History of Montengarde

Montengarde Wikipedia

1979 – AS 13-14 – 0ym 1st organizational meetings held. There are two independent groups, Montengarde and Mussenhitt, each unaware of the other at 1st. Though they are made up of very different people they share a common love for the ideas of the SCA. This will eventually lead to their unification down the road.

1980 – AS 14-15 – 1ym Montengarde Petitions for Shire status, granted such in July. Both groups continue to grow and attract new members. “Non Taurus Est!” adopted as the group’s motto after a duel with the College of Heralds over the precise nature of the principal charge on the Shire’s Arms, the head of a Minotaur. It translates as: “That’s No Bull!”

1981 – AS 15-16 – 2ym Duke Paul of Bellatrix comes to Montengarde in February. 1st visit by Royalty: Scellanus and Maelen, Prince and Princess of An Tir. 1st peerage: Bjorn Isenkramenhandler, Order of the Laurel, August 1, 1981.

1982 – AS 16-17 – 3ym Montengarde absorbs the last elements of Mussenhitt, members of Mussenhitt become outstanding members and officers for the Shire. The group continues to grow. Cable 10 shoots a half hour special with the group directing and producing. The 1st of the Glenbow Museum demos. 1st visit of a King: Manfred Kreigstrieber. 1st Regional Theme event is held: The Gull Lake War Games, intended to become the Rallying point for what is hoped will one day become a Principality. Thorwulf Bjornsson and Guy de Monteferrat (Borealis) are its founders and Autocrats. 1st Kingdom of An Tir grant level award for service: Stephen of Westmarch (one of the group’s founders and builders, Order of the Goutte de Sang, June 12, 1982. 1st Lion’s Gate Sergeant in Montengarde: Macsen Aelian. 1st Kingdom officer: Garrathe Ravenswood, Royal Archer.

1983 – AS 17-18 – 4ym Montengarde continues to grow and prosper. Locally, the group works hard to establish itself in the greater community, performing numerous demos, and participating in the annual 10th Street Fair.

1984 – AS 18-19 – 5ym “Erik” the tent is built, this pavilion is created by Richard de Hargreave, Roland the Savage, and others. It becomes the central gathering point for the group at many gatherings. Montengarde wins Clinton War for 1st time! Montengarde hosts the 1st Crown Tourney to be held in the region on the September long weekend. Garrathe Ravenswood and Darcy of Eagles Crag are the autocrats, Count Sir Torgul and Erin are the victors.

1985 – AS 19-20 – 6ym The group has grown, there is a lot of pride and a strong sense of identity. Thorwulf and Sapphira begin circulating a petition among the populace in order to establish how much support there is for the idea. The support turns out to be overwhelming. The 1st Allthing is called and the decision is made to go for Baronial status. Edward Ross and Mistress Laurel Venustas di Firenze are put forward as the proposed Barony’s 1st Baronial couple.

1986 – AS 20-21 – 7ym Montengarde travels to Kingdom 12th Night and is elevated to Barony! Edward Ross and Laurel Venustas di Firenze are created founding Baron and Baroness.

1987 – AS 21-22 – 8ym Montengarde’s 12th Night becomes the largest event in the region and a focal point for the ‘fledgling’ that would one day become the Principality of Avacal. Baron Edward becomes known as the great War Monger! 1st Baronial Champion of the Arts; Order of the Emerald Rose; Randwulf Aylen. 1st Baronial Champion of Service; Order of the Minotaur’s Chain; Roland the Savage. 1st Champion of Arrows; Order of the DragonBlinder; Thorvald Grimsson.

1988 – AS 22-23 – 9ym 1st double peers; shared by Edward Ross, Aethelhere the Unsteady, and Thorvald Grimsson; July 2,1988.

1989 – AS 23-24 – 10ym The Minotaur’s tenth birthday, celebrated with a lot of travel and a lot of recognition for many of our members.

1992 – AS 26-27 – 13ym A year of great change in the Barony begins, a series of Allthings are held through the summer to decide on the mechanism that will be used to select a new Baron and Baroness as Sir Edward and Mistress Laurel choose to step down. Master Thorvald Grimsson and Enid Ferch Rhodri are selected by the Crown.

1993 – AS 27-28 – 14ym At Montengarde Baronial 12th Night, Thorvald and Enid become the second Baron and Baroness of Montengarde by the hand of their dread Majesties Barak and Lao. Sir Edward and Mistress Laurel are made Baron and Baroness of the Court of An Tir, the 1st time this recognition is granted to anyone from Montengarde. For the 1st time since Pagan McPhee and Alisdair MacAuley held the position of Dragonslayer, a Championship is shared in the Barony when the honour of the Order of the Emerald Rose is bestowed upon her Ladyship B.

1995 – AS 29-30 – 16ym The Barony begins the process to select a new Baron and Baroness. Ilka of Toftgaard and Leena Steinstriker are selected. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Derek the Exile and Thorwulf Bjornsson, Montengarde joins with the Barony of Sentinels Keep in the Kingdom of Artemisia to host the 1st Gryphon’s Fury. This event will become the premier fighting event in the region. It is a war fought in celebration of the founding principles of combat within the SCA. There are no war points, instead one lucky(?) individual gets bestowed with the honour of the embalmed Gryphon and serves a year as the events “official ambassador”.

1996 – AS 30-31 – 17ym Due to personal matters, Ilka and Leena step down from the position of Baron and Baroness. After eight months in which Murchad acts as Castellan for the group, Thorwulf and Sapphira step up to wear the mantle of the Minotaur. 1st Dragon Blade, the Baronial Rapier Champion: Thore de Bethune. 1st Baronial thrones and dais are built. Five new Baronial awards are created: Heart of the Minotaur, Horns of the Minotaur, Rose Petal, Golden Link, and Standard Bearer.

1997 – AS 31-32 – 18ym The 1st Montengarde Tavern nights are held, hosted by Cattea the Studious, to become a major foundation stone for the Barony, being held regularly on the fourth Thursday of every month for years to come. 1st Prince and Princess of Avacal to call Montengarde home: Sir Vik and Ceridwyn.

1998 – AS 32-33 – 19ym Again Montengarde goes through the process of selecting a new Baron and Baroness in the third installment of the term system. Halfdane Eastborn and Cattea the Studious are selected. With the arrival of Dalton and House Ice Tiger, there is a complete rebirth of target archery.

1999 – AS 33-34 – 20ym At 12th night, 13 years after Montengarde was elevated to a Barony, Halfdane Eastbourne and Cattea the Studious receive the Baronial Coronets from King Aveloc and Queen Laurellan.

2000 – AS 34-35 – 21ym Montengarde is asked to return as a Principal at Clinton.

2001 – AS 35-36 – 22ym After a complete reworking of the polling process and scrapping the old term system, Montengarde again goes through the process of finding a new Baron and Baroness. In October, it is announced Baron Sir Thorwulf Bjornsson and Her Ladyship Sine Peregrina will step up at the following 12th Night. 1st Child of the Minotaur is bestowed upon Her Ladyship Audette des Grenouilles as her job takes her away to far off Ansteorra. She is renowned as the “Mad Tatter” and for her love of little green amphibians.

2002 – AS 36-37 – 23ym Baron Sir Thorwulf Bjornsson and Her Ladyship Sine Peregrina step up as Baron and Baroness at 12th Night. Tavern has a name, The Drum and Whistle, in honour of the work of Baron Halfdane and Baroness Cattea.

2003 – AS 37-38 – 24ym Baron Thorwulf and Baroness Sine create a new Baronial Order, the Torse of the Minotaur, and presented the first (and only) award to Michael O’Byrne at Montengarde’s 12th Night festivities.

2004 – AS 38-39 – 25ym Baron Thorwulf and Baroness Sine stepped down on January 6, 2004. Thorvald Grimsson appointed as Castellan. On June 5, His Lordship Malabar Membro Spaccata and Her Ladyship Hero the Responsible were invested at June Coronet as the seventh Baron and Baroness of Montengarde by the hand of Their Highnesses Murchad and Morrigan, with King Skapti Ravensfury overseeing the pageantry.

2006 – AS 40-41 – 24ym In June of AS 40, Baron Malabar and Baroness Hero announced to the Barony their intention to step down from the Thrones of the Minotaur after a fruitful and happy 2-year reign.

2007 – AS 41-42 – 27ym At Montengarde 12th Night (January 20, AS 41), HL Beothuk of the Beothuks and L Wilma the Still were invested by Their Highnesses Wernar and Tatianna as Montengarde’s 8th Baronial couple. New wooden travel thrones were made by HL Stanislav the Gatherer.

2008 – AS 42-43 – 28ym Montengarde has a new Baronial Pavilion, purchased from Panther Pavilions. Its first event was Dragonslayer, and was used for court, classes, and revelry. Montengarde was host of Avacal’s Quad War; a team, known as the Quad Squad, was assembled to run this large event. Montengarde to host An-Tir Crown.

2009 – AS 43-44 – 29ym Montengarde hosts An Tir May Crown! The Barony won the bid to host this prestigious Kingdom Event and we were doubly proud to host Their Majesties Vik and Inga (from nearby Borealis) and the Kingdom of An Tir for the choosing of the heirs to the Lion Thrones of An Tir. Their Excellencies Cedric and Elizabeth were the victors from a list of 68 combatants. Nicknamed “Wind Crown”, Montengarde’s volunteer spirit was strong and the Minotaur’s children worked together joyfully and can be justly proud of their efforts.

2012 – AS 46-47 – 32ym At Samhain, Beothuk and Wilma, 8th Baron and Baroness of Montengarde, stepped down after a glorious 6-year reign. Master Kraig Landenthal and Mistress Una Henriksdottir were invested as the 9th Baron and Baroness by their Highnesses Wernar and Sina.

2017 – AS 51-52 – 37ym Peter von Setzingen and Brangwayn Hessen are created the 10th Baronial couple of Montengarde at 12th Night. In their reign they update many of Montengarde’s awards so they can be registered with the Society. They also created new awards including – – Order of the Sable Drum for excellence in the Bardic Arts, first given to Adis Ylva at Samhain. – Order of the Horn & Bow for leadership and excellence in the Baronial Archery Community – Order of the White Hat for hospitality – Order of the Mountain of Montengarde for long term service to the Barony

2019 – AS 53-present – 39ym Bjar the Blue and Bóthilðr Sigurðardóttir are invested as 11th Baronial couple of Montengarde by their Majesties Fergus and Kora at 12th Night.

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