'History of the Condottieri of the Twin Cities'


AN ONGOING JOURNEY...


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Before Shires Featherfall and Rivermarch, Black Forge was formed in the valley between the baronies of South Downs and Iron Mountain. Three members--Lord Kirklin MacIan, Aloisia Fischer, and Chris Howard--attended St. Thomas' 1985 Olde English Festival; offering the chance to further develop their incipient shire. Twenty-five people showed interest; among them were two ladies and a gentleman.

The gentleman, now known as Lord Robert Cattanach of Moravia, stayed with Black Forge as it evolved into House Opia and later joined Shire Featherfall. The ladies, Elisabeth Erinn MacCabe and Lucia Faolan de Ravenna, lost contact with Black Forge/Opia/Lord Robert...but the idea of "reliving the past" had caught their fancy.

The idea took root after the 1987 Ironworks Medieval Faire. There Erinn and Lucia met Lord Kirklin; again, contact between them was soon lost. Unaware of Featherfall's existence, the shire having been founded after the Faire, they contacted the Shire of the Eagle and SCA headquarters to find out if a shire was already in the valley and how to form one if a shire was not.

By January 1988, Erinn and Lucia--along with Gloria Kirkhouse of Tain, David FitzJames le Rouge, Nimri el Thalaum (called Charr), Deborah Ryan, Conn, Falcone Alesandro Santiago de Castile, Wulfric de la Crecy, and Arion--had decided to form a shire. They chose a name (Shire of the Twin Cities), colors, officers, device, and began working together.


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Two months later, during March, Gloria saw a weekly newspaper notice regarding Featherfall's meetings and notified Elisabeth. She called Patris le Wyneter, the group's seneschale, and both "talked SCA". The two--with Lucia, Chrys the Misplaced, and Lord Robert--met March 20; the meeting's result: the members of Twin Cities became members of Featherfall.

Although Twin Cities was now part of Featherfall, its members had no desire to dissolve their group. Instead, the members proclaimed themselves a household, The Condottieri of the Twinn Cities, displaying their colors (blue and gold), and badge (formerly device) at events--beginning with Magnum Opus Con 3 (March 1988).*1*

Members easily made the transistion from shire to household; the household model used was a Scottish clan. Shire officers became household officers, one example being Elisabeth going from shire Seneschale to Clan Chief, bylaws were written to define household and members' roles within the group.

June saw the Condottieri host a shire revel after the 1988 Ironworks Medieval Faire. As part of the festivities, three new members joined--Lord Nikolai Piotr Danovich, Lady Amber Silveroak, and Lord Robert. Here also began a short rivalry between the Condottieri and the Company of the Rising Moon.


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Odoacer of the Wastes, shire constable, was Captain of the Rising Moon. He and Erinn agreed to a five part competition between the households; the competition taking place at 1988's St. Thomas Olde English Festival. What Odoacer, Rising Moon, and Featherfall soon discovered was the Condottieri's organizational skill extended beyond the peaceful arts.

Erinn, Gloria, and Nikolai journeyed to South Downs and secured the support of Crown Prince Sir John of Ean Airgead. Erinn and Lucia wrote letters to area fighters asking for their help.*2* Household fighters, along with fighters from Rising Moon, were authorized during South Downs fighter practices.

At St. Thomas, Rising Moon won the champions battle; the bardic competition and three battles were won by the Condottieri and its allies. Hence, the Condottieri won the overall competition; Odoacer acknowledging that a female clan chief could wage war.

The household war ushered in a time of peace for the Condottieri. Membership grew, an alliance was established between it and House de Northwode*3*, peace made with Rising Moon. Members became shire officers; helping Rivermarch, once Featherfall, grow.*4*


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Fool's War 1989 expanded the Condottieri's horizons beyond the shire area. Earl Sir Michael Bohun and his wife Countess Judith from Dragonfly Marsh became members--along with members from their household. The group, known as House Bohun, was the Condottieri's first sept.*5*

Growth equals kingdom recognition. Before, during, and after Michael and Judith's reign--September 1990-April 1991--household members received awards.*6*

The Condottieri itself gives two awards: the Order of St. George for great valor and the Order of the Black Sheep for great stupidity.*7*

Yet growth also means loss. Members moved, resigned, or went inactive. But sorrow came when Lady Lucia Faolan de Ravenna suddenly died (September 1993).


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Beginning in 1988, the Condottieri holds a champion's list at Fool's War.*8* This four day event, hosted by Novus Matisco, is home of the Condottieri's annual meeting.

Here members from throughout the "known world" can meet and share stories of times past and present. Like Lady Amber making armbands from her surcoat to identify allied fighters during the household war, Guntrum's valiant defense of the Condottieri/House Bohun banners during 1989's Fool's War field battle, Lord Charr being killed by Lady Erinn after surrendering for ransom.

Lady Erinn, as clan chief, features in several tales where others think she is "easy prey" only to discover their error when household members (Earl Sir Michael, Sir Tancred, Lord Charr, Lady Lucia, etc.) appear. Even staff at 1989's Georgia Reniassance Festival knew not to threaten her.

Amid these varied experiences, the Condottieri of the Twinn Cities continues "making a mark" in Meridian and SCA life. And more adventures await.



DISCLAIMERS

A Marcher Lord's Reflections is part of a personal website. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and does not delineate SCA policies.

The SCA and its branches do not endorse the products or services which are displayed here. Off-Site links are provided as a service and are offered on an "as is" basis.



Page updated 10 December 2011 by Lord Robert Cattanach of Moravia.
(c) The Waterbearing Fish.


References

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'History of the Condottieri of the Twin Cities'...