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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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NOTICE -

 

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I  have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

 

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

 

I  have done  a limited amount  of  editing. Messages having to do  with separate topics  were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the  message IDs  were removed to save space and remove clutter.

 

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make  no claims  as  to the accuracy  of  the information  given by the individual authors.

 

Please  respect the time  and  efforts of  those who have written  these messages. The  copyright status  of these messages  is  unclear at this time. If  information  is  published  from  these  messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

 

Thank you,

    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous

                                          Stefan at florilegium.org

************************************************************************

 

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>



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