Cunnan - User contributions [en]

Pope

2013-04-15T10:21:08Z

Far-Bjorn:

The head of the Roman [[Catholic Church]], elected by [[cardinal]]s of that [[church]]. Normally celibate, although some notable exceptions occur to this during the [[Middle Ages]] and [[Renaissance]].

During the [[middle Ages]], the pope could have enormous power (see [[crusade]]). Theoretically, there is only one pope. However, several times during the [[middle Ages]] there were multiple popes, each of which claimed they were the legitimate and rightful pope. The ones who eventually lost are known as [[antipope]]s. Inded, there was even a period in which, later critics were to claim, the papcy was controlled by the female members of a Roman aristocratic family, who variously seduced incumbents, or controlled the Roamn mob and tereby the cardinals-elector (on the occasions when elections took place, as opposed to the position being in effect sold in advance, with the electoral college simply being asked to assent to a ''fait accompli'').

The modern pope lives in [[Vatican]], a religious city state in [[Italy]], but originally the pope lived in [[Rome]], although a few popes and [[antipope]]s set up their capital elsewhere (eg [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Clement_V Clement V] in [[Avignon]]).

A pope is properly addressed as "Your Holiness".

=== References ===
A list of mid to late medieval popes can be found at :
[[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm]]
Unfortunately this leaves out the [[antipope]]s, which can be seen in the briefer listing at: [[http://www.florilegium.org/files/RELIGION/popes-msg.html]]

[[Wikipedia]] has a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes full list of popes], which also links to a list of [[antipope]]s, including one or two [[nutbar with extra almonds|nutbars with extra almonds]].

It could be observed that popes who are called Pius or Innocent are neither Pious nor Innocent.
[[category:religion]]

User:Far-Bjorn

2013-04-09T07:04:44Z

Far-Bjorn:

I am an ''[[bear|ursus refectus]]'' in the [[household]] of Samuel Sanskin, [[Baron]] Bowland, in the '''[[Kingdom]] of the [[Far Isles]]''', where I work as [[clerk]] and [[peasant]]-ward. By Grace of Her Majesty, Queen Ceris, I am also her [[ambasador]] to the ''Fur Isles'', of whom no more will be said in these pages.
I tend to hibernate in the winter months, so I edit less then.

User:Far-Bjorn

2013-04-09T07:04:04Z

Far-Bjorn:

I am an ''[[bear|ursus refectus]]'' in the [[household]] of Samuel Sanskin, [[Baron]] Bowland, in the '''[[Kingdom]] of the [[Far Isles]]''', where I work as [[clerk]] and [[peasant]]-ward. BY Grace of Her Majesty, Queen Ceris, I am also her [[ambasador]] to the ''Fur Isles'', of whom no more will be said in these pages.

Far Isles

2013-04-09T07:00:22Z

Far-Bjorn:

The '''Far Isles Medieval Society''' is a historical [[re-enactment]] society based in the [[UK]], covering the [[period]] 500 to 1600 AD, that is from the [[Dark Ages]] to shortly before the [[English Civil War]]. The society is in its 25th year and, although it was initially a part of the [[US]]-based [[Society for Creative Anachronism]], it has been independent for most of that period. Most of the membership is based around the South-East of [[England]], but with other members elsewhere in the country. [[Revel]]s are held around the country, most being one-day [[event]]s. The highlight of the year is the Foundation and Independence Revel, held annually over a weekend in October, formerly at a [[12th century]] [[castle]] (now a Youth Hostel) on the border of [[Wales]].

This description was based on the content of the society's webpage:
:http://www.farisles.org.uk

The Far Isles has been, variously, a shire under the [[SCA]] [[East Kingdom]], a Free Barony under its own Baroness, ((almost) a Celtic gynarchy), a Principality under a Princess, and then a Prince-Archbishop, and finally a Kingdom. Its population work in a wide variety of [[Arts]] and [[Sciences]], as well as taking part in tourneys, formerly using rattan, presently steel. [[Combat archery]] is not recognised, but the Society supports a thriving corps of target archers.

Currently the Isles are composed of
*a Principality (formerly Duchy), '''Camcairndryth''', containing
:the Duchy (formerly County) of Camber's Well
::the village of Strongoak
::the County (formerly a shire) of Forest Hall
::the manor of Tintagel, a subgroup of Forest Hall
:the manor of Bourneville
:the hamlet of Muchmead
:the ''(also much reduced)'' village of Chadwell
*a Province, the '''Grym''', containing
:the Shire of Blackwater
::the Hundred of Stoke
and
* the Freemark (''"A Free Mark for Free Men"'')

There are also non-landed nobility (indeed, the majority of the Far Isles nobility are non-landed) extending from two Princesses downward to Barons. Previously there had been no serving Knights -- those raised to this rank have, each and every one, withdrawn from the Isles. Recently, however, three knights have been created - Sir Tristram Langswerd, Sir Igor Ross, and Sir Nii Cantrell, Earl of Forest Hall.

['''Local note:''' To avoid misunderstandings, in the Far Isles, Duchies are obtained by election and royal appointment, and no office is obtained through combat (although Kingdom and regional Champions are recognised)]

'''Update (January 2009)'''
The Princess of Camcairndyrth Passed Beyond in the summer of 2007; her successor, installed at Twelfth Night 2009, is Thane Astrid Stormtongue, a well-respected and long-standing citizen of the Isles.
The throne is presently occupied by Queen Ceris, in succession to King Guy (after a mundane election campaign). She has declared her son to be her heir, and in light of his minority, a Council of Regents has been established.

'''Update (April 2013)'''
Queen Ceris was successful in a closely-fought election, and retains the throne; her marriage (to the supposed son of Mad Queen Michelle) is the subject of some speculation; Sir Tristram has withdrawn from the Isles, citing exhaustion -- several fighters are vying for the honour of knighthood. And the adverse weather caused the cancellation at very short notice of the Twelfth Night Revel this year, with roads blocked wth snow.
[[category:re-enactment groups]]

Gwynedd

2013-03-11T11:03:49Z

Far-Bjorn: A wanted page; a start. Perhaps I will add some later history later.

'''Gwynedd''' was one of the successor states to the [[Roman Empire|Roman Imperium]] in the provinces of ''Brittania''. It was located in the north of what would become [[Wales]], adjacent to the island of Anglesey. With the withdrawal of Roman troops, and the fall of the local Romano-British administrators, Gaelic settlers from Ireland, who had already established a presence, intruded further into the area. In response, someone (sources differ on whether it was a quasi-Roman authority attempting to adminsiter all of ''Britannia'', or a local chieftain, eirher in Northern Wales or in the North-eastern quarter of Britain) invited or induced a Lothian clan-chief to migrate, with his family and war-band, to take up power in the area. 
 
This was '''Cunedda''', whose reported antecedents include a grand-father, Patern RedCloak, argued as a reference to the Roman practice of such cloaks for military officers, and a father called Eternus, a thoroughly Roman name, and un-Celtic. His migration is dated variously between 370 CE (when the Romans were still in Britain, and at a time when '''Magnus Maximus''' was trying to establish a regime separate from the main Roman one) and 440 CE (by which time the Romans were gone, and legend ascribes power to '''Vortigern'''), and he is given nine sons, one of whom did not migrate from Lothain, and several of the names of the others which have a curious resonance with Welsh locality names, and which may therefore be back-references to justify those names to later generations.
 
 Cunedda's son, Einion is supposed to have expelled the Gaels from Angelsey, and his son, Cadwallon, is said the have flourished in the period after ''Mons Badonicus'', when the [[Anglo-Saxon]] advance from the East is said to have been temporarily halted. With '''Maelgwyn Hir''' (''the Tall''), son of Cadwallon, the story begins to edge toward history and although he was the last of Cadwallon's direct line to rule in Gwynedd, by his time it is arguable that a stable area had been consolidated under whatever rulers followed. This amoiunted to the northern coast of Wales, from Chester west, to Angelsey, and then south, to the LLyn peninsula (possibly including the legendary and 'lost' Cantref Gwaelod), then east along the foot of the Snowdonian mountains, until reaching the shifting boundary with England proper.

Alexander the Great

2013-02-25T07:55:14Z

Far-Bjorn: Further details to Simon's start

'''Alexander the Great''' was the son of '''Philip of Macedon''' (Philip II, as Alexander was Alexander III, but the earlier Philips and Alexanders were far less notable), and his wife Olympias. He was born around 356BCE, and succeeded his father on the [[throne]] of Macedon around 336BCE.

Philip had had expansionist plans for his kingdom and Alexander took these up, obtaining the overall generalship of the armies of [[Classical]] [[Greece]], and then initiating an invasion of Asia Minor, intending to challenge the empire of [[Persia]]. Eventually he defeated '''Darius III''' of Persia and "liberated" (i.e. brought under his own sway) the Persian-conquered territories around the Mediterranean, including [[Egypt]]. From Persia, he led his armies into the Kush and extended his sway to the Indus River. In 326BCE he invaded '''India''', but found himself unable to achieve a staying-point which would also be acceptable to his troops, by then yearning for their families and homelands and fearful of their lives in lands far beyond their ken.

Alexander died in Balylon in 323BCE, and after his death his subdivided empire fell apart in civil war. However, he had affected the three major powers of the Western World -- Greece, Persia, and Egypt -- and spread Hellenistic civilization across a broad swathe of the globe.

The mark he left on history meant that when later leaders and nations wanted a standard against which to measure their achievements, his was one of the primary contenders. Greece, Rome, Byzantium, the Carolingian Empire, and, later, its Holy Roman successor, and the great kingdoms of Spian, France, and England, were all to accept his as one of the Golden Ages, and to seek to model themselves on him, or to claim him as a forebear.

He founded at least twenty cities which bore his name (and many others) and modern-day analysts claim that his influence can still be found in ritual practices of the Buddhist faiths. His life spawned a [[romance]] which gathered legends to itself (many dubious and having nothing originally to do with Alexander), and whilst the Judaeo-Christian [[Bible]] does not overtly refer to him, the [[Quran]] mentions "the two-horned one" (Alexander later claimed a connection with the ram-horned Egyptin deity Amun), ansd ascribes to him parallel feats to those accorded to Alexander in the romance.

Round Table

2013-02-23T12:14:04Z

Far-Bjorn: More deatil to follow

The [[mythology|mythical]] '''Round Table''' was supposed to have been created for [[Uthur Pendragon]] by [[Merlin]]. From Uthur it passed to King Leodegrance, again possibly through Merlin's arrangement. He, [[Malory]] says, sought to fill its seats (or ''seiges'') but [[war]]s and other losses meant that the most he ever appears to have managed was 100 out of the 150 vacant seats. Then [[King Arthur|Arthur]] received the Table as a [[wedding]] gift from Leodegrance when he married Leodegrance's daughter, [[Guinevere]] and over time filled the remaining seats, up till the [[Grail Quest|Quest for the Grail]], after which, the accounts make clear, the Table was never again filled.

Historically, there is a Round Table exhibited in the Great Hall of the [[castle]] at [[Winchester]], [[England]]. There are claims that it has been dated to the [[12th century]], during the [[reign]] of [[Edward I]]. Recently [[archaeology]] has found evidence of a circular building having once stood in the Upper Bailey of [[Windsor]] [[Castle]], [[England]], which is believed to have been intended to serve as the chapter housee for [[Edward]]'s proposed Order of the Round Table, which was later succeeded by the foundation of the Order of the [[Garter]].

==Practicality==
At a size of 150 seats, the table would have been unfeasibly large, but with any fewer there would have been a risk that storytellers would have had to enforce a discrimination between classes of Arthurian knights, as to whether or no they were sufficiently valiant to merit the Round Table. With 150, no-one could be expected to remember when the [[literature|literary]] limit had been reached.
The Winchester Table (which reaches 18 feet in diameter(!)) has 24 places around its circumference, each inscribed with the name of its tenant.

==Named Places==
Of these several are well-known Arthurian [[knight]]s:
* Sir [[Galahad]]
* Sir [[Lancelot]] du Lac
* Sir [[Gawain]]
* Sir Percival
* Sir Tristram de Lyones
* Sir Gareth
* Sir Bedevere
* Sir Palomedes
* Sir Lamorak
* Sir Bors
* Sir Pelleas
* Sir Kay
* Sir Ector
* Sir Mordred

Others are perhaps slightly more obscure:
* Sir Brunour
* Sir Digore
* Sir Dagonet -- otherwise known as Arthur's [[court]] [[fool]] (''but then, looking at *some* modern day knights ... '')
* Sir Lionell
* Sir Bleoberis
* Sir Lucan

And some require a little deciphering:
* "Sir Lacotemale Tayle" is ''La Cote Mail Taile'', the Ill-Dressed Knight, which is another name for Sir Brunour, something perhaps unknown to the painter of the Table.
* "Sir Lybyus Dysconys" is ''Le Bel Desconneu'', the Beautiful Unknown, or Gawain's son, Guinglain.

And some seem otherwise unknown to modern eyes:
* Sir Safer (see discussion page)
* Sir Alynore or Alymere

[[category:King Arthur]]

William the Conqueror

2010-06-21T07:10:39Z

Far-Bjorn:

Sometimes known as '''William the Bastard''', having been born the illegitimate son of the [[Duke]] of [[Normandy]]. William inherited the Duchy upon his father's death, but is best known for successfully leading the [[Norman conquest]] of [[England]].

William first attempted to gain England through diplomatic maneuvering. He first claimed that [[Edward the Confessor]] had named him successor in 1051, and then in 1064 he convinced [[Harold Godwinson]] to swear fealty to him and relinquish his claim to the throne. The latter event almost certainly took place under duress, and the former may not have happened at all, but he used both as a pretext for invasion when the [[witan]] declared Harold king in January [[1066]], and the [[Pope]] in Rome declared him the rightful [[King]].

William delayed his assault until late September, waiting for favorable winds. All this stretched Harold's resources, as not only did he need to stay on high military alert for several months, but he also had to fight and defeat [[Harald Hardrada]] at the demanding [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]].

William's victory at the [[Battle of Hastings]] marked a turning point in English history. Not only was it the most successful invasion of Britain by a foreign force, it also marked the beginning of a new dynasty. All kings of England number themselves from the ascension of the [[Norman]] kings.

Having been crowned in 1066, William set about securing his new kingdom. Uprisings were brutally quelled, Norman lords were installed into places of power, and by 1072 the whole of England had been united once more.

In [[1085]] William commissioned the [[Domesday book]] to give a more detailed picture of the land he had conquered.

William died in [[1087]] of a ruptured bowel, an injury sustained from his saddlehorn, and was succeeded by his his second son, [[William Rufus]].

William's burial was less than dignified. It took several days during an unusually warm September to move his body to his burial site in [[Caen]], Normandy. By the time he was being placed in the [[sarcophagus]], the corpse had swollen to the point that it would not fit. When an attempt was made to force it, William's corpse burst and a great stench poured out, causing his mourners to flee the chapel.

<center>
<table border = 1>
<tr>
<td width = 30% align = center>
Preceded by: [[Harold Godwinson]]
</td>
<td width = 40% align = center>
[[English Monarchs]]
</td>
<td width = 30% align = center>
Succeeded by: [[William Rufus]]
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>

[[category: monarchs (medieval)]]
[[category:people (medieval)]]
[[category:11th century]]
[[category:norman]]

Athelstan

2010-06-17T11:02:12Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Aethelstan''' was [[king]] of [[England]] between 924/5-939.

He was the son of [[Edward the Elder]], and grandson of [[Alfred the Great]]. On his father's death he succeeded to the [[Mercia]]n crown, and then to that of [[Wessex]]. he then married his sister to '''Sihtric''', the [[Viking]] currently styling himself "king" of [[York]]. When Sihtric died a year later, Aethelstan moved in and seized the York kingdom, thereby securing power over much of modern England (the first ruler since the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[emperor]]s to achieve this). He also claimed power in Wales, but the local chroniclers do not agree, and [[history]] does not appear to record any hard evidence of dominion.

However, he did defeat all challengers – [[Denmark|Danes]], [[Scotland|Scots]], and [[Welsh]] – to his rule over all of England. He was also a supporter of the [[church]], and gave gifts to it generously, and after his death he was taken from [[Gloucester]] to be [[burial|buried]] in Malmesbury [[Abbey]].

The bones of his [[queen]], '''Eadgyth''', grand-daughter of [[Alfred the Great]], are believed to have been found in a tomb in the [[cathedral]] of [[Magdeburg]], after she was initially [[bury|buried]] in the [[monastery]] of St,Maurice.
{{stub}}
[[category:people (medieval)]][[category:monarchs (medieval)]][[category:10th century]]

Athelstan

2010-06-17T11:02:01Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Aethelstan''' was [[king]] of [[England]] between 924/5-939.

He was the son of [[Edward the Elder]], and grandson of [[Alfred the Great]]. On his father's death he succeeded to the [[Mercia]]n crown, and then to that of [[Wessex]]. he then married his sister to '''Sihtric''', the [[Viking]] currently styling himself "king" of [[York]]. When Sihtric died a year later, Aethelstan moved in and seized the York kingdom, thereby securing power over much of modern England (the first ruler since the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[emperor]]s to achieve this). He also claimed power in Wales, but the local chroniclers do not agree, and [[history]] does not appear to record any hard evidence of dominion.

However, he did defeat all challengers – [[Denmark|Danes]], [[Scotland|Scots]], and [[Welsh]] – to his rule over all of England. He was also a supporter of the [[church]], and gave gifts to it generously, and after his death he was taken from [[Gloucester]] to be [[burial|buried]] in Malmesbury [[Abbey]].

The bones of his [[queen]], '''Eadgyth''', grand-daughter of [[Alfred the Breat]], are believed to have been found in a tomb in the [[cathedral]] of [[Magdeburg]], after she was initially [[bury|buried]] in the [[monastery]] of St,Maurice.
{{stub}}
[[category:people (medieval)]][[category:monarchs (medieval)]][[category:10th century]]

Athelstan

2010-06-17T11:01:27Z

Far-Bjorn: Bones of eadgyth his queen

'''Aethelstan''' was [[king]] of [[England]] between 924/5-939.

He was the son of [[Edward the Elder]], and grandson of [[Alfred the Great]]. On his father's death he succeeded to the [[Mercia]]n crown, and then to that of [[Wessex]]. he then married his sister to '''Sihtric''', the [[Viking]] currently styling himself "king" of [[York]]. When Sihtric died a year later, Aethelstan moved in and seized the York kingdom, thereby securing power over much of modern England (the first ruler since the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[emperor]]s to achieve this). He also claimed power in Wales, but the local chroniclers do not agree, and [[history]] does not appear to record any hard evidence of dominion.

However, he did defeat all challengers – [[Denmark|Danes]], [[Scotland|Scots]], and [[Welsh]] – to his rule over all of England. He was also a supporter of the [[church]], and gave gifts to it generously, and after his death he was taken from [[Gloucester]] to be [[burial|buried]] in Malmesbury [[Abbey]].

The bones of his [[queen[]], '''Eadgyth''', are believed to have been found in a tomb in the [[cathedral]] of [[Magdeburg]], after she was initially [[bury|buried]] in the [[monastery]] of St,Maurice.
{{stub}}
[[category:people (medieval)]][[category:monarchs (medieval)]][[category:10th century]]

Talk:Crown Principality

2010-03-22T12:36:03Z

Far-Bjorn:

Ought [[Insulae Draconis]] be moved up into the "former" Crown P~ category, now that it's a P~ in its own right ? -- [[User:Far-Bjorn|Far-Bjorn]] 23:36, 22 March 2010 (EST)

Seventh Crusade

2010-01-20T08:37:55Z

Far-Bjorn:

The '''Seventh Crusade''' took place between 1248 CE and 1254, and involved the armies of the [[France|French]] [[king]] '''Louis IX''' and the forces of [[Muslim]] [[Egypt]] led by Sultan '''Turanshah'''.

===Background===
In 1244 the city of [[Jerusalem]] was seized by Muslim forces. The Pope, Innocent IV, called for a new [[crusade]], but obtaiend little popular support. He was, in any event, himself embroiled in a struggle in Europe, wirth the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Emperor]] Frederick II, which made it impossible for the Empire to support him, and the [[England|English]], under [[Henry III]] were also engaged in a local conflict, between the king and his nobility, led by [[Simon de Montfort]]. This left [[France]] as the strongest Crusader state in Europe, and France was wary of both England and the Empire who might, were a crusade to be undertaken, take the opportunity to encroach on French possessions.

However, after a treaty was signed with England, Louis declared, in 1245, his intention to go to the East. He was also able to enlist to his side two of his brothers, Alphonse of Poitiers and Charles of Anjou. Preparations took 3 years and in 1248 an army of about 15000 set sail from southern France.

===Campaign===
They sailed to Cyprus, to winter there, and to negotiate with other local powers (the [[Latin Empire]] in [[Byzantium]], the Principality of [[Antioch]], and the [[Knights Templar]], each of whom wanted Louis' help in military endeavours of their own.

Louis' target, however, was Egypt, where he hoped to establish a base, with sea routes, and plentiful grain, from which then to launch his campagn to retake Jerusalem. He landed in Damietta, but the Egyptians simply withdrew and waited for the Nile floods to bog the Crusade army down. It was not until the autumn that he was able to advance on Cairo, but when Robert of Artois was killed in a side campaign against Gidelia and Mansourah, the Crusaders beseigned Mansourah, lost the initiative, and ran out of food.

The following year (1250) worse was to come: during a retreat to Damietta, Louis was attacked and captured, with his army being heavily defeated. He fell ill with [[dysentery]], was cured by an Arab physician, and swore to surrender Damietta, and to pay 50,000 [[gold]] [[bezant]]s for his ransom. His wife, Marguerite, raised half and Louis, once free, defaulted on the rest, and went to [[Acre]], which was still a Christian enclave.

There he attempted to negotiate treaties with a variety of posible allies, including the Syrian Muslims (thought to be rivals to the Egyptians, and the [[Khan]] of the [[Mongol]]s (who suggested that Louis submit himself to the Khan's rule, rather than continue his campaign).

===Outcome===
In 1254 Louis' money ran out and, while he left a garrison at Acre, he withdrew to France having achieved little. It did, however, give him prestige at home, and in Europe, for having made the Crusade, and in 1270 he was to attempt a [[Eighth Crusade|second]], which was also to end in failure.

Seventh Crusade

2010-01-20T08:37:39Z

Far-Bjorn: I hope this will do -- it was a "wanted" page

The '''Seventh Crusade''' took place between 1248 CE and 1254, and involved the armies of the [[France|French]] [[king]] '''Louis IX''' and the forces of [[Muslim]] [[Egypt]] led by Sultan '''Turanshah'''.

===Background===
In 1244 the city of [[Jerusalem]] was seized by Muslim forces. The Pope, Innocent IV, called for a new [[crusade]], but obtaiend little popular support. He was, in any event, himself embroiled in a struggle in Europe, wirth the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Emperor]] Frederick II, which made it impossible for the Empire to support him, and the [[England|English]], under [[Henry III]] were also engaged in a local conflict, between the king and his nobility, led by [[Simon de Montfort]]. This left [[France]] as the strongest Crusader state in Europe, and France was wary of both England and the Empire who might, were a crusade to be undertaken, take the opportunity to encroach on French possessions.

However, after a treaty was signed with England, Louis declared, in 1245, his intention to go to the East. He was also able to enlist to his side two of his brothers, Alphonse of Poitiers and Charles of Anjou. Preparations took 3 years and in 1248 an army of about 15000 set sail from southern France.

===Campaign===
They sailed to Cyprus, to winter there, and to negotiate with other local powers (the [[Latin Empire]] in [[Byzantium]], the Principality of [[Antioch]], and the [[Knights Templar]], each of whom wanted Louis' help in military endeavours of their own.

Louis' target, however, was Egypt, where he hoped to establish a base, with sea routes, and plentiful grain, from which then to launch his campagn to retake Jerusalem. He landed in Damietta, but the Egyptians simply withdrew and waited for the Nile floods to bog the Crusade army down. It was not until the autumn that he was able to advance on Cairo, but when Robert of Artois was killed in a side campaign against Gidelia and Mansourah, the Crusaders beseigned Mansourah, lost the initiative, and ran out of food.

The following year (1250) worse was to come: during a retreat to Damietta, Louis was attacked and captured, with his army being heavily defeated. He fell ill with [[dysentery]], was cured by an Arab physician, and swore to surrender Damietta, and to pay 50,000 [[gold]] [[bezant]]s for his ransom. His wife, Marguerite, raised half and Louis, once free, defaulted on the rest, and went to [[Acre]], which was still a Christian enclave.

There he attempted to negotiate treaties with a variety of posible allies, including the Syrian Muslims (thought to be rivals to the Egyptians, and the [[Khan]] of the [[Mongol]]s (who suggested that Louis submit himself to the Khan's rule, rather than continue his campaign).

===Outcome===
In 1254 Louis' money ran out and, while he left a garrsion at Acre, he withdrew to France having achieved little. It did, however, give him prestige at home, and in Europe, for having made the Crusade, and in 1270 he was to attempt a [[Eighth Crusade|second]], which was also to end in failure.

Queen Eleanor

2008-09-09T08:44:09Z

Far-Bjorn:

[[England]] had three queens named '''Eleanor'''.

* [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]], who was wife of [[Henry II]], and mother of '''Henry''' the Young King, [[Richard I]], and [[John]]. She was the daughter of William, Duke of Aquitaine, and had previously been wife of '''Louis VII''' of [[France]], with whom she had no children, but a somewhat stormy annulment. She lived between ''c.''1121 and 1204.

* Eleanor of Provence, who was wife of [[Henry III]] and mother of [[Edward I]]. She was the daughter of Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, and lived between 1222 and 1291. Her sister, Marguerite, became Queen of [[France]], marrying '''Louis IX'''. Eleanor also had 2 daughters by Edward, Margaret and Beatrice, and a son, Edmund.

* [[Eleanor of Castile]], who was wife to [[Edward I]] and mother of [[Edward II]]. She was the daughter of Ferdinand of Castile and lived between 1244 and 1290.

====

It may also be worth noting that [[Henry III]] had a daughter Eleanor, who married the younger [[Simon de Montfort]]; and the two had a daughter Eleanor who married [[Llewelyn the Last]], Prince of Wales, and died in childbirth.
[[category:people (medieval)]]

James I

2008-08-26T11:50:08Z

Far-Bjorn: sp

'' This is the page for '''James I of Scotland'''. The details for '''[[James VI|James I of England]]''' are found on a separate page.''
----
'''James I''' (born 1394; died 1437) reigned as [[King]] of [[Scotland]] from April 1406 until his death in February 1437. However, from 1406 to 1424 he was king in name only.

He was born the second son of [[Robert III]] of Scotland and Annabella Drummond. He had an eventful childhood. In 1402 his elder brother, David [[Stewart]], the [[Duke]] of Rothesay, starved to death in [[prison]] at Falkland in Fife. And, fearing a like fate, before the death of his father in 1406 the authorities sent James to [[France]] for safety. However, on the voyage to France, the [[England|English]] captured the young [[prince]] and he was imprisoned by King [[Henry IV]], who demanded a [[ransom]]. It was this capture which, allegedly, led to the death of his father, [[Robert III]], from grief.

James's uncle, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, who became [[Regent]] on the death of Robert III, showed no haste in paying for his nephew's release. Although Albany secured the release of his own son, Murdoch, who had captured at the same time, he did not do so with James, but simply carried on ruling Scotland in his own interests. (Indeed, some said that it had been Albany who had been responsible for the death of David Stewart.) Thus, for the next 18 years, James remained a prisoner/hostage in England. For his part, once it was clear that Albany was not going to pay up, Henry IV treated the young Scots King quite well, seeing to it that he was educated during his imprisonment in [[Windsor Castle]] and in secure large country houses near [[London]]. [[Scholar]]s also believe that during his captivity James wrote ''The Kingis Quair'', an allegorical romance, and one of the earliest major works of Scottish [[literature]] extent.

After the death of James's uncle in 1420, the Scots finally paid the ransom of ?40,000, and in 1424 James returned to Scotland to find a country in chaos. He took his bride with him – he had met and fallen in love with Joan Beaufort, a great-grand-daughter of the English king [[Edward III]], and a neice of Henry IV, while imprisoned. He [[marriage|married]] her in London in 1423, and they were to have eight children, including the future [[James II]] of Scotland, and Margaret, wife of [[Louis XI]] of [[France]]. His other daughters also married well: one to the [[Duke]] of [[Brittany]]; another to James, [[Earl]] of Morton; a third to the [[Archduke]] of [[Austria]]; the fourth to the [[Count]] of Grand Pre; and the last to the Count of [[Geneva]].

James was formally [[crown]]ed King of Scotland in 1424, and he immediately took strong actions to regain authority and control. In one such action he had his uncle's family, who had opposed his actions, executed. The [[execution]] of Murdoch, Duke of Albany, and two of Murdoch's sons took place in 1425 at Stirling [[Castle]]. In another he summoned all the [[Highland]] [[clan]] [[lord]]s before [[Parliament]] at Inverness, imprisoned them all, had three [[hanging|hanged]] and, when Alexander of the Isles led his clansmen in a raid to burn Inverness, he led an [[army]] to suppress him and only the [[Queen]]'s intervention commuted Alexander's punishment from death to imprisonment.

James was described by his contemporaries as being of medium height but thickset and large-boned. He was athletic, skilled as rider, [[archer]], [[spear]]man and [[wrestling|wrestler]]. He had an active mind, addressing both the disciplines of [[war]]fare (and [[firearm|gunnery]] in particular) and of [[poetry]] and [[music]].

James proceeded to rule Scotland with a firm hand, and achieved numerous financial and legal reforms. For instance, for the purpose of trade with other nations, he made Scots [[coinage]] exchangeable for foreign currency only within Scottish borders. He also tried to remodel the [[Parliament]] of Scotland along English lines, and he established a [[court]] to hear complaints of abuses. However, in foreign policy, he renewed the [[Auld Alliance]], a Scottish-French (and therefore anti-English) alliance, in 1428, while steadfastly refusing all the claims of the [[Roman Catholic]] Church to influence within his kingdom.

His actions throughout his reign, though effective, upset many people. During the later years of his [[reign]], they helped to lead to his claim to the throne coming under question.

James I's grandfather, [[Robert III]], had married twice and the awkward circumstances of the first marriage (the one with James's grandmother Elizabeth Mure) led some to dispute its validity. Conflict broke out between the descendants of the first marriage and the unquestionably legitimate descendants of the second marriage over who had the better right to the Scottish [[throne]]. Matters came to a head on February 21, 1437, when a group of Scots led by [[Sir]] Robert Graham murdered James at the [[Dominican]] [[Monastery]] in Perth. James attempted to escape his assailants through a [[sewerage|sewer]]. However, three days previously, he had had the other end of the drain blocked up because of its connection to the [[tennis]] court outside, [[ball]]s habitually got lost in it.

A wave of executions followed in March, 1437, of those who had participated in the plot. The authorities [[execution|executed]] (among others) James's uncle, Walter, and Walter's grandson, Robert — both of them descended from Robert II's second marriage.

{{Scottish Monarch | ruler = James I | predecessor = [[Robert III]] | successor = [[James II]] | reign = 1406-1437}}

''This page was originally based on the [[wikipedia:James I of Scotland|equivalent page]] in the [[Wikipedia]].''
[[category:Monarchs_(medieval)]]

Edward Balliol

2008-08-26T11:45:47Z

Far-Bjorn: corr link

Adapted from the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Balliol Wikipaedia]] article

- - - - -

Son of [[John Balliol]], '''Edward''' (variously Balliol or ''de Baliol''), like his father, consented to be [[England]]'s puppet king on the [[Scottish kings|throne of Scotland]].

He was born ''circa.'' 1283, and began his career of usurpation in 1332, after the death of [[Robert I|Robert the Bruce]], and the succession of his infant son [[David II]]. Balliol, backed by [[Edward III]] of England, invaded from France (where he had been in exile) and defeated David's Regent, the Earl of Mar. He was crowned at Scone in September 1332 (although almost to a man the lay nobles of Scotland stayed away), but was forced to flee in December, when Scots nobles loyal to [[David II|David]] made a suprise attack. 
The English restored Edward to his stolen throne in 1333, in time for him to cede the entire region of Lothian to the English crown, and to pay homage to [[Edward III|Edward]] as his ''liege'' (thereby technically extinguishing the Scots crown, reducing the country to the status of an English shire). In 1334 he was deposed, restored in 1335, and finally disposed of in 1336 when [[David II]] returned from France, with the support of the [[France|French]] king, Philip, by then at war with Edward of England).

In 1346 he made a further attempt to seize the throne, but was repulsed, having gained next to no local support. 
Finally, in 1356, recognising in him a broken reed, Edward of England paid Edward Balliol off, by giving him a pension, in return for surrendering his claim to the throne to the [[England|English]] king. At some point in the next decade Balliol died in French exile once more, unmarried, unheired, unloved and unmourned.
==Internal Links==
''See also:''
* [[Scottish kings]]
[[category:monarchs (medieval)]][[category:14th century]]
[[category:people (medieval)]][[category:13th century]]

Scotland - Interregnum

2008-08-26T11:42:31Z

Far-Bjorn: /* The Outcome */ sp

=== The Background ===
In the aftermath of the death of [[Margaret]] of Norway, Scotland was governed by the surviving Guardians, William Fraser, Bishop of St.Andrews chiefest among them, to whom the prospective monarchs put their claims.

There were finally 13 claimants to the vacant throne. Of them, 6 claimed on the basis of illegitimate descent from earlier kings. The '''Comyn''' claim rested on descent from [[Donald III]] (''Donalbane''), and Eric of Norway laid claim through his deceased daughter, Margaret, as the grandchild of [[Alexander III]]. The remainder all made claims based on descent from Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, son of [[David I]], through his son, David; in each case, however, they then claimed through female lines of descent, not male. Thus the elder Robert Bruce was son of Henry's younger grand-daughter, whilst John Balliol was grandson of the elder grand-daughter, and argued for primogeniture over proximity.

David had married Matilda, the daughter of the Earl of Huntingdon. Their son was Henry who inherited the earldom, and married Ada or Adela, daughter of the Earl of Surrey.
Henry and Adela's son was David, named for his grandfather, who also became Earl of Huntingdon, and who also married a Matilda, in this case the daughter of the Earl of Chester.
This David had no sons, but two daughters. The elder, Isobel, married Robert Bruce, lord of Annandale, whose son, grandson, and great-grandson, were all named Robert.
David's younger daughter was named Margaret, and she married Alan, Lord of Galloway. Their daughter, Devorguilla, married John Balliol, and his son, also John, through his mother, claimed the throne.

===The Contenders===
'''The 13 were''':
* Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale -- son of Robert Bruce and of Isobel, daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon
* John Balliol, Lord of Galloway -- grandson of Margaret, eldest daughter of David, earl of Huntingdon, who had married Alan, Lord of Galloway, and born him a daughter, Devorguilla
* Lord John Hastings -- grandson of Ada, youngest daughter of David, on which basis he claimed entitlement, at the least, to one-third of the kingdom
* Sir John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch -- on the basis of descent, through his mother, from [[Donald III]]
* Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March -- who had two routes of claim, the first as descendant of '''William I''' or [[William the Lion]], via an illegitimate daughter (named, almost inevitably in this saga, Ada); the second as unbroken male heir of the house of Dunkeld, descended from a younger brother of [[Duncan I]]. Added to which, his wife, Marjory Comyn, alleged descent from [[Donald III]]
* Floris, Count of Holland -- claiming through another Ada, this one sister to David of Huntingdon, with the added claim that Earl David had renounced his rights to the throne of Scotland, which therefore fell to his sister.
* John Vesy, for his father Nicholas Soulis -- by alleged descent from a daughter of [[Alexander III]] (her legitimacy was, however, in doubt), who had married Alan Durward, Alexander's Justiciary. His wife may also have passed a lesser claim to him, by reason of being a Comyn
* William de Vesci -- by descent from Margaret, daughter of [[William the Lion]] (whose legitimacy was also queried)
* William Ross -- by descent from Isabella, daughter of [[William the Lion]] (again her legitimacy was challenged)
* Robert de Pinkney -- who claimed to be descended from a daughter of [[David I]]'s son, Henry
* Patrick Galithly -- who was supposed grandson to [[William the Lion]], albeit illegitimate
* Roger de Mandeville -- Whose ancestor had been another of [[William the Lion]]'s illegitimate daughters
* Eric of Norway -- as both father of Queen [[Margaret]] I and son-in-law of King [[Alexander III]] (not to mention already being [[King]] of [[Norway]])

None of them had anything which resembled a clear right to the throne, although some claims were clearly less prominent than others (such as the Norwegian one).

===The Judgement===
The Guardians decided to invite [[Edward I|Edward]] of [[England]] to take the chair at the eventual hearing of the claims. Edward agreed, but when he came to Norham Castle, he brought an army with him, and declared himself entitled to judge the matter as feudal superior and lord paramount of the [[kingdom]] of Scotland.

By midsummer the claimants had been obliged, in order to get anywhere, to concede Edward's claimed authority (although 4 withdrew rather than submit).

Of the remainder, Scotland being declared indivisible, and there being two daughters senior to his forebear, Lord John Hastings' claim was ruled out. Dunbar, Earl of March, withdrew his claim and was made Edward's Lieutenant for Scotland -- his wife, Marjorie, took the Scots side and held Dunbar castle against the English (In this way, no matter which side eventually won, the family had someone "loyal" to refer to). 

===The Outcome===
Eventually the choice boiled down to Balliol or Bruce, and Balliol had already shown himself willing to bend to Edward's demands, whereas Bruce was clearly less than enthusiastic about an English overlord. Edward therefore declared [[John Balliol]] as the new king of Scotland, and proceeded to take his homage and submission, and returned south, assuming that henceforth Scotland would be ruled for England's benefit.

See also:
* [[Scottish kings]]
* [[John Balliol]]

Scotland - Interregnum

2008-08-26T11:42:04Z

Far-Bjorn: /* The Judgement */ sp

=== The Background ===
In the aftermath of the death of [[Margaret]] of Norway, Scotland was governed by the surviving Guardians, William Fraser, Bishop of St.Andrews chiefest among them, to whom the prospective monarchs put their claims.

There were finally 13 claimants to the vacant throne. Of them, 6 claimed on the basis of illegitimate descent from earlier kings. The '''Comyn''' claim rested on descent from [[Donald III]] (''Donalbane''), and Eric of Norway laid claim through his deceased daughter, Margaret, as the grandchild of [[Alexander III]]. The remainder all made claims based on descent from Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, son of [[David I]], through his son, David; in each case, however, they then claimed through female lines of descent, not male. Thus the elder Robert Bruce was son of Henry's younger grand-daughter, whilst John Balliol was grandson of the elder grand-daughter, and argued for primogeniture over proximity.

David had married Matilda, the daughter of the Earl of Huntingdon. Their son was Henry who inherited the earldom, and married Ada or Adela, daughter of the Earl of Surrey.
Henry and Adela's son was David, named for his grandfather, who also became Earl of Huntingdon, and who also married a Matilda, in this case the daughter of the Earl of Chester.
This David had no sons, but two daughters. The elder, Isobel, married Robert Bruce, lord of Annandale, whose son, grandson, and great-grandson, were all named Robert.
David's younger daughter was named Margaret, and she married Alan, Lord of Galloway. Their daughter, Devorguilla, married John Balliol, and his son, also John, through his mother, claimed the throne.

===The Contenders===
'''The 13 were''':
* Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale -- son of Robert Bruce and of Isobel, daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon
* John Balliol, Lord of Galloway -- grandson of Margaret, eldest daughter of David, earl of Huntingdon, who had married Alan, Lord of Galloway, and born him a daughter, Devorguilla
* Lord John Hastings -- grandson of Ada, youngest daughter of David, on which basis he claimed entitlement, at the least, to one-third of the kingdom
* Sir John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch -- on the basis of descent, through his mother, from [[Donald III]]
* Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March -- who had two routes of claim, the first as descendant of '''William I''' or [[William the Lion]], via an illegitimate daughter (named, almost inevitably in this saga, Ada); the second as unbroken male heir of the house of Dunkeld, descended from a younger brother of [[Duncan I]]. Added to which, his wife, Marjory Comyn, alleged descent from [[Donald III]]
* Floris, Count of Holland -- claiming through another Ada, this one sister to David of Huntingdon, with the added claim that Earl David had renounced his rights to the throne of Scotland, which therefore fell to his sister.
* John Vesy, for his father Nicholas Soulis -- by alleged descent from a daughter of [[Alexander III]] (her legitimacy was, however, in doubt), who had married Alan Durward, Alexander's Justiciary. His wife may also have passed a lesser claim to him, by reason of being a Comyn
* William de Vesci -- by descent from Margaret, daughter of [[William the Lion]] (whose legitimacy was also queried)
* William Ross -- by descent from Isabella, daughter of [[William the Lion]] (again her legitimacy was challenged)
* Robert de Pinkney -- who claimed to be descended from a daughter of [[David I]]'s son, Henry
* Patrick Galithly -- who was supposed grandson to [[William the Lion]], albeit illegitimate
* Roger de Mandeville -- Whose ancestor had been another of [[William the Lion]]'s illegitimate daughters
* Eric of Norway -- as both father of Queen [[Margaret]] I and son-in-law of King [[Alexander III]] (not to mention already being [[King]] of [[Norway]])

None of them had anything which resembled a clear right to the throne, although some claims were clearly less prominent than others (such as the Norwegian one).

===The Judgement===
The Guardians decided to invite [[Edward I|Edward]] of [[England]] to take the chair at the eventual hearing of the claims. Edward agreed, but when he came to Norham Castle, he brought an army with him, and declared himself entitled to judge the matter as feudal superior and lord paramount of the [[kingdom]] of Scotland.

By midsummer the claimants had been obliged, in order to get anywhere, to concede Edward's claimed authority (although 4 withdrew rather than submit).

Of the remainder, Scotland being declared indivisible, and there being two daughters senior to his forebear, Lord John Hastings' claim was ruled out. Dunbar, Earl of March, withdrew his claim and was made Edward's Lieutenant for Scotland -- his wife, Marjorie, took the Scots side and held Dunbar castle against the English (In this way, no matter which side eventually won, the family had someone "loyal" to refer to). 

===The Outcome===
Eventually the choice boiled down to Balliol or Bruce, and Balliol had already shown himself willing to bend to Edward's demands, whereas Bruce was clearly less then enthusiastic about an English overlord. Edward therefore declared [[John Balliol]] as the new king of Scotland, and proceeded to take his homage and submission, and returned south, assuming that henceforth Scotland would be ruled for England's benefit.

See also:
* [[Scottish kings]]
* [[John Balliol]]

Alexander III

2008-08-26T11:38:02Z

Far-Bjorn: sp

'''Alexander III''' ruled [[Scotland]] as [[king]] from September 1249 to March 1286. He was the son of [[Alexander II]] and Mary de Coucy and became king at the age of eight when his father died. 
During his minority rule was disputed between parties led by the earl of Menteith (a member of the Comyn family who themselves would claim a right to the throne some half-century later) and the justiciar, Alan Duward. 
At the age of 10 Alexander was married to Margaret, daughter of [[Henry III]] of [[England]]. Henry demanded homage from Alexander for his kingdom, but Alexander refused.

On taking up his majority in 1262, Alexander made it clear that the first political priority in his mind was to complete his father's project to liberate the Western Isles from [[Norway|Norse]] influence. He formally claimed the Isles from the Norwegian king '''Haakon''', who rejected the claim and launched an invasion the next year. Haakon sailed to Arran and Alexander offered negotiations. He, however, protracted these until the autumn and when Haakon set out for home storms damaged many of his ships. A brief battle, at Largs, in October, was inconclusive but Haakon died on his voyage home and in 1266 his successor, '''Magnus''' ceded the Isles and the Isle of Man to Alexander for cash, leaving Norway with only Orkney and Shetland. It is, however, doubtful if the Anglo-Norse lords of the Isles paid any real attention to the change of nominal overlord -- they had long maintained a dignified and piratical attitude of independence from any control.

The death of Henry brought [[Edward I]] to the [[England|English]] [[throne]], with whom Alexander had a far more equable relationship.

Princess Margaret died in 1274 but by then Alexander and she had had three children, a daughter, Margaret, who married Eirik of Norway, and two sons, Alexander and David. But, in the event all three were to pre-decease their father between 1281 and 1283, leaving the succession uncertain. Alexander induced the Estates, the Scots [[Parliament]], to recognise as heir-presumptive his grand-daughter [[Margaret]], the 'Maid of Norway', and in 1285 he remarried, to Yolanda of Dreux, in the hope she could give him a male heir. But 5 months later, before this could happen, he died, from a fall from his horse and a cliff, and the three-year old girl became ruler of a land she had never seen.

Alexander's reign became remembered as a golden age: apart from the small war with Norway, he had kept Scotland and Scotsmen out of war, and had kept English claims to the northern kingdom at bay without arms. He had supported trade, which kept his revenues healthy, and he had maintained law and order, encouraged building and commerce and sought to see his people properly educated. His death robbed Scotland of a good king, and would eventually lead to instability, English interference, war, and two new Royal Houses.

{{Scottish Monarch | ruler = Alexander III | predecessor = [[Alexander II]] | successor = [[Margaret]], Maid of Norway | reign = 1249-1286}}

[[Category:Monarchs (medieval)]]

Alexander II

2008-08-26T11:27:51Z

Far-Bjorn: sp

Born: 4th September, 1198, '''Alexander''' was the son of [[William the Lion]] and Ermengarde of Beaumont. he succeeded to the [[throne]] of [[Scotland]] in December 1214 on the death of his father.

His first major work was to suppress a minor rebliion, after which, joining the [[England|English]] barons in their struggle against [[John]], he led an army south. However, when John's son [[Henry III]] made peace with the [[France|French]] prince '''Louis''', Alexander joined in the suppression of the remaining rebel barons. Perhaps as a result, he was married, in 1221, to Henry's sister, Princess Joan of England. The two kingdoms faced a clash in 1235 when Henry demanded homage from Alexander, and Alexander demanded surrender of the northern English counties as being traditionally Scots territories. A compromise was reached in 1237 without war.

Joan died in 1238, childless, and Alexander remarried, in 1239, to Mary of Coucy (a village in northern France). Two years later their son, the future [[Alexander III]] was born.

In 1243 Henry threatened invasion, but Alexander, by stalwart readiness, and the English barons, by ennui and disinclination, made the English king resile from the scheme. Thereafter Alexander turned to trying to oust the last vestiges of [[Norway|Norse]] power in the Western Isles. In the course of this he caught a fever, and died in 1249, in the Inner Hebrides. His son succeeded him.

{{Scottish Monarch | ruler = Alexander II | predecessor = [[William the Lion|William I]] | successor = [[Alexander III]] | reign = 1214-1249}}

[[Category:Monarchs (medieval)]]

Fifth Crusade

2008-08-07T08:59:24Z

Far-Bjorn:

The '''Fifth Crusade''' was preached by [[Pope]] Honorious III in [[1217]]. Its aim, as ever, was the retaking, for [[Christianity]], of [[Jerusalem]] and other holy sites.

Leopold VI of [[Austria]] led a contingent of soldiers, as did Andrew II of [[Hungary]], but they were unsuccessful. In 1218 further contiingents arrived, from [[Germany]] led by Oliver of Cologne, and from the Low Countries, led by William of Holland. They allied themselevs with the Sultanate of Rum (in the Cappadocian uplands), and agreed that the Westerners should attack Damietta in [[Egypt]], whilst Rum attacked [[Muslim]]s in Syria.

Damietta was taken, but a subsequent march south towards Cairo (with the intent of taking the city, and then exchanging it for Jerusalem) failed when supplies ran out. The Egyptian [[Sultan]] then counter-attacked, forcing a surrender by the Crusading forces, but an eight-year truce was signed (although the piece of the [[True Cross]] which the Sultan promised to return turned out not to exist).

Far Isles

2007-11-01T11:04:31Z

Far-Bjorn:

The '''Far Isles Medieval Society''' is a historical [[re-enactment]] society based in the [[UK]], covering the [[period]] 500 to 1600 AD, that is from the [[Dark Ages]] to shortly before the [[English Civil War]]. The society is in its 25th year and, although it was initially a part of the [[US]]-based [[Society for Creative Anachronism]], it has been independent for most of that period. Most of the membership is based around the South-East of [[England]], but with other members elsewhere in the country. [[Revel]]s are held around the country, most being one-day [[event]]s. The highlight of the year is the Foundation and Independence Revel, held annually over a weekend in October.

This description was based on the content of the society's webpage:
:http://www.farisles.org.uk

The Far Isles has been, variously, a shire under the [[SCA]] [[East Kingdom]], a Free Barony under its own Baroness, ((almost) a Celtic gynarchy), a Principality under a Princess, and then a Prince-Archbishop, and finally a Kingdom. Its population work in a wide variety of [[Arts]] and [[Sciences]], as well as taking part in tourneys, formerly using rattan, presently live steel.

Currently the Isles are composed of
*a Principality (formerly Duchy), '''Camcairndryth''', containing
:the Duchy (formerly County) of Camber's Well
::the village of Strongoak
::the ''(semi-moribund)'' manor of Tintagel
::the County (formerly a shire) of Forest Hall
:the manor of Bourneville
:the hamlet of Muchmead
:the ''(also much reduced)'' village of Chadwell
*a Province, the '''Grym''', containing
:the Shire of Blackwater
::the Hundred of Stoke
*and the Freemark (''"A Free Mark for Free Men"'')

There are also non-landed nobility (indeed, the majority of the Far Isles nobility are non-landed) extending from two Princesses downward to Barons. Currently there are no serving Knights -- those raised to this rank have, each and every one, withdrawn from the Isles.

['''Local note:''' To avoid misunderstandings, in the Far Isles, Duchies are obtained by election and royal appointment, and no office is obtained through combat (although Kingdom and regional Champions are recognised)]

'''Update (October 2007)'''
The Princess of Camcairndyrth Passed Beyond this summer; a new Princess may be raised from the populace later this year.
There is also a rumour that the King may be dead -- the Princess Coneybury, his 'sister', is investigating.
[[category:re-enactment groups]]

Edward III

2007-03-20T09:39:27Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Edward III''' was the son of [[Edward II]], who was deposed from the [[throne]] of [[England]] in 1327, by his [[Queen]], Isabella (the "''She-Wolf of [[France]]''", as she became known), and Isabella's treasonous lover, [[Roger Mortimer]].

To secure their rule, Isabella and Mortimer had Edward [[crown]]ed forthwith and then, since he was only 14 years old, they set themselves up as [[regent]]s for him. However Mortimer did little to secure his position with the young [[king]], treating him with contempt, and continuing to use the power he and Isabella had amassed to secure for himself several [[noble]] estates. They arranged his marriage, in 1328, to Philippa of Hainault, and they had a large family, with no less than 9 children suriviving to adulthood, well above the average for their period. His eldest son, born in 1330, was [[Edward the Black Prince|Edward]] [[Prince]] of [[Wales]], who became known (later) as the [[Edward the Black Prince|Black Prince]].

Shortly before his 18th birthday, Edward, with the help of a small group of trusted companions, executed a coup d'etat, and seized power. Mortimer was arrested, imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]], and later [[execution|executed]], for his treasons. Isabella was also arrested, but was then simply committed to custody at Castle Rising in Norfolk. She would never regain power, but little by little her imprisonment was eased and her son listened to her counsel.

Edward sought to establish English control over [[Scotland]] by imposing a puppet-king, in the shape of [[Edward Balliol]], son of the [[John Balliol|John]] whom [[Edward I]] had sought to introduce as king. In the event, Balliol's weakness, and the rise of the [[House]] of [[Robert I|Bruce]], meant that Scotland re-established its own monarchical line over the 1330s and 1340s.

At the same time, in the aftermath of the collapse of the line of [[Capetian]] kings of [[France]], Edward claimed the French throne, as last male descendant of Philip IV. The French, however, invoked [[salic law]], and made Philip VI their [[king]]. Thus began the [[Hundred Years War]] and in 1347 English forces captured Calais, the toe-hold on the Continent which they were not to lose until [[Tudor]] times.

In 1348 the [[Black Death]] struck [[Europe]].

By 1376 the failure, on every front, of Edward's military efforts, and the cost of them, led to a [[parliament]] which removed many of the king's advisers (as well as of his mistress, Alice Perrers). By then, however, the Black prince was dead, and Edward was smitten with the illnesses that would kill him, and the effective government of the realm had fallen to [[John of Gaunt]]. Later in that year Edward died and, since the Black Prince had predeceased him, the kingdom fell to his grandson, [[Richard II]].

===Retrospect===
Edward's reign is seen, by later analysts, as being notable for a number of reasons:
* That he ruled for 50 years, longer than anyone since [[Henry III]]
* That his reign saw the rise of the "middle classes" (those neither feudal peasants, nor nobles), and at the same time saw the power held by the nobility increasingly concentrated into fewer hands.
* That it was in his reign that the [[justice of the peace|justices]] were allowed to try cases, as well as investigate them, thus establishing the fundamental level of the English common law in criminal jurisprudence

His was also the period of the establishment of the Order of the Garter, the transfer of the legal langauge in England from Law-French (which only lawyers understood) to English, thus allowing men to make their own cases before the King's judges, and the flowering in England of the ideals of [[chivalry]] (whilst war was carried on with a ruthlessness and fervour utterly alien to that idealism).

{{stub}}
[[category:monarchs (medieval)]]

Edward III

2007-03-20T09:39:03Z

Far-Bjorn: Article rewritten -- still a stub, but a fatter one

'''Edward III''' was the son of [[Edward II]], who was deposed from the [[throne]] of [[England]] in 1327, by his [[Queen]], Isabella (the "''She-Wolf of [[France]]''", as she became known), and Isabella's treasonous lover, [[Roger Mortimer]].

To secure their rule, Isabella and Mortimer had Edward [[crown]]ed forthwith and then, since he was only 14 years old, they set themselves up as [[regent]]s for him. However Mortimer did little to secure his position with the young [[king]], treating him with contempt, and continuing to use the power he and Isabella had amassed to secure for himself several [[noble]] estates. They arranged his marriage, in 1328, to Philippa of Hainault, and they had a large family, with no less than 9 children suriviving to adulthood, well above the average for their period. His eldest son, born in 1330, was [[Edward the Black Prince]]|Edward]] [[Prince]] of [[Wales]], who became known (later) as the [[Edward the Black Prince|Black Prince]].

Shortly before his 18th birthday, Edward, with the help of a small group of trusted companions, executed a coup d'etat, and seized power. Mortimer was arrested, imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]], and later [[execution|executed]], for his treasons. Isabella was also arrested, but was then simply committed to custody at Castle Rising in Norfolk. She would never regain power, but little by little her imprisonment was eased and her son listened to her counsel.

Edward sought to establish English control over [[Scotland]] by imposing a puppet-king, in the shape of [[Edward Balliol]], son of the [[John Balliol|John]] whom [[Edward I]] had sought to introduce as king. In the event, Balliol's weakness, and the rise of the [[House]] of [[Robert I|Bruce]], meant that Scotland re-established its own monarchical line over the 1330s and 1340s.

At the same time, in the aftermath of the collapse of the line of [[Capetian]] kings of [[France]], Edward claimed the French throne, as last male descendant of Philip IV. The French, however, invoked [[salic law]], and made Philip VI their [[king]]. Thus began the [[Hundred Years War]] and in 1347 English forces captured Calais, the toe-hold on the Continent which they were not to lose until [[Tudor]] times.

In 1348 the [[Black Death]] struck [[Europe]].

By 1376 the failure, on every front, of Edward's military efforts, and the cost of them, led to a [[parliament]] which removed many of the king's advisers (as well as of his mistress, Alice Perrers). By then, however, the Black prince was dead, and Edward was smitten with the illnesses that would kill him, and the effective government of the realm had fallen to [[John of Gaunt]]. Later in that year Edward died and, since the Black Prince had predeceased him, the kingdom fell to his grandson, [[Richard II]].

===Retrospect===
Edward's reign is seen, by later analysts, as being notable for a number of reasons:
* That he ruled for 50 years, longer than anyone since [[Henry III]]
* That his reign saw the rise of the "middle classes" (those neither feudal peasants, nor nobles), and at the same time saw the power held by the nobility increasingly concentrated into fewer hands.
* That it was in his reign that the [[justice of the peace|justices]] were allowed to try cases, as well as investigate them, thus establishing the fundamental level of the English common law in criminal jurisprudence

His was also the period of the establishment of the Order of the Garter, the transfer of the legal langauge in England from Law-French (which only lawyers understood) to English, thus allowing men to make their own cases before the King's judges, and the flowering in England of the ideals of [[chivalry]] (whilst war was carried on with a ruthlessness and fervour utterly alien to that idealism).

{{stub}}
[[category:monarchs (medieval)]]

Anjou

2006-11-14T12:09:09Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Anjou''' was first a [[count]]y, then a [[duke|duchy]] of [[France]], in the lower valley of the Loire river.

Lambert of Nantes sought to carve out a [[prince|principality]] for himself in the mid-[[ninth century]]; after his death the [[duke]] of [[Brittany]], Erispoe, took the territory over, and it was handed down in his line. At the same time the dukes of [[Normandy]] also coveted the lands and attacked incessantly. Toward the end of the century one '''Fulk the Red''' was made [[viscount]] and, he holding on to the lands (although he lost the county of Nantes), he assumed the title of "[[count]]". His son (another Fulk) and grandson (Geoffrey) succeeded him and the latter successfully made Nantes his vassal and obtained the district of Loudon in fief.

Fulk III (Geoffrey's son) threw off attacks by the counts of Blois and of Rennes, as well as holding off the [[France|French]] [[king]], Robert the Pious. Fulk's son, Geoffrey Martel, continued the expansion: in 1051 he beat the counship of Maine into submission, and obtained recognition of his authority, although he was not, at that time, able to obtain revenge on Normandy (then under Duke [[William the Conqueror|William]], the Bastard.

Fulk's line contined to hold Anjou until 1113, when, after a [[battle]] at Alencon, Fulk V was obliged to recognise [[Henry I]] of [[England]] as his liege lord. Henry later naried his son, William, to Fulk's daughter, Matilda. After William's death, and some further complexities, a second marriage, between Henry's daughter [[Empress Matilda|Matilda]], widow of the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman]] [[Emperor]] Henry V, and Fulk's son, Geoffrey. Then, on the invitation of [[Baldwin II]], [[king]] of [[Jerusalem]], Fulk set sail for the Holy Land, where he was to marry Baldwin's daughter, [[Melisende]]. Geoffrey, meanwhile, adopted the surname ''"Plantagenet"'', made substantial inroads into the territories surrounding his own, until only the French king was his overlord (and that more by sufferance than obligation), and founded a pocket empire for himself, becominn a duke in 1144. His son, Henry Curtmantle, was gifted the duchy in 1149 (his father died in 1151) and in 1154 he ascended the English [[throne]] as [[Henry II]].

On the death of Henry's son [[Richard I]], Arthur of [[Brittany]] claimed Anjou, over the succession of [[John Lackland]] of England. A war ensued: John was recognised count by Philip Augustus in 1200, only to lose it to Arthur when Jogn refused to do homage to Philip in 1202. Arthur's death meant the duchy come under the French crown. In 1246 Louis IX of France gave it, as an appenage, to his nephew Charles, then heading for the thrones of Naples and Sicily.
 Later Charles of Valois obtained the duchy, among the dowry of his wife, Margaret, daughter of the king of Naples; he left it to his son, Philip, who reunited it with the French crown when he became king of France in 1328. Thereafter the title and territory remained within the extended French royal House, being granted out and taken back.

Charlemagne

2006-11-14T12:05:03Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Charlemagne''' was the [[French]] name of Carolus Magnus (747-814), [[King]] of the [[Frank]]s, which is Charles the Great in [[English]]. Son of [[Pepin]]. Charlemagne's new [[Carolingian]] dynasty supplanted the reigning [[Merovingian]]s.

Charles was, variously, King of the [[Franks]], King of the Lombards, and [[Holy Roman Emperor]].

His first wife was Himilitrude: their son, Pepin, pre-deceased his father by 3 years. He then married the daughter of the [[king]] of the [[Lombard]]s, Desideria (770CE) but repudiated her the subsequent year, without children. His third wife was Hildegarde of Vinzgau, daughter of the [[Graf]]. By her he had Charles, who became King of the East Franks; Pepin, who became King of Lombardy; Louis (''the Fair'') weho became King of Aquitania, King of the Franks and Italy, and [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman]] [[ Emperor]]; and a number of daughters. He also married, sucessively, after Hildegarde, Fastrada, daughter of the Coutn of Franconia, and a lady called Luitgarde.

Charlemagne fought [[battle]]s almost constantly throughout his life. He conquered [[Saxony]] and fought a number of [[battle]]s with [[Muslim Spain]], which lead to the [[Song of Roland]] [[mythology|legends]].

Charlemagne was later considered to be one of the [[Nine Worthies]].

After his death, his realm fragmented under his sons.

'''On the other hand''' medieval legend recounted that the Moorish king '''Marsilus''' was brought before Charlemagne as a prisoner, and was offered [[baptism]] or [[death]]. He looked round. "Who," he asked, "are the fat men, clad in furs, who sit at your table and feast?" Charles replied: "They are my [[bishop]]s and [[abbot]]s." "And who are the thin men, clad in black and grey, who also receive your food?" "They," Charles aid, "are the [[mendicant]]s and [[friar]]s who [[pray]] for me." |"And who," the pagan king asked, "are those beyond them, dressed in rags, squatting on the ground, who scrabble for the scraps that fall from your table?" "They are poor people," Charlemagne replied. "If that is how you treat your poor, who are God's children, in dishonour of His love and charity, then kill me: I have no wish to be baptised into your faith."

[[category: monarchs (medieval)]]

Charlemagne

2006-11-14T12:01:35Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Charlemagne''' was the [[French]] name of Carolus Magnus (747-814), [[King]] of the [[Frank]]s, which is Charles the Great in [[English]]. Son of [[Pepin]]. Charlemagne's new [[Carolingian]] dynasty supplanted the reigning [[Merovingian]]s.

His first wife was Himilitrude: their son, Pepin, pre-deceased his father by 3 years. He then married the daughter of the [[king]] of the [[Lombard]]s, Desideria (770CE) but repudiated her the subsequent year, without children. His third wife was Hildegarde of Vinzgau, daughter of the [[Graf]]. By her he had Charles, who became King of the East Franks; Pepin, who became King of Lombardy; Louis (''the Fair'') weho became King of Aquitania, King of the Franks and Italy, and [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman]] [[ Emperor]]

Charlemagne fought [[battle]]s almost constantly throughout his life. He conquered [[Saxony]] and fought a number of [[battle]]s with [[Muslim Spain]], which lead to the [[Song of Roland]] [[mythology|legends]].

Charlemagne was later considered to be one of the [[Nine Worthies]].

'''On the other hand''' medieval legend recounted that the Moorish king '''Marsilus''' was brought before Charlemagne as a prisoner, and was offered [[baptism]] or [[death]]. He looked round. "Who," he asked, "are the fat men, clad in furs, who sit at your table and feast?" Charles replied: "They are my [[bishop]]s and [[abbot]]s." "And who are the thin men, clad in black and grey, who also receive your food?" "They," Charles aid, "are the [[mendicant]]s and [[friar]]s who [[pray]] for me." |"And who," the pagan king asked, "are those beyond them, dressed in rags, squatting on the ground, who scrabble for the scraps that fall from your table?" "They are poor people," Charlemagne replied. "If that is how you treat your poor, who are God's children, in dishonour of His love and charity, then kill me: I have no wish to be baptised into your faith."

[[category: monarchs (medieval)]]

User:Far-Bjorn

2006-11-14T11:54:26Z

Far-Bjorn:

I am an ''[[bear|ursus refectus]]'' in the [[household]] of Samuel Sanskin, [[Baron]] Bowland, in the '''[[Kingdom]] of the [[Far Isles]]''', where I work as [[clerk]] and [[peasant]]-ward.

PS: I am currently (mid-November 2006) entering hibearnation, so I may not edit for a month or three. I will remove this note when I am back. --[[User:Far-Bjorn|Far-Bjorn]] 11:54, 14 Nov 2006 (GMT)

User:Far-Bjorn

2006-11-14T11:54:08Z

Far-Bjorn:

I am an ''[[bear|ursus refectus]]'' in the [[household]] of Samuel Sanskin, [[Baron]] Bowland, in the '''[[Kingdom]] of the [[Far Isles]]''', where I work as [[clerk]] and [[peasant]]-ward.

PS: I am currently (mid-November 2006) entering hibearnation, so I may not edit for a month or three. I will remove this note when I am back. --[[User:Far-Bjorn|Far-Bjorn]] 11:54, 14 Nov 2006 (CST)

Henry I

2006-11-14T11:51:51Z

Far-Bjorn:

Born in about 1068, the youngest son of [[William the Conqueror]], '''Henry''' reigned as [[king]] of [[England]] between 1100 and 1135, succeeding [[William Rufus]]. He received the cognomen "''Beauclerc''" because he was an [[education|educated]] man, having been given extensive schooling, probably to prepare him for a career as a churchman of some sort.

[[William the Conqueror|William]]'s elder sons, [[William Rufus]] and Robert 'Curthose', [[Duke]] of [[Normandy]], had agreed among themselves that whichever survived the other would inherit both of their father's dominions. In the event, when [[William Rufus|Rufus]] died in 1100, in an "accident" while [[hunting]], Robert was on his way back from the [[First Crusade]]. His absence, coupled with the fact that (having already tried, and failed, to take England over once (he promoted a rebellion in 1088 but didn't bother turning up with his troops)) he was not popular with the [[Norman]] [[nobility]] in England, allowed '''Henry''' to seize the English treasury at [[Winchester]], gain acceptance by the leading [[baron]]s, and be [[crown]]ed at Westminster 3 days after his brother had died, all before Robert knew anything about things.

In November 1100, Henry [[marriage|married]] Edith (also known as 'Matilda'), the daughter of [[King]] [[Malcolm III]] of [[Scotland]] (the Malcolm of [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Macbeth]]''). She was also niece to Edgar Atheling, and therefore a valid link to the pre-[[Norman conquest|Conquest]] [[English Monarchs|English line of kings]] (Malcolm had married Edgar's sister). This displeased the Norman baronage, but Edith changed her name of Matilda and this seemed to calm them.

In the following year Robert 'Curthose' tried his luck with an invasion. Defeated, he recognised Henry as king and went home again. Henry, however, did not feel utterly safe and in 1105-6 he returned the favour, defeated Robert, and appropriated Normandy as a possession of England, thus completing the reunion of the [[William the Conqueror|Conqueror]]'s territories, as his brothers had all along intended.

During his [[reign]], Henry did much to stabilise England, including confirming liberties and restoring some of the pre-Conquest [[laws]]. He established the [[Exchequer]] to regulate the collection of revenues, and sought to centralise some of the [[feudal]] power by reining in local [[lord]]s' [[court]]s and the excesses of errant [[sheriff]]s.

Henry had at least 3 children by Matilda. The two boys, Richard and William, died in the same shipwreck, off the Normandy coast, in 1120; his daughter [[Empress Matilda|Matilda]] married the [[Holy Roman Emperor]], [[Henry V]]. He also had many (some say up to 25) illegitimate bairns by other mothers (one, Reinald, became earl of Cornwall; another, Robert of Caen, was Earl of Gloucester adn his grand-daughter married earls of Essex and Kent (though not at the same time).

After Matilda's death in 1118, Henry married Adeliza, the 16-year-old daughter of Godfrey, [[Count]] of Louvain, but there were no children of this marriage.
Left, therefore, without legitimate male [[heir]]s, Henry fixed upon the [[Empress Matilda]] as his heir, and persuaded the barons to swear to accept her as his heir and successor. He also married her to Geoffrey of Anjou to secure his position in [[France]] against the King, [[Louis VI]], and thereby connected the [[Plantagenet]]s to the English throne.

In 1135, due to a "surfeit of lampreys" (some of which may not have accorded with [[20th century]] standards of edibility, but he had a liking for them), Henry died. His nephew, [[King Stephen|Stephen]] of Boulogne, son to the [[William the Conqueror|Conqueror]]'s daughter Adela, promptly came to England and laid claim to the [[throne]], on the basis that, being a women, Matilda could not rule. For 18 years [[war]] raged between the two, with the Anglo-Norman barons swapping sides as suited them and England was in turmoil.

<center>
<table border = 1>
<tr>
<td width = 30% align = center>
Preceded by: [[William Rufus]]
</td>
<td width = 40% align = center>
[[English Monarchs]]
</td>
<td width = 30% align = center>
Succeeded by: [[King Stephen]]
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>

[[Category:12th century]]
[[Category:Monarchs (medieval)]]
[[category:people (medieval)]]

Normandy

2006-11-14T11:47:33Z

Far-Bjorn: /* The Dukes of Normandy */

'''Normandy''' is a region in the north of [[France]], lying on the English Channel.

The [[Viking]] leader Rollo who had besieged [[Paris]] was given Normandy in 911 under the Treaty of St. Claire, in return for defending it against future [[pirate]] attacks. By the [[11th century]] the [[Norman]] people had become a mixture of native [[Frank]]s and Viking immigrants.

Norman culture spread into [[England]] with the [[Norman Conquest]] led by the [[Duke]] of Normandy in 1066, [[William the Conqueror]]. Normandy was sporadically under English control, until the end of the [[Hundred Years' War]] in 1453, from which point it remained with France until World War II.

== The Dukes of Normandy ==
An amount of this, including most of the details of children, has been "lifted" from the research of Robert Sewell, who has placed it on the Web at http://www3.sympatico.ca/robert.sewell/normandy.html .

* Rollo (also known as Rolf, and, after [[baptism]], Robert) - The original "Norman", a Viking raider who seized land along the River Seine around 911CE, fought with [[King]] [[Charles the Simple|Charles III the Simple]] of [[France]], was ceded what is now Normandy in return for stopping his raids, and was recognised as its [[feudalism|feudal]] tenant (although it is not clear whether or not he received the formal title of [[Duke]]). His father was Rognvald, either Eysteinssen or Ragnvaldssen; of his two elder brothers, one married a daughter of Harald I, [[king]] of [[Normway]], the other emigrated and settled in [[Iceland]]. Rollo/Robert's first wife, Poppa of Valois, was a descendant of [[Charlemagne]]. His eldest son succeeded him in Normandy. He also married (possibly bigamously, but possibly not as his first marriage may not have been recognised by the [[Catholic Church|Church]]) Gisla, daughter of Charles the Simple, but she died shortly afterwards, having provided him wtih no children. Rollo himself died around 932CE.
* William Longsword - Rollo's son, he may have been born before his father "acquired" Normandy. He succeeded his father in 927CE, and [[marriage|married]] another female descendant of [[Charlemagne]], Adela (or Sprota) of Senlis. His eldest son succeded him on his death (possibly murder, possibly by the Count of Flanders) in 942. There is no evidence to point to his having received the [[duke|ducal]] title.
* Richard the Fearless - Born in 933CE, he took over Normandy at the age of 9 from his deceased father. He married Emma of [[Paris]], a daughter of [[Hugh Capet|Hugh "the Great" Capet]], and later Gunnor of Crepon, thereby legitimising any children he had previously had by her. His eldest son succeeded him, but again Richard does not appear to have attained the formal rank of [[duke]]. Along his other children were [[Emma of Normandy]], born about 986, who married [[King]] [[Aethelred Unraed]] of England in 1002, and bore him a son who was to be King [[Edward the Confessor]]. After Aethelred's death, she married [[Canute the Great|Canute]] (or Cnut), who was then king in Aethlred's place, in 1012, and bore him [[Hardicanute]], king from 1035-40. Another daughter was Hawise who married Geoffrey, [[Duke]] of [[Brittany]]. His third, Matilde, died a couple of years after marrying the Comte of Chartres.
* Richard the Good - Son of the Fearless, his first wife was Judith of Brittany, daughter of [[Duke]] Conan (the ''Crooked'') and sister to Geoffrey. Their son succeded his father, when he died in August 1026. Their second son, Robert, was also to be duke; one of their daughters, Alice (or Adelaide) married Rainald, [[Count]] of Burgundy (and her grandson would become [[Pope]]); the other, Eleanora (also known as Judith) married Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders. This Richard is known to have been recognised as Duke of Normandy. 
:He later remarried, in 1017, to Estrith, daughter of Sweyn Forkbeard [[king]] of [[Denmark]], but they were [[divorce]]d shortly afterwards.
* Richard (III) - He succeded his father and married Princess Adela or Alix of [[France]], daughter to [[king]] Robert II (the ''Pious''), in Janury 1027. In August of the same year, he died suddenly (rumour had it, of [[poison]]). Their posthumously-born son, Nicholas, was relegated to a [[monastery|monastic]] life, and his uncle, Richard's brother, Robert, took over the [[duke]]dom. Princess Adela remarried, to Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, and their daughter, Mathilda, was to marry Duke [[William the Conqueror|William]] of Normandy.
* Robert (the [[devil]]) - Born about 1008CE, he seized Normandy and the [[duke|ducal]] title on the (sudden) death of his nephew, in 1027. Shortly afterwards his girlfriend Herleva, daughter of Fulbert, a tanner of Falais, gave birth to their son, William, a bastard. They also had a daughter, Adeliza, who married, serially, a [[Count]] of Ponthieu, a Count of Lens, and a Count of Champagne. Robert married, in 1031, Estrith, and divorced her a year later. This was the same Estrith who had previously been his father's wife. In late 1034, Robert was inspired to crusade, but on the way home he died.
* [[William the Conqueror|William (the Bastard)]] - Son of Robert and Herleva, William took over '''Normandy''' when the news of his father's death came in 1035. In 1053 he married Mathilda of Flanders. In 1066 he invaded [[England]], having previously been promised the throne by [[King]] [[Edward the Confessor]], overthrowing the usurper, [[Harold Godwinson]]. Of his children Robert, the eldest, became Duke of Normandy after him, and mortgaged the duchy to raise money to go on Crusade, his sons [[William Rufus]] and [[Henry I|Henry 'Beauclerc']] became [[English Monarchs|kings of England]] after him, and his daughter Adela married Stephen, Count of Blois, and their son [[King Stephen|Stephen]] seized the [[England|English]] [[throne]] after Henry.
* Robert 'Curthose' - Duke after [[William the Conqueror|William]], he coveted the [[England|English]] throne given to his younger brother [[William Rufus]], but was unable to seize it. He then went on [[Crusade]], mortgaging Normandy to raise [[money]], and on his return found that William had died and been succeeded by [[Henry I|Henry Beauclerc]]. Robert raised objections, and tried an invasion, Henry counter-struck and, repelling Robert, then invaded Normandy, captured Duke Robert, imprisoned him, and took the duchy into the English [[crown]].
[[category:Norman]]
[[category:medieval France]]

High Steward (Scotland)

2006-11-14T11:38:05Z

Far-Bjorn:

The first '''High Steward''' of [[Scotland]] was Walter FitzAlan, who was appointed around 1150 by [[David I]], in appreciation for Walter's support of his niece, [[Empress Matilda|Maud]] (or Matilda) in her claim to the [[throne]] of [[England]]. David's successor, [[Malcolm IV]] made the office hereditary and Walter's son, Alan, FitzWalter, succeeded him in 1177.

Prior to Walter the Steward, the family traced its descent from one Alan Dapifer, son of Flaald, of Brittany. Alan, by gift of [[William the Conqueror]] was granted the ]][[baron]]y of Oswaldestre in Shropshire, and the castle of Milcham in Norfolk. His wife was Aveline of Hesdin.

On Alan's death in 1204, however, his son Walter took the hereditary office as Walter Stewart. The family provided four further Stewards
* Alexander 1241-1283
* James 1283-1309
* Walter 1309- 1327
* Robert 1327-1371.

Walter married Marjorie, the daughter of King [[Robert I]] (''Robert the Bruce''), and on the death, childess, of her brother, [[David II|David]], his son [[Robert II|Robert]] succeeded as [[king]] and the office of Steward was subsumed into the royal honour, thereafter being a title of the Scots [[heir apparent]].

The family married widely and well, and served throughout the nobility: the first Alan's wife was Margaret of Galloway, daughter of Fergus, whose wife was Elizabeth of England, daughter of [[Malcolm III]] of Scotland and Margaret daughter of Edward Atheling.

Walter married the daughter of the Earl of Angus, who was married to Marjory, granddaughter of [[David I]]. Alexander had married into the Lordship of Bute, and his brother Walter became Earl of Menteith.

Alexander's second son, John, of Bonkyl, had 7 sons. Sir Alexander was Earl of Angus, Sir Alan of Dreghorn was Earl and Duke of Lennox, Sir Walter was Earl of Galloway, Sir James, who held the Earldoms of Athole, Buchan and Traquair and the Lordships of Lorn and Innermeath, Sir John was killed fighting the [[England|English]], Sir Hugh who fought in Ireland and Sir Robert of Daldowie.

James was one of the regents to [[Margaret]], the Maid of Norway, and whilst compelled to swear loyalty to [[Edward I]] of [[England]] in 1296, he supported both the Wallace and the Bruce claims to the Scots throne, rather than that of the southern foe.
[[category:title]]

Mary Queen of Scots

2006-10-31T07:26:13Z

Far-Bjorn: sundry amends

* 1542 December 8th -- [[birth|born]], daughter of [[James V]] and Mary of Lorraine (daughter of the [[Duke]] of Guise)

6 days later:
* 1542 December 14th -- [[becoming king|succeeds]] to [[Scotland|Scots]] [[throne]] at age 1 week, on death of her father. The [[Earl]] of Arran, [[James II]]'s great-grandson, became her regent.

* 1543 -- crowned [[queen]], at Stirling.

* 1547 -- betrothed to the [[heir]] to the [[France|French]] [[crown]], the [[dauphin]] Francis.

* 1547 -- left Scotland, to be brought up in France, by the Guise family, and to avoid her being seized by the [[England|English]], who wished her to [[marriage|marry]] the English [[prince]] Edward.

* 1548 -- formal marriage contract between Mary and Francis agreed.

* 1553 -- Although [[Mary I|Mary Tudor]], a fellow-Catholic, became [[queen]] in [[England]], the existence of hostilities between England and France prevented the two Maries from being able to reconcile thjeir countries' political differences.

* 1554 -- Mary dismisses Arran, and makes her Mother, Mary of Guise, her Governor in Scotland.

* 1558 April 24th -- marries Francis, becomes [[Queen Consort]] of France.

* 1558 -- The accession of the [[Protestant]] [[Elizabeth I]] to the [[throne]] of England renewed antipathy between the kingdoms. More, Scots disliked the increasing influence of France in their nation, and some Scots adopted Protestantism as a form of silent rebellion.

* 1559 -- Mary of Guise increases persecution of Protestants in Scotland; they react by supporting Mary Stewart's half-brother (illegitimate), James, as a replacement monarch. The Earl of Arran returned from France, and, with his son, James Hamilton, fought off the rebellion.

* 1560 -- Francis dies; succeeded by his brother [[Charles]]; the Guise family fall from power. Mary of Guise also dies.

* 1561 August -- Mary returns to Scotland, dowager queen of France, but powerless.

* 1563 -- [[Elizabeth I|Elizabeth]] of England offers Robert Dudley, [[Earl]] of Leicester, as a husband, and to be [[King]] of Scotland (Dudley was a [[Protestant]], and someone the English believed they could control).

* 1565, July -- marries Henry Stuart, Lord '''Darnley''', a half-cousin (and a [[Catholic]]). The marriage is generally unpopular.

* 1566 -- Mary's court secretary, David Rizzio, is [[murder]]ed in her presence, by Darnley and others.

* 1567, February -- Darnley [[assassin|assassinated]]

* 1567, June -- a son, James, is born to Mary.

* 1567 -- Mary seized by James, 4th Earl of Bothwell, and either forced or persuaded to marry him (once he had divorced his own wife, and been rapidly acquitted of Darnley's murder).

* 1567 -- imprisoned and forced to [[abdication|abdicate]]; her infant son is declared King [[James VI]]

* 1568, May -- escapes from [[prison]]

* 1568 -- crosses the border to England, is arrsted and imprisoned and held in various [[castle]]s. As such she becomes the focus of English catholics seeking the overthrow of Elizabeth, and of Scots patriots seeking the overthrow of her son's regents. A series of plots are forged, offered to her, and then discovered by the English intelligence apparatus; this leads to Elizabeth becoming convinced that Mary is a live threat to her throne.

* 1586 -- imprisoned in Fotheringay Castle

* 1587 -- After becoming implicated in an English-organised plot, ostensibly to have the Duke of Guise invade England in her interests, Mary was given a show [[trial]] before the [[Court of Star Chamber]] (at which she was not allowed to know the details of the evidence raised against her) and was then [[execution|executed]] by order of [[Elizabeth I|Elizabeth]].

[[category:people (medieval)]][[Category: monarchs (medieval)]][[category:16th century]]
{{stub}}

Mary Queen of Scots

2006-10-31T07:21:50Z

Far-Bjorn:

* 1542 December 8th -- [[birth|born]], daughter of [[James V]] and Mary of Lorraine (daughter of the [[Duke]] of Guise)

6 days later:
* 1542 December 14th -- [[becoming king|succeeds]] to [[Scotland|Scots]] [[throne]] at age 1 week, on death of her father. The [[Earl]] of Arran, [[James II]]'s great-grandson, became her regent.

* 1543 -- crowned [[queen]], at Stirling.

* 1547 -- betrothed to the [[heir]] to the [[France|French]] [[crown]], the [[dauphin]] Francis.

* 1547 -- left Scotland, to be brought up in France, by the Guise family, and to avoid her being seized by the [[England|English]], who wished her to [[marriage|marry]] the English [[prince]] Edward.

* 1548 -- formal marriage contract between Mary and Francis agreed.

* 1553 -- Although [[Mary Tudor]], a fellow-Catholic, became [[queen]] in [[England]], the existence of hostilities between England and France prevented the two Maries from being able to reconcile thjeir countries' political differences.

* 1554 -- Mary dismisses Arran, and makes her Mother, Mary of Guise, her Governor in Scotland.

* 1558 April 24th -- marries Francis, becomes [[Queen Consort]] of France.

* 1558 -- The accession of the [[Protestant]] [[Elizabeth I]] to the [[throne]] of England renewed antipathy between the kingdoms. More, Scots disliked the increasing influence of France in their nation, and some Scots adopted Protestantism as a form of silent rebellion.

* 1559 Mary of Guise increases persecution of Protestants in Scotland; they react by supporting Mary Stewart's half-brother (illegitimate), James, as a replacement monarch. The Earl of Arran returned from France, and, with his son, James Hamilton, fought off the rebellion.

* 1560 -- Francis dies; succeeded by his brother [[Charles]]; the Guise family fall from power. Mary of Guise also dies.

* 1561 August -- Mary returns to Scotland, dowager queen of France, but powerless.

* 1563 -- [[Elizabeth I|Elizabeth]] of England offers Robert Dudley, [[Earl]] of Leicester, as a husband, and to be [[King]] of Scotland (Dudley was a [[Protestant]], and someone the English believed they could control).

* 1565, July -- marries Henry [[Stuart]], Lord Darnley, a half-cousin (and a [[Catholic]]). The marriage is generally unpopular.

* 1566 -- Mary's court secretary, David Rizzio, is [[murder]]ed in her presence, by Darnley and others.

* 1567, February -- Darnley [[assasination|assassinated]]

* 1567, June -- a son, James, is born to Mary.

* 1567 -- Mary seized by James, 4th Earl of Bothwell, and either forced or persuaded to marry him (once he had divorced his own wife, and been rapidly acquitted of Darnley's murder).

* 1567 -- imprisoned and forced to [[abdication|abdicate]]; her infant son is declared King [[James VI]]

* 1568, May -- escapes from [[prison]]

* 1568 -- crosses the border to England, is arrsted and imprisoned and held in various [[castle]]s. As such she becomes the focus of English catholics seeking the overthrow of Elizabeth, and of Scots patriots seeking the overthrow of her son's regents. A series of plots are forged, offered to her, and then discovered by the English intelligence apparatus; this leads to Elizabeth becoming convinced that Mary is a live threat to her throne.

* 1586 -- imprisoned in Fotheringay Castle

* 1587 -- After becoming implicated in an English-organised plot, ostensibly to have the Duke of Guise invade England in her interests, Mary was given a show [[trial]] before the [[Court of Star Chamber]] (at which she was not allowed to know the details of the evidence raised against her) and was then [[execution|executed]] by order of [[Elizabeth]].

[[category:people (medieval)]][[Category: monarchs (medieval)]][[category:16th century]]
{{stub}}

Bear

2006-09-04T13:22:26Z

Far-Bjorn:

[[Image:Bear Passant.jpg|right|150px]]
'''Bears''' are quadruped mammals, of the family ''Ursidae''. They are carnivores as opposed to herbivores, but in practice will eat anything nutritious.

According to [[wikipedia|Wikipaedia]]: 
:"Common characteristics of bears include a short tail, excellent senses of smell and hearing, five un-retractable claws, and long, dense, shaggy fur.
:"Bears have a large body with powerful limbs. They are capable of standing up on their hind legs. They have broad paws, long snouts, and round ears. Their teeth are used for defense and tools and depend on the diet of the bear. Their claws are used for ripping, digging, and catching."

In [[period]], in [[Europe]], the principal bear was the brown bear, which was, throughout period, slowly being driven back into ever-more restricted ranges, having formerly inhabited the continent widely. [[Men|Man]] hunted the bear, with [[dog]]s, both to reduce its predations on their [[farming|cultivated]] lands, and also for [[meat]] and [[fur]].

There is some evidence for bear-[[worship]] prior to period, and several [[city|cities]] (most notably Berne and Berlin) appear to have been named in commemoration of the beast. The [[Latin]] ''ursus'' links to the [[Greek]] ''arktos'' and the [[Celtic]] ''artos/arthus'', to offer one rationale for the name Arthur for a legendary warleader (''qv'' [[King Arthur]]).

Regrettably the stuffed bear (''Ursus refertus'') has left no imprint upon [[medieval]] history, but it is almost inevitable that there will have been some, given that they have survived, relatively unchanged (and with very wide ranges), to the modern era.

== Bears in the SCA ==
So far as is known, no bears have sought to join the SCA. Were any to do so, it is likely that they would face certain difficulties in interacting with other members.

Bears cannot [[College of Arms|register]] [[names]] or [[device]]s, nor can they become members.

==See Also==

*[[bear (Maplet)|Bear according to Maplet's ''A Greene Forest'']]

[[category:animal]]

Mary Queen of Scots

2006-06-26T07:15:25Z

Far-Bjorn:

* 1542 December 8th -- born, daughter of [[James V]] and Mary of Lorraine (daughter of the Duke of Guise)

6 days later:
* 1542 December 14th -- succeeds to [[Scotland|Scots]] [[throne]], on death of her father.

* 1543 -- crowned [[queen]], at Stirling.

* 1547 -- betrothed to the heir to the [[France|French]] [[crown]], the dauphin Francis.

* 1547 -- left Scotland, to be brought up in France, by the Guise family, and to avoid her being seized by the [[England|English]], who wished her to marry the English price Edward.

* 1548 -- formal marriage contract between Mary and Francis agreed.

* 1558 -- marries Francis, becomes Queen Consort of France.

* 1560 -- Francis dies; succeeded by his brother Charles; the Guise family fall from power.

* 1563 -- [[Elizabeth]] of [[England]] offers Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, as a husband, and to be King of Scotland (Dudley was a Protestant, and someone the English believed they could control)

* 1565, July -- marries Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, a half-cousin (and a Catholic).

* 1567, February -- Darnley assassinated

* 1567, June -- a son, James, is born to Mary.

* 1567 -- Rizzio is murdered in her presence. Mary seized by James, 4th Earl of Boswell, and forced to marry him.

* 1567 -- imprisoned and forced to abdicate; her infant son is declared king [[James VI]]

* 1568, May -- escapes from prison

* 1568 -- crosses the border to England, is arrsted and imprisoned and held in various castles.

* 1586 -- imprisoned in Fotheringay Castle

* 1587 -- After becoming implicated in an English-organised plot, ostensibly to have the Duke of Guise invade England in her interests, Mary was given a show trial before the Court of Star Chamber (at which she was not allowed to know the deatils of thge evidence raised against her) and was then executed by order of [[Elizabeth]].

User:Far-Bjorn

2005-11-14T15:25:04Z

Far-Bjorn:

I am an ''[[bear|ursus refectus]]'' in the [[household]] of Samuel Sanskin, [[Baron]] Bowland, in the '''[[Kingdom]] of the [[Far Isles]]''', where I work as [[clerk]] and [[peasant]]-ward.

PS: I am currently (mid-November 2005) entering hibearnation, so I may not edit for a month or three. I will remove this note when I am back. --[[User:Far-Bjorn|Far-Bjorn]] 09:25, 14 Nov 2005 (CST)

Bear

2005-11-14T15:23:38Z

Far-Bjorn: grammarised

'''Bear'''s are quadruped mammals, of the family ''Ursidae''. They are carnivores as opposed to herbivores, but in practice will eat anything nutritious.

According to Wikipaedia 
:"Common characteristics of bears include a short tail, excellent senses of smell and hearing, five un-retractable claws, and long, dense, shaggy fur.

:"Bears have a large body with powerful limbs. They are capable of standing up on their hind legs. They have broad paws, long snouts, and round ears. Their teeth are used for defense and tools and depend on the diet of the bear. Their claws are used for ripping, digging, and catching."

In [[period]], in [[Europe]], the principal bear was the brown bear, which was, throughout [[period]], slowly being driven back into ever-more restricted ranges, having formerly inhabited the continent widely. [[Men|Man]] hunted the bear, with [[dog]]s, both to reduce its predations on their cultivated lands, and also for meat and fur.

There is some evidence for bear-[[worship]] prior to period, and several cities (most notably '''Berne''' and '''Berlin''') appear to have been named in commemoration of the beast. The [[Latin]] ''ursus'' links to the [[Greek]] ''arktos'' and the [[Celtic]] ''artos/arthus'', to offer one rationale for the name '''Arthur''' for a legendary warleader (''qv'' [[King Arthur]]).

Regrettably the stuffed bear (''Ursus refertus'') has left no imprint upon medieval history, but it is almost inevitable that there will have been some, given that they have survived, relatively unchanged (and with very wide ranges), to the modern era.

[[category:animal]]

Dog

2005-11-14T15:20:59Z

Far-Bjorn: add category

The '''dog''' is a quadruped mammal, almost certainly descended from the same root-stock as the visually-similar [[wolf]]. Together with the [[cat]], it became, during pre-history, the main domesticated species in [[Europe]]. It [[hunting|hunted]] and herded for man, guarded his homes, and (on occasions) was trained to fight in his [[war]]s. The cat, on the other hand, killed [[mice]], drank [[milk]], and looked elegant.

Spiritually the dog was seen as unfailingly faithful (hence the adjective ''dogged'') and hard-working. For this reason, when its loyalty failed, it was noted and "dog" became a term of abuse in some circles.

[[King Arthur]] had a famous hunting dog, Cabal, who is supposedly buried on a [[Wales|Welsh]] mountain.

=== Types of period dogs ===
* [[greyhound]]s, [[saluki]], [[Afghan hound]]s, and [[borzoi]]
* other [[hound]]s, particularly [[bloodhound]]s [[deerhound]]s and [[wolfhound]]s
* [[terrier]]s
* [[husky]]s
* [[poodle]]s, both standard and toy (the toy poodle was used to keep fleas off of nobility)
* some [[spanial]]s

=== See also ===
* [[coursing]]

[[category:animal]]

Bear

2005-11-14T15:20:27Z

Far-Bjorn: add category

'''Bear'''s are quadruped mammals, of the family''Ursidae''. They are carnivores as opposed to herbivores, but in practice will eat anything nutritious.

According to Wikipaedia 
:"Common characteristics of bears include a short tail, excellent senses of smell and hearing, five un-retractable claws, and long, dense, shaggy fur.

:"Bears have a large body with powerful limbs. They are capable of standing up on their hind legs. They have broad paws, long snouts, and round ears. Their teeth are used for defense and tools and depend on the diet of the bear. Their claws are used for ripping, digging, and catching."

In [[period]], in [[Europe]], the principal bear was the brown bear, which was, throughout [[period]] slowly being driven back into every more restricted ranges, having formerly ranged the continent widely. [[Men|Man]] hunted the bear, with [[dog]]s, both to reduce its predations on their cultivated lands, and also for meat and fur.

There is some evidence for bear-[[worship]] prior to period, and several cities (most notably '''Berne''' and '''Berlin''' appear to have been named in commemoration of the beast. The [[latin]] ''ursus'' links to the [[Greek]] ''arktos'' and the [[celtic]] ''artos/arthus'', to offer one rationale for the name '''Arthur''' for a legendary warleader (qv [[King Arthur]]).

Regrettably the stuffed bear (''Ursus refertus'') has left no imprint upon medieval history, but it is almost inevitable that there will have been some, given that they have survived, realtively unchanged (and with very wide ranges) to the modern era.

[[category:animal]]

Talk:Round Table

2005-11-10T10:05:10Z

Far-Bjorn:

Sir Safer was actually the brother of Sir Palomedes. Both were Saracens: Safir later converted to [[Christianity]], following their other brother, Segwarides (who is not on the Winchester Table) --[[User:Far-Bjorn|Far-Bjorn]] 04:05, 10 Nov 2005 (CST)

Round Table

2005-11-10T10:03:16Z

Far-Bjorn:

Setting aside, for the moment, the '''Round Table''' exhibited in the Great Hall of the castle at [[Winchester]], England, the mythical Round Table was supposed to have been created for '''Uthur Pendragon''' by '''Merlin'''. 
From Uthur it passed to King '''Leodegrance''', aagin possibly through Merlin's arrangement. He, [[Malory]] says, sought to fill its seats (or ''seiges'') but wars and other losses meant that the most he ever appears to have managed was 100 out of the 150 vacant seats. 
Then [[King Arthur|Arthur]] received the Table as a wedding gift from Leodegrance when he married Leodegrance's daughter, [[Guinevere]] and over time filled the remaining seats, up till the Quest for the Grail, after which, the accounts make clear, the Table was enevr again filled

====Practicality====
At a size of 150 seats, the table would have been unfeasibly large, but with any fewer there would have been a risk that storytellers would have had to enforce a discrimination between classes of Arthurian knights, as to whether or no they were sufficiently valiant to emrit the Round Table. With 150, no-one could be expected to remember when the literary limit had been reached. 
The Winchester Table (which reaches 18 feet in diameter(!)) has 24 places around its circumference, each inscribed with the name of its tenant.

Of these several are well-known Arthurian knights:
* Sir Galahad
* Sir Lancelot du Lac
* Sir Gawain
* Sir Percival
* Sir Tristram de Lyones
* Sir Gareth
* Sir Bedevere
* Sir Palomedes
* Sir Lamorak
* Sir Bors
* Sir Pelleas
* Sir Kay
* Sir Ector
* Sir Mordred

Others are perhaps slightly more obscure:
* Sir Brunour
* Sir Digore
* Sir Dagonet -- otherwise known as Arthur's court fool (''but then, looking at *some* modern day knights ... '')
* Sir Lionell
* Sir Bleoberis
* Sir Lucan

And some require a little deciphering:
* "Sir Lacotemale Tayle" is ''La Cote Mail Taile'', the Ill-Dressed Knight, which is another name for Sir Brunour, something perhaps unknown to the painter of the Table.
* "Sir Lybyus Dysconys" is ''Le Bel Desconneu'', the Beautiful Unknown, or Gawain's son, Guinglain.

And some seem otherwise unknown to modern eyes:
* Sir Safer (see discussion page)
* Sir Alynore or Alymere

User:Far-Bjorn

2005-11-08T09:49:19Z

Far-Bjorn:

I am an ''ursus refectus'' in the household of Samuel Sanskin, Baron Bowland, in the '''[[Kingdom]] of the Far Isles''', where I work as clerk and peasant-ward.

Bear

2005-11-08T09:47:48Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Bear'''s are quadruped mammals, of the family''Ursidae''. They are carnivores as opposed to herbivores, but in practice will eat anything nutritious.

According to Wikipaedia 
:"Common characteristics of bears include a short tail, excellent senses of smell and hearing, five un-retractable claws, and long, dense, shaggy fur.

:"Bears have a large body with powerful limbs. They are capable of standing up on their hind legs. They have broad paws, long snouts, and round ears. Their teeth are used for defense and tools and depend on the diet of the bear. Their claws are used for ripping, digging, and catching."

In [[period]], in [[Europe]], the principal bear was the brown bear, which was, throughout [[period]] slowly being driven back into every more restricted ranges, having formerly ranged the continent widely. [[Men|Man]] hunted the bear, with [[dog]]s, both to reduce its predations on their cultivated lands, and also for meat and fur.

There is some evidence for bear-[[worship]] prior to period, and several cities (most notably '''Berne''' and '''Berlin''' appear to have been named in commemoration of the beast. The [[latin]] ''ursus'' links to the [[Greek]] ''arktos'' and the [[celtic]] ''artos/arthus'', to offer one rationale for the name '''Arthur''' for a legendary warleader (qv [[King Arthur]]).

Regrettably the stuffed bear (''Ursus refertus'') has left no imprint upon medieval history, but it is almost inevitable that there will have been some, given that they have survived, realtively unchanged (and with very wide ranges) to the modern era.

Dog

2005-10-27T09:05:55Z

Far-Bjorn:

Dog

2005-10-27T09:05:02Z

Far-Bjorn:

12th Century animals

2005-08-19T12:59:47Z

Far-Bjorn:

Dalriada

2005-08-12T09:46:00Z

Far-Bjorn:

Dal Riada is an interesting case of a [[kingdom]] which migrated with [[king]] and [[populace]]. Originally sited in Atrim in [[Ireland]], they moved to the west of [[Scotland]] and settled land there, eventually becoming one of the main incomer colonists of the Scots landscape, along with [[Norway|Norse]] (and other [[Viking]]s, and the ever land-hungry men of [[England]] -- the [[Angles]].

While there lacks a detailed history of each of the Dal Riadic kings, their king-lists trace them back to [[third-century]] [[Ireland]] such as ''Conaire mac Moga''', and '''Conn''' ''of the hundred battles''. 
According to these lists the Dal Riada kings moved to [[Scotland]] in the early [[fifth century]], led by '''Fergus Mor''', with '''Angus Fert''' and '''Eochaid Muinremar''' as their first Scots kings. From the scant remaining records they appear to have intermarried both with Irish lineages, and with Pictish princesses. In the early [[seventh century]] '''Domnall Brecc''' married the daughter of the then-king of [[Northumbria]] (whose mother had been a Pictish princess. It was also at the time that their links to Ireland finally withered, with the Batle of Mag Reth in which the Dal Riada were defeated by the Ui Neill. 
And in 778 '''Eochaid IV''' and his Pictish wife had a son, [[Alpin]], who was to begin a line of [[Scottish kings|kings of Scotland]] that would run for 350 years.

Alpin

2005-08-12T09:43:48Z

Far-Bjorn:

'''Alpin''' (dates uncertain, death c.840CE) was the son of the [[King]] of the [[Scotland|Scots]] [[kingdom]] of '''[[Dalriada]]''', Eochaid IV (known as "the Venomous"). His earlier namesake was also the son of an Eochaid (III), but lived about a century earlier. Alpin's mother appears to have been a Pictish princess, possibly named Unuisticc or Fergusia ''(but '''not''' Fergiana)''.

This Alpin's fame arises from the fact that his son [[Kenneth I]] took the kingship of Dalriada, conquered or subdued the other Scottish kingdoms (1) and ruled as king of [[Scotland]] or Alba, over [[Pict]]s, Scots and the Scots [[Anglo-Saxon|Angles]], and that he named his [[household|house]] after his father.

(1) Traditionally Scotland was divided into 4 kingdoms, in the north, the Picts; in the east, Bernicia (in the Lothians); in the west, Dal Riada (the Scots who had come over from [[Ireland]]); and in the southwest, Strathclyde.

See also:
* [[Scottish kings]]

[[category:Monarchs_(medieval)]]