Hst-SCA-Fence-art

Hst-SCA-Fence-art - 4/1/98

"History of SCA Fencing" by Don Tivar Moondragon. Deputy Society Marshal for Rapier Combat.

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NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium.

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous

stefan at florilegium.org

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"History of SCA Fencing"

by Don Tivar Moondragon. Deputy Society Marshal for Rapier Combat.

A caveat: this is from my perspective; based on my memory and the stuff in

my files. As such, I'm sure there are things that I've either forgotten, or

was never aware of in the first place.

Birthplace of rapier combat:

That depends on how you define it. There were bouts fought at the First

Tournament, using foils and modern fencing rules. Rapier combat in some

form persisted on the fringes of the SCA as the organization grew. At my first

tournament, in November of AS X (1975), there was a "swashbuckling list";

it was one of the things that attracted me. Arguably, I was the one who

pushed hardest for rapier combat in Ansteorra, although there were also

groups in the East, the Outlands and Atenveldt (possibly other places, but

those I know for sure).

In September of AS XIV (1979), the Board officially recognized rapier

fighting as an ancillary activity of the SCA, so that date could also be used.

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Chronology:

Several kingdoms never officially recognized rapier combat, it just grew. I

guess you could define "official recognition" as when their first set of

rules was approved, but I know there was fighting in Atenveldt (when

Ansteorra and the Outlands were still principalities) for years before

there were any "official" rules. The same is true for the East.

Also, some groups had rules and organized tournaments well before the BoD

approval in 1979. Another factor is that in some areas (like Atlantia and

Trimaris) rapier combat started, died out, and started again.

May 1966, First SCA tournament. Some bouts fought using modern fencing

rules and equipment.

AS III or IV (1969), Poul Anderson mentions "some people are experimenting

with rapier and dagger" in a fanzine article about the SCA. ("Richard the

Lionhearted is Alive and Well in California")

November AS X (1975), My first event, in Bjornsborg (San Antonio). I fought

in a "swashbuckling list"--modern fencing rules, *no* armor requirements

beyond a fencing mask, about 7 fighters. In the car on the way home, I said

to myself "This could be fun, if it was done right". I started researching

period sources and fighting styles.

November AS XI (1976), things still in their infancy. Due to the cold

weather, the rapier list was cancelled, but we fought a couple of demo

bouts for the King and Queen of Atenveldt.

March AS XI (1977), Society Marshal, Andrew of Seldom Rest issues a ban on

all "kendo, wrestling, fencing and archery at human targets". I start a

letter-writing campaign to get the ban lifted.

June AS XII (1977), Duke Andrew issues the first (as far as I know) set of

SCA rapier fighting rules. They are about 3/4 page long, and extremely

primitive.

September AS XII (1977), I become deputy marshal for rapier combat for the

Barony of the Stargate (Houston). At this point, there are maybe two or

three dozen rapier fighters in the Texas area; there's also a group in

Colorado and one in Phoenix.

November AS XII (1977), Ansteorra becomes a Principality, I am named

Principality rapier marshal.

December AS XIII (1978), Coronetting of Simonn and Tessa as Prince and

Princess of Ansteorra. They ask me to put together a proposal for an award

to recognize rapier fighters.

March AS XIII (1979), First White Scarf made. [given to Tivar -ed.]

May AS XIV (1979), First Ansteorran Crown Tourney. During a rapier list on

Sunday, a fighter's epee breaks. It looks like his opponent was hit in the

armpit, but closer examination shows it's just a bruise, the skin was not

broken. Nevertheless, I am asked by the Earl Marshal to develop better

armor standards--something that will stop a broken blade. (I'm now the

Kingdom rapier marshal, by the way.)

June AS XIV (1979), Experimentation shows that 4-oz leather will stop

broken blades. I rewrite the rules accordingly.

August AS XIV (1979), As a result of rumors about the broken blade and

"serious injury" in May, Atenveldt bans rapier combat. The Society Marshal,

Earl Kevin Perigrynne, decides to bring the matter up to the Board.

September AS XIV (1979), I attend the Board meeting, and persuade them that

rapier combat can be done safely in the SCA. the Board makes a Governing

and Policy Decision to allow rapier fighting as an ancillary activity of

the SCA.

October AS XIV (1979), Earl Kevin publishes a set of SCA-wide rapier rules,

based on the existing Ansteorran rules. These rules are the basis for all

subsequent SCA rules. Although the wording has changed several times, the

basic elements are almost the same to this day.

March AS XIV (1980), First Ansteorran Queen's Champion Tournament,

beginning of a tradition. Thirty or forty fighters compete.

August AS XV (1980), I attend my first Pennsic (#9). I met about a dozen

rapier fighters from the East, their fighting style was quite different

from what we were doing in Ansteorra: sort of saber-fencing using epee

blades. Weird.

September AS XV (1980), Alaric Greythorne introduces first Trigger cloth

armor.

January AS XVI (1982), First Academy of the Rapier held in Ansteorra.

January AS XVII (1983), An Tir publishes their first set of rapier rules,

using fiberglass buggy whips instead of steel fencing blades.

January AS XX (1986), First Trimarian rapier rules. Don Robin and Baroness

Adelicia had moved to Trimaris sometime in 1985. They organized a rapier

group there, but it went away after they moved back to Ansteorra.

April-May AS XX-XXI (1986), SCA Twentieth Year Celebration. A Rapier

Academy is held as part of the event.

March AS XXI (1987), Dons Iolo and Dupre demonstrate The Machine at

Ansteorra's third Academy of the Rapier.

August AS XXII (1987), Pennsic 16, The East Kingdom gives out the first of

their Gold Cords.

Also, earliest set of Eastern rules in my files.

September AS XXII (1987), Oldest set or Outlands rapier rules in my files.

I *know* they were fighting rapier for quite a while before this, however,

as they helped in the letter-writing campaign to Duke Andrew.

October AS XXII (1987), Ansteorra and the Outlands sign the first White

Scarf treaty.

December AS XXIII (1988), Rapier group becoming organized in Atlantia.

January AS XXIII (1989), Oldest set of Atenveldt rules in my files. As with

the Outlands, I know there were rapier fighters there well before this date.

June AS XXIV (1989), I attend the first Atlantian Academy of the Rapier. I

believe this movement wilted, and re-started a couple of years later.

November AS XXIV (1989), First mention in my files of schlager blades being

used in Atenveldt.

August AS XXV (1990), Pennsic 19, Crown Prince Dag of the Midrealm wanders

past the rapier fighting area. He is asked what it would take to get rapier

fighting accepted in the Middle Kingdom. He said "Maybe a petition with 200

signatures?"

October AS XXV (1990), Trimaris re-starts rapier combat.

January AS XXV (1991), John & Mairi, having recently moved to the Middle from

Ansteorra, start a petition for rapier combat in the Middle Kingdom.

March AS XXV (1991), SCA Twenty-fifth Year Celebration. The rapier area

sees lots of action, with fighters from throughout the Known World

participating in classes, informal discussion groups, and kingdom-sponsored

tournaments.

August AS XXVI (1991), Oldest set of Caidian rules in my files. Strongly

based on the Atenveldt rules, using epee and schlager.

November AS XXVI (1991), Calontir begins discussing rapier combat.

June AS XXVII (1992), Trimaris signs on to the White Scarf Treaty, at the

first Gulf War.

August AS XXVII (1992), East Kingdom makes the first 14 Companions of the

Golden Rapier, an award from the Crown recognizing fencing.

March AS XXVII (1993), Rapier rules approved for the Principality of

Lochac, using fibreglass blades.

August AS XXVIII (1993), Meridies writes a set of experimental

schlager-based rapier rules. Unfortunately, the following Crown cancels the

experiment.

December AS XXVIII (1993), Calontir holds a kingdom-wide meeting on rapier

combat. The proposed weapons are fiberglass blades, and the technique

includes slashing. The Crown's decision, published in March of 1994, is

that they will not allow rapier combat.

April AS XXVIII (1994), Middle Kingdom hosts first Known World Academy of

the Rapier, in Chicago.

Also, Middle fully allows rapier combat.

June AS XXIX (1994), Atenveldt and An Tir join the White Scarf Treaty.

April AS XXIX (1995), Second Known World Academy of the Rapier, in Phoenix.

June AS XXX (1995), Rapier rules approved for the Principality of Oertha,

using steel blades.

January AS XXX (1996), Meridies begins a year-long "rapier experiment". It is

abruptly cancelled in November, after an injury in Trimaris.

January AS XXX (1996), Atlantia joins the White Scarf Treaty.

August AS XXXI (1996), West Kingdom bans all rapier combat by Royal

Proclamation.

October AS XXXI (1996), Third Known World Academy of the Rapier, in Dallas.

November AS XXXI(1996), Caid joins the White Scarf Treaty.

May AS XXXII (1997) West Kingdom signs the "unified rules" they are

promptly suspended for further study by the following Crown.

Also, East Kingdom hosts Fourth Known World Academy of the Rapier, in

western Massachusetts.

June AS XXXII (1997) West Kingdom allows rapier fighting using *only*

fiberglass blades.

August AS XXXII (1997) Meridies begins their third rapier experiment, again

using schlager only.

October AS XXXII (1997) The new kingdom of AEthelmearc joins the White

Scarf Treaty, and makes their first members.

January AS XXXII (1998) The new kingdom of Artemisia joins the White Scarf

Treaty and makes their first members.

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Awards:

As of this writing, there are White Scarves in Ansteorra, the Outlands,

Trimaris, An Tir, Atenveldt, Atlantia, Caid, AEthelmearc and Artemisia. I

believe all of these carry a Grant of Arms.

The East has the Order of the Golden Rapier, which was briefly allied with

the White Scarves, but the treaty was abrogated by their Crown in October

of 1996. They also have the "Gold Cords" which are unofficial awards, more

like guild rankings than anything else.

The Middle Kingdom has the Order of the Cavendish Knot.

Ansteorra has the Order of the Queen's Rapier.

Caid has the Order of the Duellist.

Drachenwald has the Order of the Musketeer.

I *think* that's everybody.

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-Tivar Moondragon

Deputy Society Marshal for Rapier Combat

Premier Member of the Order of the White Scarf

Champion to HRM Tessa of the Gardens

etc.

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