royal-deaths-msg – 3/24/09
Stories of the best ÔRoyal DeathsÕ in the SCA to close a CrownÕs reign. This is an SCA tradition not followed in all kingdoms of the Known World.
NOTE: See also these files: SCA-stories1-msg, SCA-hist1-msg, you-know-msg, child-stories-msg, coronets-msg, courts-msg, burials-msg, magic-moments-msg.
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Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous
Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: booksbybrittany at aol.com (Hawke)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Best Royal Deaths
Date: 1 Apr 2004 05:33:30 -0800
Some friends and I happened to be talking the other night, and somehow
came to the subject of best royal deaths. Maybe it's just a tradition
in my area, but most kings and queens try to come up with some reason
why they're 'stepping down' from the throne during their last court.
We've had everything from 'died of old age' ( At every event the Crown
attended, they 'aged', using makeup. By their last court they were old
and feeble, and... well, they died. ), to 'ascended to the heavens ' (
An asian persona. Someone came up to get their pelican, and at some
point during the hugfest that tends to go on, the Crown just...
disappeared, leaving the thrones on their chairs. ). A lot of them
have been funny (someone died in a stampede of cows ), or interesting
( someone who based their reign on fairy tales died of poison apple ),
or just plain fun to watch.
But does anyone else have stories of royal deaths? What was the
best one you've seen? Names aren't nearly as important as the stories!
- Hawke
From: tjordan_12 at hotmail.com (tjordan)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: 2 Apr 2004 16:01:37 -0800
King Havordh of Atlantia was cut down by Prince Galmr and his men
while reading a pardon for the members of the free company of
Anglesey. It was a nicely arranged bit of schtick.
Jester of Anglesey
John Jordan
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
From: Raymond Ford <greenoak at cox.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 23:22:43 -0800
Depending upon the King and Queen, we have rather elaborate ceremonies for
the switch-over in CAID. It could be death, war, famine, old age - you name
it. However.....
In my mind the most memorable stepping-down ceremony was Duke Guillaume de
la Belgique and Duchesss Felinah Tifarah Arnvella Memo Hazara Kahn-ad-Din.
Guillaume, being somewhat of a writer and playwright started the whole thing
at their Coronation with the introduction of an evil twin brother, Serevald.
Guillaume would leave the stage and "Serevald" would show up mysteriously
(Guillaume played both parts) and he, as Serevald, would often plot to
overthrow the crown and claim his own right to the throne. Serevald would
show up mysteriously at various events throughout their reign. Everyone was
sure that Serevald would kill the King in the end. It made for a great, and
often hilarious sub-plot to the real reign.
Anyway during their stepping down, Guillaume wrote an elaborate script that
had the King dying in the heat of battle and being brought in, dead, on a
stretcher to the Queen. (Sevavald actually turned out to be a hero in trying
to save his brother on the battle field) Guillaume himself was playing the
part of a ghost on the stage, interacting with the people on the court
trying to recount the glorious charge into the enemy ranks. They stared
through him lost in their own grief. Then, seeing their non-reaction and
sorrow, he gazed down in disbelief in realization of his own death. He
shrunk away in abject terror/horror. The Queen was escorted off the stage to
take refuge in the local Abbey.
It is hard to describe. The Queen, Felinah, was barely able to annunciate
thought her tears. Everyone in the hall was choked up - many people openly
weeping. It is highly emotional stepping down from a reign, and to do it in
this manner I found to be one of the most memorable experiences of my SCA
life.
I am probably mutilating what was a very moving ceremony. I hope you all
find in enjoyable. I believe Guillaume has copies available of the scripts
for both of their reigns.
In Service - Sir Ryan Greenoak
From: pdruss at aol.com (P D RUSS)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 02 Apr 2004 02:24:59 GMT
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
One king received a sword wound at Gulf Wars or Pennsic and died of it later at
last court at Coronation. The queen retired to a nunnery, I think.
Tamara
From: mdmmalice1 at aol.com (MdmMalice1)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 03 Apr 2004 00:51:04 GMT
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
> Maybe it's just a tradition
>in my area, but most kings and queens try to come up with some reason
>why they're 'stepping down' from the throne during their last court.
I don't recall how the King died that year, but there was a lovely Viking
funeral afterward. Just over the edge of evening, shimmering lake, burning
boat, flames up to the sky.....
Pretty impressive.
Melisende
(Trimaris)
From: "sclark55" <sclark55 at rogers.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 21:42:17 GMT
Greetings--
"Hawke" <booksbybrittany at aol.com> wrote:
> Some friends and I happened to be talking the other night, and somehow
> came to the subject of best royal deaths. Maybe it's just a tradition
> in my area, but most kings and queens try to come up with some reason
> why they're 'stepping down' from the throne during their last court.
Back when Ealdormere was a Principality, we had a couple of "royal deaths".
David and Elina keeled over in the middle of one of their courts and spent
the rest of the event as ghosts, complete with white makeup and chains,
while the new Prince and Princess tried to solve the mystery. A Prince
(Roak) with a Steppes persona had started his reign by telling all that his
term was limited, and when the time came it was tradition that he be
strangled with a silken cord--which he was.
But I think Ealdormere has lost its taste for royal deaths lately. We had a
real one. King Thorbjorn Osis was killed in an auto accident on the way
back from an event a few years back.
Nicolaa
From: "Todd & Melanie Fischer" <imelod at sympatico.ca>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 23:22:25 -0500
> But I think Ealdormere has lost its taste for royal deaths lately. We had
> a real one. King Thorbjorn Osis was killed in an auto accident on the way
> back from an event a few years back.
True, Magistra, but I can recall some since...One of Osis' former squires,
Berus Wolfesonne, himself now a knight and king, staged a 'death' when he
and his consort stepped down...this was at my third event...the king's
champion staged a coup, 'killed' the king with a dagger, and carried the
queen off to a convent...
Also, that same king's champion, Sarnac Bahadur, 'died' when he later
stepped down as king... The Khan (as Sarnac termed himself as king, having a
Mongol persona) and his Kashek (personal guard) were hunting deer, in
anticipation of feeding venison to the masses at feast that night. The
Khaton (his queen) arrived and bide all sit. She said that the Khan was
still on the hunt with Their Highnesses but was expected soon. Before long
Prince Roak and Princess Arlette arrived on horseback and seemed surprised
that Sarnac Khan was not already in court. They said he had ridden ahead of
them. Her Majesty Joliecia was not concerned, for as she said, the Khan had
his Kashek and his Champion with him, so his safety was assured.
The Kingdom bard, THL Gwerydd verch Rhys, then sang a song of the hunt, and
as she finished Duchess Eanor of Amberhall, Khan's Champion, rode into court
and threw herself at the Khaton's feet. She groveled and debased herself,
for, she said, something terrible had happened. The Kashek then came into
view carrying a body on a shield. The body was clad in the Khan's armour and
an arrow had pierced his helm.
THL Kayla the Cheerful, Queen's Champion, chastised Eanor for failing in her
duties to protect her Sovereign, and took the sheath from her axe as a
repentant Eanor bore her neck for execution. Then, suddenly, Sarnac's
spirit, dressed all in white, appeared from nowhere (actually he had been
hiding under a cloak behind the thrones) and called for Kayla to hold her
hand. He said that he had died through no fault of his Champion for the
arrow had been born of the darkness and no mortal could have thwarted it.
His ancestors had granted him permission to come back to complete unfinished
business and the last court of Sarnac and Joliecia began.
So I can recall two staged' deaths of king, since Osis unfortunate
passing...
Colyne
From: "Drew Nicholson" <anicholson16 at comcast.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:18:37 -0600
"Cynthia Virtue" <cvirtue at thibault.org> wrote:
> Neither of the kingdoms I've lived in (East and West) have this habit,
> but it does produce a few good stories. I recall hearing of one
> particularly foolish incoming King (don't recall which kingdom) who took
> the throne "by force." Part of the schtick involved loaded crossbows
> pointed at the audience. That's a bit much.
That was the MidRealm. Sigh.
Another, older, story is that Tadashie and Ariake were going to committ
sepuku (sp?) when their reign was done. Prince Comar said that as a good
warrior, he would therefore expect to have the right to "despoil" the
bodies.
So, Tadashie and Ariake simply stepped aside.
purple
From: "Brian M. Scott" <b.scott at csuohio.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 23:12:49 -0500
On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:18:37 -0600 "Drew Nicholson"
<anicholson16 at comcast.net> wrote:
> "Cynthia Virtue" <cvirtue at thibault.org> wrote:
>> Neither of the kingdoms I've lived in (East and West) have this habit,
>> but it does produce a few good stories. I recall hearing of one
>> particularly foolish incoming King (don't recall which kingdom) who took
>> the throne "by force." Part of the schtick involved loaded crossbows
>> pointed at the audience. That's a bit much.
> That was the MidRealm. Sigh.
Dag I, or Dag II? (I can't remember which end of the
crossbows I was on.) And let's not forget the dry ice and
the find-the-true-princess game.
> Another, older, story is that Tadashie and Ariake were going to committ
> sepuku (sp?) when their reign was done.
Since you ask: 'seppuku'. And 'Tadashi'.
[...]
Talan
From: "sclark55" <sclark55 at rogers.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 2004 04:20:53 GMT
> Honestly, I don't remember. Well, it must have been II, because it was
> after David and Tangqwstyl reigned, and before Jafar died.
Hector of the Black Height (writing as Magnus of Iona)'s account in the
Fourth Chronicle of Eoforwic puts it as Dag's first Coronation:
"After this happy event there was a great uproar and from every door of the
church came men in black and white livery, brandishing arms, some of whom
lined the sanctuary rail with pikes. In the gallery of the church hidden
archers stood to their arms (and some were seen cocking crossbows and
nocking arrows on strung bows. This excessive and dangerous behaviour was
commented on for some months thereafter) . There was a cloud of smoke in the
narthex and through it strode Prince Dag, followed by his closest retainers
and squires. He made his way up the aisle and was challenged by the King,
who bade him state the purpose of his interruption. Prince Dag looked the
King in the eye and declared "I am come for your Crown, your Throne and
Oathbinder, great sword of the Midrealm.
King Comar cast a cold eye on the dozens of Dag's warriors who surrounded
him, looked back at his heir and asked, "And will all these men hold
Oathbinder for you?" Despite the smoke in the hall, a chill breeze seemed to
run down the main aisle of the great church. Somehow the proceedings did not
come to blows, and as is the custom Dag then became King. His lady was
invited to enter and Ilsa came in on a great white palanquin borne on the
shoulders of eight belted Knights and surrounded by a dozen ladies in pure
white garments, each bearing a rod from which hung a flickering candle
lantern. As the ladies wore white, so too did Ilsa show all her Kingdom a
pure white face and snow-white knuckles: the palanquin swayed most
alarmingly and the new Queen hung onto it for dear life as the procession
made its way to her Crown up the aisle, through the wisps of smoke from the
narthex."
> > And let's not forget the dry ice and
> > the find-the-true-princess game.
Sounds like the "find the true Princess" bit might have been part of Dag II.
Nicolaa
From: tmcd at panix.com (Tim McDaniel)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2004 04:32:26 +0000 (UTC)
In article <FYqbc.9308$jVF.718 at news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com>,
sclark55 <sclark55 at rogers.com> wrote:
>In the gallery of the church hidden archers stood to their arms (and
>some were seen cocking crossbows and nocking arrows on strung
>bows. This excessive and dangerous behaviour was commented on for
>some months thereafter).
Dag had considerable experience in theater, so on those grounds alone
I would have expected him to have some eye (as it were) for safety.
I'd ask the archers before being utterly sure about unsafety. There's
a vague memory coming back to me that the archers had drawn and were
holding arrows that were *not* nocked (so they looked from a distance
like they were nocked). If so, then if one of them had accidentally
released, the bow would have dry-fired (not the best for the bow, but
dangerous only to the archer), and perhaps the arrow would have been
caught by one vane of the fletching and pulled forward out of the
archer's hand -- which would have sucked royally if it had gone over
the railing, of course, but they may have been positioned back?
>As the ladies wore white, so too did Ilsa show all her Kingdom a pure
>white face and snow-white knuckles: the palanquin swayed most
>alarmingly and the new Queen hung onto it for dear life as the
>procession made its way to her Crown up the aisle, through the wisps
>of smoke from the narthex.
Ohhhhh, yeah. I think she told me afterwards just how scared she was.
Daibhid, a court baron from Cynnabar, had the palaquin at the time;
perhaps it's been recycled in the years since.
--
Tim McDaniel, tmcd at panix.com; tmcd at us.ibm.com is my work address
From: tmcd at panix.com (Tim McDaniel)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 16:18:01 +0000 (UTC)
Brian M. Scott <b.scott at csuohio.edu> wrote:
>And let's not forget the dry ice
Chemical smoke machine, I believe, if you're referring to Dag's first
coronation (I believe it was) at a nice church in Detroit (S. Charles
Boromeo?). (I was there as ambassador, having just moved from
Ansteorra, so I only attended one Dag coronation, so for all I know,
he's had eleven coronations at the same place.) I think that dry ice
doesn't produce the quantities of "fog" needed on short notice, and it
tends to hug the ground.
Daniel de Lincolia
--
Tim McDaniel, tmcd at panix.com; tmcd at us.ibm.com is my work address
From: nerak at aol.com (Nerak)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 01 Apr 2004 15:38:29 GMT
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
OK, Meridies frequently has experienced the 'death' of the King. In my mind
the end of the second Reign of John the Bearkiller REALLY stands out. The
Crown Prince, Francois du Vont, had told Bearkiller not to worry, he'd take
care of things for the sthick at high court, all Bear had to do was play along.
The event was held in the Original Louisiana Capitol building on the banks of the Mississippi. Ornate columns, spiral staircases, huge oak trees on the
lawn. All in all a very enchanting site. In attendance at that Coronation was
Her Serenity Bevin Frasier, the Steward of the Board of Directors, as the guest
of Starhelm for his knighting. Countess Bevin was accompanied by two knights
from the west coast. And they were seated with the Royal parties on the dais
which is in the original Louisiana House Chamber.
During dinner a gypsy girl came in leading a 'bear' on a chain. She would
yank the chain and the 'bear' would dance for a few seconds, then she would
yank again. Francois began to needle Bearkiller "Daddy, daddy, make him
dance!" Bearkiller booted the 'bear' in the rump and the 'bear' danced. At
the third repeat of the royal stimulus the 'bear' turned around and mauled John
the Bearkiller.
Blood packs spurted open, John fell to the floor. Francois vaulted over the table (rubber dagger in hand) and struck at the 'bear' who promptly fled.
Mistress Bevin has been shoved behind her two escorting knights. Francois is
crying and screaming about killing the animal. Most of the knights in the room
are on their feet with drawn weapons looking for the bear. All in all a most
memorable first event in Meridians for me.
Oh, and at Yule that year His Majesty Francois awarded an AOA to Lord Bear the John Killer. So somewhere in Meridies there is a bear suit with an AOA as far as I know.
Mistress Nerak la Tisserande, OL
wife of Sir Starhelm (His Majesty Francois officiated at our SCA wedding)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: djheydt at kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt)
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Organization: Kithrup Enterprises, Ltd.
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 14:11:18 GMT
Hawke <booksbybrittany at aol.com> wrote:
>Some friends and I happened to be talking the other night, and somehow
>came to the subject of best royal deaths. Maybe it's just a tradition
>in my area, but most kings and queens try to come up with some reason
>why they're 'stepping down' from the throne during their last court.
>We've had everything from 'died of old age' ( At every event the Crown
>attended, they 'aged', using makeup. By their last court they were old
>and feeble, and... well, they died. ), to 'ascended to the heavens ' (
>An asian persona. Someone came up to get their pelican, and at some
>point during the hugfest that tends to go on, the Crown just...
>disappeared, leaving the thrones on their chairs. ). A lot of them
>have been funny (someone died in a stampede of cows ), or interesting
>( someone who based their reign on fairy tales died of poison apple ),
>or just plain fun to watch.
>
> But does anyone else have stories of royal deaths? What was the
>best one you've seen? Names aren't nearly as important as the stories!
Interkingdom Anthropology strikes again. The King and Queen of
the West never "die" or vanish or anything like that. There are
extablished rituals for dismissing the royal household for the
formal entrance of the heirs, for the oath of fealty, for the
outgoing Sovereign to crown the new Sovereign and for the new
Sovereign to crown the Consort. Once, just once I saw the Lord
of the Swan burst into the court of the Prince of Cynagua and
demand his throne. In the Principality of the Mists, on the
other hand, the outgoing Sovereign turns to the populace and asks
them, "Who is witness that {Name} has won the Coronet for
{Name}?" and everyone who saw the Coronet Tourney answers, "I do!"
There may be some connection between these customs, and the fact
that the citizens of the West are allowed to approach the Thrones
without disarming. The Royalty don't fear their subjects.
Dorothea of Caer-Myrddin Dorothy J. Heydt
Mists/Mists/West Albany, California
PRO DEO ET REGE djheydt at kithrup.com
From: Chris Zakes <moondrgn at austin.rr.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Fri, 02 Apr 2004 03:11:35 GMT
On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 14:11:18 GMT, an orbital mind-control laser caused
djheydt at kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) to write:
(snip)
>Interkingdom Anthropology strikes again. The King and Queen of
>the West never "die" or vanish or anything like that. There are
>extablished rituals for dismissing the royal household for the
>formal entrance of the heirs, for the oath of fealty, for the
>outgoing Sovereign to crown the new Sovereign and for the new
>Sovereign to crown the Consort.
Interkingdom Anthropology indeed. Our Crowns don't "die" either.
In Ansteorra, the custom is that at the end of the reign the Crown
releases those who are in fealty, the Queen gives her White Scarf back
to the Order of the White Scarf, then gives her Crown back to the
King, who gives it to the members of the Order of the Rose for
safekeeping. The King gives the Sword of State to the Lions of
Ansteorra for safekeeping then summons the knights, removes his Crown
and leaves it on the Throne.
There's an interim period while the knights guard the Thrones and
Crown, that can be anywhere from fifteen or twenty minutes up to
several hours before the Crown Prince comes in, claims the Throne and
crowns himself. The Crown Princess then comes in and is crowned, the
Lions return the Sword of State, oaths of fealty are sworn and the
Queen is given her White Scarf (the order of these last three items
can vary from Coronation to Coronation.)
Sometimes things are fairly simple, sometimes there's schtick
involved. I've seen stepping-down Crowns who were "going on Crusade",
there was one with a Norse persona whose shipmates showed up saying
that the kingdom's cofers were empty and they all needed to go
a-viking again, etc. I didn't see it, but there was one Coronation
where the new King had a magician come in and produce the Crown
Princess in a puff of smoke.
-Tivar Moondragon
Ansteorra
From: "Drew Nicholson" <anicholson16 at comcast.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:16:55 -0600
"Dorothy J Heydt" <djheydt at kithrup.com> wrote:
> Interkingdom Anthropology strikes again. The King and Queen of
> the West never "die" or vanish or anything like that. There are
> extablished rituals for dismissing the royal household for the
> formal entrance of the heirs, for the oath of fealty, for the
> outgoing Sovereign to crown the new Sovereign and for the new
> Sovereign to crown the Consort. Once, just once I saw the Lord
> of the Swan burst into the court of the Prince of Cynagua and
> demand his throne. In the Principality of the Mists, on the
> other hand, the outgoing Sovereign turns to the populace and asks
> them, "Who is witness that {Name} has won the Coronet for
> {Name}?" and everyone who saw the Coronet Tourney answers, "I do!"
That is, more or less, what happens in the MidRealm -- a large dismissal of
staff, the entrance of the new royalty, the exit of the old.
> There may be some connection between these customs, and the fact
> that the citizens of the West are allowed to approach the Thrones
> without disarming. The Royalty don't fear their subjects.
Neither do they in the MidRealm. We disarm out of a sense of respect. I'm
not sure I see any connection between that and the way royalty step down.
--
Drew
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
From: "Bryan J. Maloney" <cavaggione at sbcglobal.not>
Date: Fri, 02 Apr 2004 01:50:38 GMT
djheydt at kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) abagooba zoink larblortch
news:HvHwqu.373 at kithrup.com:
> Hawke <booksbybrittany at aol.com> wrote:
>>Some friends and I happened to be talking the other night, and somehow
>>came to the subject of best royal deaths. Maybe it's just a tradition
>>in my area, but most kings and queens try to come up with some reason
>>why they're 'stepping down' from the throne during their last court.
>>We've had everything from 'died of old age' ( At every event the Crown
>>attended, they 'aged', using makeup. By their last court they were old
>>and feeble, and... well, they died. ), to 'ascended to the heavens ' (
>>An asian persona. Someone came up to get their pelican, and at some
>>point during the hugfest that tends to go on, the Crown just...
>>disappeared, leaving the thrones on their chairs. ). A lot of them
>>have been funny (someone died in a stampede of cows ), or interesting
>>( someone who based their reign on fairy tales died of poison apple ),
>>or just plain fun to watch.
>>
>> But does anyone else have stories of royal deaths? What was the
>>best one you've seen? Names aren't nearly as important as the stories!
>
> Interkingdom Anthropology strikes again. The King and Queen of
> the West never "die" or vanish or anything like that. There are
> extablished rituals for dismissing the royal household for the
> formal entrance of the heirs, for the oath of fealty, for the
> outgoing Sovereign to crown the new Sovereign and for the new
> Sovereign to crown the Consort. Once, just once I saw the Lord
> of the Swan burst into the court of the Prince of Cynagua and
> demand his throne. In the Principality of the Mists, on the
> other hand, the outgoing Sovereign turns to the populace and asks
> them, "Who is witness that {Name} has won the Coronet for
> {Name}?" and everyone who saw the Coronet Tourney answers, "I do!"
In the first coronation for the Middle that I saw, it was a direct
confrontation between the Tanaist and the King upon his throne. The
Tanaist came to claim his throne by right of arms, said right affirmed by
the appropriate people. The King, as a defender of that which is right,
relinquished the throne.
From: "Jacquie Ziegler" <shauna at bresnan.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
> But does anyone else have stories of royal deaths? What was the
> best one you've seen? Names aren't nearly as important as the stories!
> - Hawke
While Artemisia was a Principality, we had many different royal deaths. I
can speak of several - one was the old age thing, the Prince (Aveloc, if you
must know) kept sending his retainers off on errands and they would not
return. Finally, he went to the back of the hall himself to fetch something,
and the Crown Prince of Atenveldt (Brion Tarragon) accompanied him. There
was a stairwell at the back, in the darkened area. We all heard a 'thump', a
stifled scream and then what sounded like a body rolling down the stairs
(spiral, at that). Brion then came back into view, with a large wad of white
toweling he was wiping down a large dagger with - lots of red on the towels.
As he came into view, he quickly hid the dagger behind his back and
approached the Princess to report that her Lord was not able to return to
Court, then he took his seat next to Queen Daphne of Atenveldt. The
Princess - Saaiqa - then told the Queen that she could not rule alone, and
asked that the last two retainers (quite good looking young men) be allowed
to escort her to a convent where she could live out her days. As she was led
away, she straightened up a great deal from the 'old age shuffle' and was
last seen skipping out between these two young men.
We had a Viking Prince - Sikman the Stout - leave to go repel invaders and
have news brought back to his Princess, Jillian of Bubb, and the Court that
he had died. A small ship was burned in a large bowl of water in symbolism
of his passing.
Probably the best schticks were involved with Aveloc, however. When Edward
Drakenfeld was Prince, there was a LOT of schtick all the way along. His
wife is Baroness Allessandra, but his mistress is Mistress Zahara. {one
lady - some of the best double-persona play I have ever seen, for years!}
The story went that he had found Zahara trying on Allessandra's baronial
coronet one time, so determined to win her a crown of her own. He won
Coronet Tourney fighting for Zahara, so Baroness Allessandra stayed away
from Principality events for the entire reign, while Zahara was head of
Edward's Harem and accompanied him throughout his travels. She was brought
into the Investiture in a purple-draped sedan chair (palanquin?) and
escorted by a bevy of belly dancers. Edward's Champion Tourney was to
choose a 'butler' to be his personal bodyguard/valet. Strangely, the butler
seemed to only appear when the Tanist (Aveloc) was not around - or if he
did, his face was wrapped in a turban with the turban tail over his face.
At the end of the reign, there was an attempt by rebels to ambush a caravan,
which the Prince went himself to stop - just outside the hall! At first, the
Tanist reported that, wounded, he could not save the Prince. A 'steaming'
goblet was sitting next to the throne this entire time, having been left
there by the Prince's Butler. While the Tanist was asking the Princess to
step aside and let him take the throne, in staggered Edward. After the
'you're alive!' scene, Edward slouched in his throne and saw the goblet. He
said something like 'oh, perfect, I am parched with thirst' and drained the
entire thing. The Tanist tried (kind of) to stop him, but it was too late.
Edward stood up and then fell down, poisoned. Aveloc then started to try and
claim the throne, when a Master of the Pelican of our Kingdom stood up in
the audience to state he had custody of the last will and testament of
Prince Edward. He then read off the will. Aveloc got the Principality,
Zahara got the Harem and Edward's infant son Brian got the Baronial lands in
trust - being held by his wife Allessandra.
There are other stories, but the best probably was just a couple of years
ago, when Ibrahim was King and his blood brother {really!} Daoud was Crown
Prince at Estrella XIX. Ibrahim wrote up the War as a months long siege and
included a shoulder wound in the story. He died from that wound, and was
brought into Coronation on a bier. He lay in state while his Queen conducted
Final Court over his 'corpse', and his brother was Crowned as King of
Artemisia. After he was created 'Qadi' [Arabic for Count] ' posthumously',
the bier was removed and First Court was held. The journal of the siege was
read during court - not all of it, of course, just the highlights, but it
was very memorable. The fact that there had been 'assassination attempts'
throughout Ibrahim's reign made it even more fun.
Baroness Shauna of Carrick Point
Artemisian of long standing
From: Heather Murray <margaretnorthwode at worldnet.att.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Best Royal Deaths
Date: Tue, 06 Apr 2004 00:19:38 GMT
<snip>
> But does anyone else have stories of royal deaths? What was the
> best one you've seen? Names aren't nearly as important as the stories!
>
> - Hawke
Heh. I see no one's reported a fairly recent set, and *I* liked it, so
I'll here report what I heard second hand. Mistakes are my own, and are
due to the lapse of time and loss of memory retention.
After the Gulf Wars under the reign of Count Radu and Countess
Brionnfhionn, the royal seers and assorted others began seeing portents
and signs pointing to the end of their reign. Usually it pointed south,
to Meridies's rebellious child, Trimaris. (I recall chipping in one
"prophetic dream" on the Tavern Yard about a wave from the South (or was
it east?) submerging a high star, and being beaten back by a star that
rose to take the previous one's place.) Meridies has this thing about
getting the royals killed by Trimariner assassins - or their lookalikes
- of various types. It sets up wellfor Panhandle Skirmishes.
Coronation weekend rolls around and TRM and TRH are holding forth in
court. Called into court is a man with a slavic name and accent,
purportedly from Trimaris, though no one caught him (I think), and
wearing dark cloak and hat. And holding a bomb (large black globe with
wick and a white label of "BOMB")! The smoke settles and there lie the
dead King and Queen (and a retiring Kingdom Officer), with large
electrical-tape-black "X's" over their eyes. The words "What do you
mean, 'Rrrong Moose and Skwirril?" echo their way through the crowd....
After a little while, some people were able to let go their sides and
resume their chairs.
Their Excellencies have lovely fond nicknames here - he is quite tall
and dark (with reach that only God should have) and she is quite petite
and redheaded (also, ferocious and more than able to defend herself). We
call 'em "Moose and Squirrel."
I still think that's the best I've been in Meridies to hear about, but
then, a few of my Shire's members received long-past-due awards, too, in
Their Excellencies' efforts to take care of backlog. That may influence
my thinking. ;) 'Course, so could the fact that it was just darn fun,
even when I had to read event reports over the list instead of being
there. Meridies will miss 'em when Gleann Abhann's plans come to fruition.
Margaret Northwode
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2005 22:23:14 -0500
From: <kingstaste at mindspring.com>
Subject: [Sca-cooks] Coronation weather issues, was: Lenten cookbook
To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
We got 'cher bad weather here, snow, sleet, pouring rain, wind gusts to 30
MPH, and sunshine in alternating bursts. Ah, spring in Meridies, it was a
lovely Coronation. Actually, the end of our outgoing Crowns last Court was
great, instead of our usual regicide, His Maj popped the question to Her Maj
as his last act, presenting her with a lovely ring. (She said yes). His
final words were "No bucket of gore could possibly out-do this, so we're
going to hand over our Crowns to the Great Officers and walk out" and they
did. It was lovely.
(A note to the rest of the Known World - yes, we regularly have some sort of
theatrical ending to our Reigns, death, going off on Crusades or a
Monastery, taken off by fairies, etc.)
Christianna
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 18:05:03 -0400
From: <kingstaste at mindspring.com>
Subject: [Sca-cooks] IKA - Royalty Changeover, was: head table
seating?
To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
>>>
Another interesting inter-kingdom difference is the way Royalty change.
Some years ago, I was horrified when the Mists Royalty changed in a hostle
takeover! I was told that in other Kingdoms this was normal!?! Well, I
have since experienced a stabbed and dying Prince give the Principality to
his heir and a Prince who decide to become a monk. Personally, I much
prefer the joyful and regal transfer of Crowns and Coronets to the heirs.
Many HAPPY tears. And why, I ask, did all the examples above happen
in the Principality of the Mists?
Viscountess Katira
proud defender of the West and Western traditions
<<<
That may have started with us, actually. Meridies has practiced various
forms of Regicide since the beginning, although it isn't always bloody.
Sometimes they go off on Crusade (and then sometimes their lady will go into
a Convent), we've had them grow old through the last Court and then pass
away, we've had them step down because the Stone of Scone no longer screamed
for them. One time they were taken off by fairies, but we try not to talk
about that one much.
I've seen the reactions on the faces of visitors from other Kingdoms. It is
usually a combination of horror and fascination, followed by "How
awful...tell me more!".
We like our little theatrics, what can I say?
Christianna
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 22:03:39 -0700
From: "Laura C. Minnick" <lcm at jeffnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Western traditions and killing off Royalty
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
>> Personally, I much
>> prefer the joyful and regal transfer of Crowns and Coronets to the heirs.
>> Many HAPPY tears. And why, I ask, did all the examples above happen
>> in the Principality of the Mists?
>
> Perhaps because the Principality of the Mists includes the mundane city of
> Berkley? Hardly a "mundane" city, at least in the 60s. But then that is
> where the SCA started, which seems appropriate.
>
> Actually though, these theatrical deaths seem more like something that
> would come out of Caid and Hollywood. :-)
Dunno, Stefan. We have had a couple of those coronations here in An Tir,
where it's wild and wooly and that's just the Norseguy's girlfriend! In the
Summits a few years back, we had a Prince go mad- he showed up dressed as a
Gryphon, and would squawk at inopportune times during court. It was...
interesting. Funny, but interesting. :-/)
I think there is some dignity to a simple ceremony, but I guess the
people would rather see a show.
'Lainie
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 23:30:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Huette von Ahrens <ahrenshav at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Western traditions and killing off Royalty
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
--- Stefan li Rous <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com> wrote:
> Actually though, these theatrical deaths seem more like something that
> would come out of Caid and Hollywood. :-)
>
> Stefan
Hey! That is not true. Hollywood maybe, but Caid has only had a few theatrical deaths. Other than Duke Guillaume and Duchess Felinah, I can only remember one other staged death.
We have had quite a few beautiful and unusual Coronations, but only a
few deaths ...
Huette
Caid
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 07:43:26 -0400
From: Patrick Levesque <petruvoda at videotron.ca>
Subject: OT Re: [Sca-cooks] Western traditions and killing off Royalty
To: "Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>"
<sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
A very interesting takeover occurred in the East at the beginning of this
Reign. Prince Kelson and Princess Gueneviere were taking over from King
Thorson and Queen Svava. However, Kelson and gueneviere were also the
reigning Monarch before Thorson and Svava. They therefore played out the
change of power as if they had only be gone on pilgrimage for 6 months, and
acted very surprised and irate to see that their 'children' had been
playacting Royalty all this time.
It was all in all very funny - the 'return from pilgrimage' procession was
really well-done.
Petru
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 07:30:15 -0600
From: Sue Clemenger <mooncat at in-tch.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Western traditions and killing off Royalty
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
> Actually though, these theatrical deaths seem more like something that
> would come out of Caid and Hollywood. :-)
Not just Mists or Caid. Artemisia had quite the tradition of it, when
we were a principality. It was just schtick. Usually quite funny, and
always different (depending on the prince/ess who were leaving).
It pretty much got abruptly dropped when we became a kingdom (although
there's an occasional echo of it now and again), and frankly, I missed
it! It gave a bit of uniqueness and humor to something that otherwise
sometimes seemed like hours and hours of stuffiness, thankyous and
presentations that you couldn't hear.
--just another viewpoint, from Maire
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 08:07:01 -0600
From: "Kathleen A Roberts" <karobert at unm.edu>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Western traditions and killing off Royalty
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
> Actually though, these theatrical deaths seem more like
> something that would come out of Caid and Hollywood. :-)
we have had a few in the Outlands... death in battle of
the old king, death of queen in the wings (some supposed
from the length of court), old age, insanity and (the
rather unsettling) poisoning by the queen complete with
lead in of 'drink your apple seed tea, you will fee
better' for a couple of months.
however, the majority seem to be handing over the crown in
a ceremonial manner.
cailte
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathleen Roberts
University of New Mexico
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 14:58:24 -0400
From: "Daniel Phelps" <phelpsd at gate.net>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Western traditions and killing off Royalty
To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
While it occurred quite a few years back I seem to remember such happening in
Meridies. Duke John the Bear Killer being killed by a dancing bear, Duke
Kane Red Feather being carried off by the fairies/elves.
Daniel
From: Burke McCrory <bmccrory at tax.ok.gov>
Date: September 25, 2006 2:47:32 PM CDT
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] First Event
I found the SCA in late 1978 but my first official SCA event was
Namron Med Fair in 1979. I had been to several informal gatherings
before that but Med Fair was my first official event. My first Big
Kingdom Level event was the creation of the Kingdom at Jonathon's
coronation in Elfsea that summer. I still remember vividly the final
court of Simonn and Tessa as Prince and Princess. Their subsequent
stepping down and execution. The funeral procession with their black
clad bodies raised on platforms carried by mourners. The riding into
court of Crown Prince Jonathon de Laufyson, who confronted King Theo
of Atenvaldt, demanding that these lands be set free and recognized
as a new and equal Kingdom. And finally his taking the Crown and
proclaiming that he was King of Ansteorra. A magnificent site for
someone so new in the SCA.
Oh, one more thing that I will never forget. William Blackfox (a
very young and inexperienced piper) playing his bagpipes at dawn on
Sunday morning. Shudder...He would get much better in later years
but that day he truly earned the title of cat killer.
Sir Burke
(who actually has a picture of the garb I wore at that event)
From: Marlin and Amanda Stout <ldcharles at sbcglobal.net>
Date: January 10, 2008 10:35:16 PM CST
To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] How to Exit . . .
Tim McDaniel wrote:
>> Of course, if he 'dies', would the body have to lie in state so the
>> populace could mourn his passing?
>
> Rather dull for the body, though one queen I saw had a wake in a
> chapel with a dummy ... er, mannequin ... dressed in her court
> clothing.
My favorite was when the outgoing Crowns had a pile of ashes laid on
each bier, with a nice spray of flowers and their crowns. They then
dressed all in white, with a light dusting of white makeup on their
faces and hands, just enough to make them look very pale, and proceeded
to 'haunt' the site as their own ghosts, until the new King and Queen
were crowned.
Charles
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:11:18 -0400
From: "Nick Sasso" <grizly at mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] outgoing Crowns
To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
-----Original Message-----
<<< Often called "last court". And, at least in AEthelmearc, the
outgoing king always crowns the incoming king with accompaning
ceremony.
Yep-our Kingdom varies.
We kill our outgoing Crowns in Meridies.
Its tradition! >>>
Very often, they are killed. BUT . . .
King Robert and Queen Alfgifu actually went surfing in the Kindgom of Hawaii
and got killed
King Boru II and Queen Caroline II went off to [the] Crusades
King Gareth II and Queen Rhiannon I believe "got the band back together" and
went on tour
There are some really creative deaths, some unfortnuately silly ones, and
some very thoughtful disappearances.
niccolo difrancesco
(saw the three above, and missed so many others)
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:58:26 -0400
From: Johnna Holloway <johnnae at mac.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] outgoing Crowns
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
Past immediate Midrealm King
Moonwulf Starkaadhersson, Baron Rivenstar and his Queen Zarina Daeth
came back into HRM Nathan's first court and announced that they were departing for New Worlds.
They had changed into garb appropriate to the French and Indian Wars and were
on their way out the door to attend the "Feast of the Hunters' Moon"
at Fort Ouiatenon Historic Park near West Lafayette, Indiana.
This would have been in September 1978.
Johnnae
<the end>