‟s Ball. Dance cards will be handed to the ladies on arrival, so

gentlemen, there are no excuses! Guests will require a mask.

This year‟s event will take the form of a Masquerade Ball. The essential of the Masquerade is a disguise mask! After

the meal each guest is to don the masquerade disguise and to return to the Ball Room. The Masquerade is by nature a flirtatious event with the chance to dance with strangers!

Etiquette is that no names should be used, the masks should remain on at all times and that couples should not dance

together until after the Great Revealing! Several sets will be danced before the Great Revealing at which time masks will

be removed.

For more information:

www.15thhussars.com

The

Mortimer History Society

Spring Conference

May 12th

2012

The Earl Mortimer College

Leominster, Herefordshire.

Marc Morris will be hosting a lively

and interactive discussion on King

Edward I, Simon de Montfort &

Prince Llewelyn.

He will be joined by representatives

from historical groups and other

authors to discuss aspects of the three

men.

For more details

www.mortimerhistorysociety.org.uk

Event Information

November

5th & 6

th Timeline Fair, Old Cheese Factory, Homestead Rd, Berwick, Victoria, Australia.

www.timelinefair.org.au

11th

Las Vegas Veteran‟s Day Parade 2011, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102684859803236

11th

-13th The Original Reenactors Market, The sports connexion, ryton on dunsmore, cv8 3fl

http://www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk/

19th

& 20th

Marché de l'Histoire de Pontoise, Novembre, FRANCE

www.historievivante.com

26th

& 27th

Ludlow Castle Medieval Christmas fair, Ludlow, Shropshire, UK

Craft fair, medieval traders, combat, have a go archery

http://www.ludlowcastle.com/

December

4th Bromsgrove Militaria, Medal & Arms Collectors Fair, at the Spadesbourne Suite, Council

House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, B60 1AA. 9.30am - 2.00pm. Admission £2.50

www.rzmilitaria.com/events.php e-mail fairs@rzmilitaria.com

10th

Anton Pieck Parade, Haarlem, The Netherlands

Website: http://www.antonpieckparade.nl/intro.html

17th

& 18th

Dickens Festival, Deventer, Netherlands

Website: http://www.dickensfestijn.nl/

2012

May 6

th & 7

th, Fortress Wales, Margam Copuntry Park, Port Talbot, Wales

http://www.webster.uk.net/HistoryAndCulture/Re-enactmentWW2SWB/FortressWalesShowInformation.aspx

12th

The Mortimer History Society Spring Conference, Earl Mortimer College, Leominster

www.mortimerhistorysociety.org.uk

26th

& 27th

les medievales de CHAUCONIN-NEUFMONTIERS

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=241449812568063

June

2nd

& 3rd

De Quaeye Werelt, Sterckshof, Belgium

http://www.delegendevzw.be/

9th Boerderij aan de Giessen, Grotewaard 38, Noordeloos, Netherlands

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158081454283009&notif_t=event_invite

July

14th

& 15th

The Battle of Tewkesbury, Tewkesbury, UK

http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/

22nd

The Battle of Salamanca, 200th anniversary

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=183242878392002&notif_t=event_invite

September

8th & 9

th EMA weekend at Caldicot Castle, wales

15th

& 16th

The Battle of Mortimer‟s Cross, Leominster, Herefordshire, UK

www.mortimerscross.co.uk

MY AMATEUR RESEARCH ON THE HISTORY OF

MEDIEVAL FOOD

It all began in 2007 when I became the camp cook of a medieval re-enactment group I used to

belong to. I got an invitation to perform that occupation since food is what I like and also

because everyone in the group had to have a certain task. That meant that I now wanted to

understand what I was going to do and be as best as I could be. Quickly I understood that

medieval recipes weren't my taste, nor would they be of the rest of the group. So therefore, I

made up my own recipes (also thinking constantly about a balanced meal that would suit the

21st century diet) even though my main interest was the knowledge of food and nourishment

in that time period.

Thus, I started to do a slight research that soon became the most interesting thing I ever did

and has been one of mine main pastimes.

Although I don't have a degree in this particular area, nor in History, I consider myself a

person that knows what I'm talking about, having even been invited to speak and give

workshops on the subject by several entities, being one of them the town of Óbidos, in

Portugal.

Medieval food is, like Re-enactment, only a hobby of mine but a very serious one. I have

even posted all that I've read and researched on a website so it could be helpful to others:

http://ataleiga.blogspot.com/

My main focus is, of course, Iberian medieval food, and more so Portuguese, since Europe is

not only a very big place but also has an immense cultural diversity that directly influences

eating habits. That doesn't mean that I haven't researched beyond the Iberian Peninsula.

The interest in this little corner of Europe comes from the fact that we had several influences

from other cultures like the conquering Roman and Moorish and also because Spain and

Portugal had several trading post along their shore lines. What we ate here and the sort of

produce that were available to us were a complete different reality from the rest of Europe.

I'll give you one example: It is believed that the aubergine only became part of daily

nourishment in France in the 16th

to 17th century, while in the Iberian Peninsula it was already

known to have been part of the Moorish cuisine.

The 1st thing I have learned and that authors constantly underline is the fact that the

perception we today have of medieval food comes directly from preconceived ideas that

people had of this subject in the past, mostly from Victorian scholars. They described

medieval food as being a disgusting, greasy and rotten thing and that was the reason why

spices were so much appreciated back then: To disguise it's bad flavor. And, of course, they

brought back into the light the Roman notion that everything that would come after their

Empire would only be dark ages (hence the name of the 1st 500 years of the Middle Ages).

So, I was set to destroy my own “bigotry” on medieval nourishment. This meaning that food

during the Middle Ages didn't became an example of the end of civilization nor was the

exaggerated use of spices (a thing most loved by the medieval man) a proof of rottenness of

produce.

Many other interesting facts have emerged like on oranges, lemons, rice, beans, fishing,

noodles and so many more that have corrected my basic school acquired knowledge: The

Romans had an orange they called aurentea (golden), which could mean that it was more

orangy and perhaps even sweeter than the ones that, to our knowledge, have existed in the

Middle Ages; in Sicily grew a type of lemon during the 15th century like the ones we know

today and that were the reason why, still today, Brazilians call that type of lemon “Sicilian

lemon”; rice was grown in Portugal and some Mediterranean islands since the 14th century

and was used as make-up in the form of powder in England at that same time, if not before;

beans were used as a voting pebble in Roman forums and Senate and also as a substitute for

credit (I still have to find out what type/species those were); deep sea fishing was done by

Portuguese alongside the British isles making way for fishing treaties between the two

countries in the 12th and 13

th centuries; and tuna was caught in the Mediterranean since

before the Roman Empire; noodles where a common food item in the 14th and 15

th centuries

in Europe having been portrayed in several paintings of the time and added as recipes in

many books, during a time where supposedly, Marco Polo was still traveling the Far East.

Of course, having an inquisitive mind makes one look and come across much more

information and that is what happened to me.

Another of the most interesting things I've learned was the spirituality of food in the Middle

Ages. Food was given a certain religious context, since the Middle Ages were known for

having been that part of Human History were Christianity consolidated itself in Europe's

society. So, of course, religion and social condition were transferred into daily things, like

food.

Everything about the Holy Trilogy of food, the importance of pork and the separation of

classes through nourishment are an essential part to understand the subject in this particular

time period: Wine and bread represented Christ's blood and body (symbols and rituals that we

still can find in Catholic Church), while olive oil was a symbol of the Holy Ghost; any God

fearing Christian that didn't had access to clean drinkable water had wine as a good substitute

and this was drunken in alarming amounts in South European countries being most of the

wine cut down with water; as for bread, in average each person (whatever social class they

came from) ate around 3Kg of it a day and the lack of bread meant famine, even if other

produce where available; and having an olive oil lamp at the top of your bed would guarantee

your protection against demons.

Eating pork separated Christians from other religions (Muslims and Jews considered the pig a

dirty animal) in such a way that recently converted Jews would come up with gastronomical

ideas to pretend that they were eating pork or were know to hang a piece of bacon outside

their door to proof the community that they were obedient Christians.

And lastly, the further away anything grew from the ground the more coveted it was by

Nobility. Produce in the Middle Ages was divided into Heaven and Earth (the same name is

used for a salad made out of red onions and oranges), meaning that everything that grew

directly on the ground or grew from it was more proper for lower classes and fruit from trees

was reserved for Nobility and High Clergy.

Things, however, aren't as rigid as they may appear, specially when thinking of the

geographical and cultural factors that influenced people's nourishment so much in a time

before Capitalism. Things like beer, types of cereal, the use of butter and lard, etc.

When we talk about how the Catholic Church supported the use of wine and olive oil because

they were Christ's symbols, we cannot forget that these types of produce were rare in some

parts of Europe. Grapes were a delicacy still in the 15th century Poland, olive trees don't grow

in northern Europe and beer and distiled beverages ares still preferred today in a Europe away

from the Mediterranean. Also wheat only likes warm weather, making barley the preferred

cereal in other countries and butter would be used as grease in substitution of lard, lowering

the importance of the pig.

Of course, when we add the eating constrictions imposed by Church, like lent, fasting days,

fish on Friday's, and other “lean” days (around 200 days of the year were dedicated to these

food prohibitions!) to the fact that the general population didn't had access to as many

produce that certain social classes had, we get a very “nervous” society, ready to reevaluate

their religious belief system. Plus a growing middle class that wanted the same rights as the

Noble one, we get the Protestant Movement. It is my belief that food had a big role in this,

specially considering that the High Clergy wasn't the one that set the best example. Nothing

goes with an empty stomach!

I could go on but that I'll leave for you for another time, or just go and read my website.

Right now my interests in the Middle Ages and other time periods have spread a bit, but my

love for food hasn't stopped and I'll keep continuing to research and add more information on

my site (as I have to do soon, since I came across more interesting facts about rice).

My hope for the future is to access many of the written documents of that time and/or to meet

specialists on the matter. And what also would be an enormous accomplishment would be the

return of knowledge acquired during re-enactment to the class rooms; that we could put into

practice so many information that has never left the books and has never been tested.

Anyways, these are the simple dreams of this simple amateur food historian.

By: Sara Seydek