The Baron and Baroness

Valentine’s Day

The Saint Valentine’s picnic and tourney in the park was a great afternoon with fighting, singing, dancing and games as well as delicious food and lovely company. There were a few faces we haven’t seen at events for a while as well as some newcomers. Altogether it was a really nice afternoon.

Congratulations and thank you to Lord Sui and Baron Courtain for running a very nice event and to Master Cristoval and Alys Dietsch for a delicious picnic. During the afternoon we were delighted present Count Stephen and Countess Mathilde with the fealty rings they wore, in the days of the Principality of Lochac, as first Baron & Baroness of Politarchopolis. The baronies have new fealty rings and the original rings were gifts from Their Majesties.

Target Archery Weekend

For the second year, Politarchopolis has hosted a full weekend event with a focus on the fine art of target archery. The Honorable Lord Mercurio and The Honourable Lady Sabine lead participants in a range of practice sessions, coaching and discussions. Lord Owen van Acker shared knowledge and experience gained from competing in target archery world championships and other international competitions. The weekend was fascinating and a great inspiration for the keen archers of Lochac. It was lovely to see some of our friends from Torlyon at this event too.

Newcomers’ Tourney and Feast

Newcomers’ this year had tourneys and spectacle, fine feasting, dancing and songs.

Members of the populace, newcomers and onlookers were entertained by fine displays in the two tourneys. There was a great turnout, with 11 fencers and 9 armoured fighters competing for the honour of their consorts and the glory of great valour. A number of onlookers were attracted by the pageantry of the occasion and stayed to learn more. We hope to see them at future events in the Barony and ask all to make them welcome as they surely did that day.

The newcomers’ feast was beautifully presented by the College of St Aldhelm. Highlights included delicious pastries and delicate meats.

We gave thanks to Lady Mathilde Hastings for her great work as Politarchopolis Constable and seeing that role handed on smoothly to Lord Valentin der Spieler. There was a changing of the Guard, with Gabrielle, Francesco, William and Antonia becoming pensoners and stepping aside for Jonathan Lochswan, Robert Stoner, Sabine d’Antan and Kitan von Falkenburg. Finally, the College Seneschal, Elizabeth Beaumont, announced her successor, Lafquina Filia Juliane and was presented with a pouch in college colours as a new token of that office.

Festival

The weather was kind, being only mildly wet and quite warm in the verdant valleys where this year’s Rowany Festival took place. Their Majesties did take the field of war for a final test of “the issue of the issue”. Though Her Majesty’s forces had fought valiantly and well at Canterbury Faire and at Border War, this time His Majesty’s forces were the victors. Her Majesty Queen Bethan offered her submission to King Berenger’s demand for an heir. Seeing the Queen thus humbled, Her gracious defeat did melt His Majesty’s prideful heart and so he avowed any further claim to Her person or body. Thus peace and justice was achieved through might, grace and courtesy and all present rejoiced.

Many arrows were lost in the green grass but neither this, nor damp feet and hems could dampen our spirits. Festival was, as always, full of wonderful people, much singing, drinking, fencing and armoured contests and dancing and other merriment.

Our great appreciation and thanks to Lady Ragnrhildr for coordinating the campsite and feeding everyone. Lady Ragnrhildr worked incredibly hard, and she was helped by everyone who carried water, cooked or cleaned up and generally made Politarchopolis a welcoming and comfortable encampment this year.

Thank you to everyone who put together the practice tourney and potluck feast last night.  The practice tourney was a hoot, with much hilarity and some good practice for those of us who badly need it ;)  Cornelius has generously donated a sword to become a perpetual trophy for this tourney.

The feast was excellent, with some truly fabulous food and great company, singing and games.  We would like to particularly thank Thanatos for making it happen and for his delicious baked custard!

Every now and then people approach us to talk with great nostalgia about the good old days, when feasts were cosy atmospheric affairs, that didn’t cost the earth, when people felt comfortable to join in on a song or a simple dance. Well, there are two chances coming up in the next two weeks.

Tomorrow at Baronial Day there will be a small potluck feast following a practice tourney (for those of you also nostalgic for the “monthly bash”).

So come along to Haig Park Hall for the afternoon and evening this Sunday 6 April.  Bring your feasting gear including candles, maybe a bottle or two of ale or cider and a platter or pot of food to share with others (enough to feed a few friends, not an army).  Weather permitting there might even be a fire in the fireplace.

Those of you who remember the good old days with misty-eyed fondness - we hope to see you there.
Those who have only heard tell of such legendary evenings, come and see what the fuss is all about .

The second potluck will be the feast the following weekend on 12 April at the Arts and Sciences event. We fully expect to see the Barony enthused in a multitude of creative directions at the range of classes Mistress Mathilde and Mistress Rowan have arranged for your delight and pleasure on the Weekend of 12-13 April.