New Initiative

Lately some of our members including me have showed some good initiative concerning the reenactment affairs. one of those initiatives is to go official, which is under my supervision and is almost done.

Second is to make a short movie about our club and reenactment in general. Later we plan to make more movies showing the life in midleages (mostly europe), war and different crafts.

Third is to try to organize our first presentation in school nearby. I have doubts that it will go very well, we don't have so much experience yet, plus to take in to account that the school is for quite difficult children, but we will try it and will continue to do so while funding will allow us to. hopefully we will attract some "difficult" youngster to join the cause, even in other club but still it will be a good accomplishment =)

Current status

Although difficult times continue to affect our activities, we have managed to increase number of full members in our ranks to total of 10. We also have several candidates, but with dramatic lack of materials and equipment it will be long before they will be able to join as full members. Lack of civil cloth mostly. Prices on wool and linen went high extremely, not talking about buying leather for shoes. My personal funds, that I have used to spent on newcomers, are depleted.

New picture of our club (not everyone, but still...)


Real harsh winter, second in the row, rendered us unable to train properly. our base is located in cold hangar, left from Soviet Army. try to imagine changing cloth to armor in there with -20C (-4F) frost. And especially when you get a good slashing blow by your frozen fingers. No armor can save you there =))

But there are also good news. We have begun to reenact another wing dedicated to Teutonic Knights in Baltic. I was the instigator of this and few people decided to tag along. So with God's help we will develop this idea to a full Comtury (Teutonic Orders Unit) one day and more youngsters will join us, leaving the streets, drugs and booze behind. I already managed to interest two young fellows from orphanage to come to our club and at least try to understand the benefits of being one of us. Also my last attempt to get some aid from our government failed, as usual they stated that there is no money, but somehow I think they deny us for we do not give them a bribe, well, what to do, so is the life out here...

Support the cause

Within very unfriendly economical situation in the country whole our movement is ready to collapse. We are trying to get over with our own resources, but lately it is getting harder and harder to allocate money from family budget to reenactment movement.

Without training we cannot participate in festivals, and to train we need equipment, which is quickly wearing out. Materials for cloth and shoes becoming expensive every day, thus we cannot help newcomers to get basic items to participate. Without that, it is hard to help inflame the fire of reenactment in their hearts. It brings comfort to my heart, when I see how yesterdays bullies, gang members or simply people who wander around without a point are becoming crafters or warriors. Sport activities, swordsmanship, studying history and crafting thins helps to change people, show them another way of living.

Currently there are 8 members in the club and 4 people are in waiting to become ones. Plus several guys and girls who are interested in reenactment, yet they lack equpment and clothing to patricipate at the moment.

Here are some photos for ours club base:

Dear Guest, if you have a possibility, please support our movement with financial help. Your donation will be spent on buying new equipment (tools, armor and weapons), materials for clothing and footwear for new members and road expenses that will help us to visit more festivals (maybe even in your country).

I can provide a report on how your donation is being spent. You can contact me via email for questions or suggestions Alexander.lyozov@gmail.com

Reenactment club "Excalibur"

Medieval historical reenactment club “Excalibur” was founded in year 2000. First there was a group of young people united with a common idea of reconstruction. The place, where was first groups’ performance was in House of Blackheads, where the idea to found a club appeared. Next event was medieval historical play “Rose’s Name” where club was admitted as the best and with gathered decision members created the name – “Excalibur”. Since that time club is participating in festivals focused on middle ages, hold in Baltic countries, Poland, Germany and Russia.

Here are some photos of “Excalibur” from those events.

Introduction

Medieval reenactment appeared in Latvia somewhere in 1999. First members were from role players, young people, who decided not only to study history in theory, but also bring in to life in historical reenactment of medieval times.

Researching the object of reenactment includes following steps:

- Choose epoch and region.

- Choose profession.

- Research options selected.

- Recreate items, cloth, armor and weapons etc.

With the choice of epoch, people divided on to those, who begun to study early medieval times (8-10 century’s) and those who chose middle ages 11 – 13th century’s. By professions everyone chose area that is best suited for his heart. Some became warriors, knights and archers, others craftsman’s and traders. Everyone found a place in reenactment movement. The most troublesome step was to research your selected character. There was almost no information available; there was no experience of how to find such information and so a great hunt has begun. Hunt for knowledge: patters of cloth, shoes, armor, items; information of way of life, rules and laws. Everything that was found was a victory and a celebration. People went offshore to take photos of medieval paintings, books, architecture and so on.

As movement grew, clubs and yearly medieval festivals became to appear in Latvia. People came there to share their achievements, to discuss many questions about medieval times. Although first festivals were civilian only, soon knights and warriors begun to arrange tournaments. Strength, endurance, skill, bravery and honor of participants were checked in a tournament fights. Knight fought for a lovely lady, warrior to prove his skill and bravery, archers were competing in their marksmanship skills, feasts were hold, where people could relax under medieval music and with a cup of honey beer. International tournaments were hold. To win such a tournament, people had to practice a lot in their skill with sword or bow, keep themselves in good physical condition, working with different sports.

Items, cloth, shoes, armor and weapons were made by using only medieval technique.

Most of us never worked with smith hammer or were sewing cloth, so we had to learn how to do so.Those skills can help you in other aspects of you life.

"I have joined reenactment movement in 2004. Since childhood I was attracted to medieval times: big and strong knights in shiny armor, lovely princesses, large castles and fearsome battles. My first cloth and armor set were for a citizen of Riga of 15-th century. Gothic plate armor. Although it had a lot of mistakes in its construction, but I was so happy and thus I didn’t see them.

I still remember the first time I putted my armor on. My mother and father helped me, not only to put my armor on, but in all my aspiration considering reenactment. I’m very grateful for that. Reenactment changed my life, it took me away from street gang I was in for long time, it changed my character completely and I’m sure it saved me from a dark deeds. Armor was very heavy and bulky, it weighted almost 40 kilos, I could barley raise a sword, but I waited for my first fight full of enthusiasm. It happened that my first fight was not in tournament where knight fight one on one, it was a massive melee fight.

We formed a double line in front of our enemies; I was most armored so our commander placed me in first line on left flank, where strongest enemy fighters were concentrated. The horn sounded advance and we begun to approach enemy lines. Everything went quite and world around me slowed down, with every step we made. I could hear how my heart is beating and my heavy breath. Heat and weight of armor was forgotten. My view met the eyes of enemy fighter, we were marching straight one on other. The battle between two of us already begun in that moment. I could see dedication to win in his eyes, yet he was not willing to hurt me, we were not at real war, so responsibility for your opponent was in bigger part on you. Few more steps and we were in range of a sword. I covered with my shield to protect from halberds and raised my sword to strike. Battle begun and a wave of adrenaline rush on me. I felt no pain, no fatigue, and no fear. Battle lasted several minutes, screams, sound of scorching metal, someone was hitting you, and you were hitting someone, complete chaos. War is not so romantic in the end, yet only in honorable battle you can prove your valor. We won. People sad, that I returned completely other man. For the rest of the evening, on traditional feast I sat quietly, thinking of my life, of how valuable it is and that I should put the time given to me in this world for a better use, than to hang with some gangs. I have joined a reenactment club “Excalibur” where I found new friends and new life goal.

Should you fell upon burden of this life, do not despair. There always are people who can bring light in to your life, even if it is dark or gray, just find a little strength in yourselves to try to find them.

I have changed my life with joining reenactment of medieval times, and I have found there a girl of my heart with that I have found peace for my soul and mind. "

About author

Greetings!

Allow me to introduce myself,
My name is Aleksander Lozov, I'm 26, I live in Riga, Latvia.
I have received education in IT sphere (hardware\software, user support) and became a bachelor in area of small business and workforce management.
Currently I work as senior IT engineer in IT center of Latvian Railways for nine years.

My main interests are sports, fitness, camping, history, reenactment of medieval times, drawing, writing.

As for my character, most people consider me way too kind and way too old-fashioned for modern times. I help people without though of reward, I tend to follow Code of Honor, thou sometimes it is wery hard nowadays. Pity, that people are forgetting that word - honor. Yet I hope someday, ideals that this word brings within it will be restored and accepted in human society.