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This page last updated on 23 March 2003
The Knight's Order of Lion Rampant is a Brisbane based group of people from all walks of life, dedicated to re-enacting all aspects of late 14th century life. A passion for medieval history and historical accuracy are the two main driving forces behind the group.
The group previously focused on the period 1350 to 1375 (at the time I was involved with OLR), but now is focused on the period 1375 to 1400, with a very strong emphasis
placed on Historical Accuracy.
Everything you see in a Lion Rampant encampment has been reproduced from
either survivng examples or from tomb effigies, manuscripts and other primary
sources.
Not only are Knights and Ladies portrayed, but also Squires, Archers and Gunners as something of a "sideline".
The aim is to re-enact, as faithfully as possible, a late 14th Century Tournament. A Tournament was not only a "Contest of Arms" but also a Social Event and an opportunity to gain the attention of a prospective Patron. Alternatively, you could say "a group of like-minded arrested adolescents with a burning desire to show off" and you'd probably be not far wrong... (Okay... the above isn't the "Official" description. It's an excerpt from
something I wrote to be used in a Website for the group that was sadly never
finished...) Seriously, what Lion Rampant does is best described as a combination of martial art, historical research and theatre. You are trained in the use of various weapons (If of course you have chosen to portray a Combatant), you are encouraged to research the arms and armour or other clothing you wish to use and wear, as well as any fields of "special interest" you have (archery, brewing, singing etc etc), and you learn to portray your chosen role within the group at public performances.
Enough of that.
If you're Really keen already, contact; Damien.
And now... on to the photographs.... (and there was much rejoicing, I hear you say...)
Given that most of these have been sourced from my friends, it's hardly
surprising that they're mostly of ME!!
(Alternatively, it's MY webpage, therefore MY Ego.... Ahahahahahahahaha!!!)
I'm going to attempt to set these out in some vaguely chronological
order...
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My first time "on the field" Abbey Museum 96.
Wearing almost entirely borrowed harness.
(Needless to say A/ it didn't
fit & B/ I got creamed!!!) |
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Abbey 96 again. That's me, centre right with the 14th
Century 'Light Sabre'. Looks great doesn't it.... |
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Not that it did me any good,
though..... |
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Red Hill Fair, July 97. First time out in my brand new Armour |
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Abbey 97. About to do battle.(get splattered, more
like it....) |
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Yup, I got splattered alright.... |
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Greg & Kat showing off their finery. Abbey 97. |
As an aside, the helmet I am wearing in the above photos is referred to as a
"Hounskul" or "Pig-face" Bascinet. (so called because of the shape of the visor) Apparently this is incorrect. It would appear that I, and indeed many acclaimed Medieval Historians of good standing, have been deceived in this matter. According to my friend Alison, the correct name is in fact a "Beaky-Bird Helmet".....
Just thought I'd share that with you.....
Miscellaneous Photos
Here's some pics of me playing Archer. I know *Where* they were taken but not entirely certain as to *When*... Probably '97 or early '98.
For those of you that are interested... The Bow has a 30lb "draw-weight" (as opposed to the 100 + lb "draw-weight" of a REAL "War Bow") and was made from Spotted Gum by Cliff from "Turbow Products".
The following photos are from a 'camping weekend' the group had in
July 98.
On a private property, no public.
The property in question was a place in the Samford Valley that Alan (Falcon's Forge) and I were sharing. I'd only moved in the weekend before so I wasn't around much on the Saturday (last few bits of unpacking etc) but I did managed to wander on down late in the afternoon to do a bit of Archery.The purpose of the weekend (apart from having some fun) was also to do a bit of a Photo-shoot for a CD-ROM about "The Age of Chivalry" that *was* to be published by a company called Knowledge Books and Software... (but that's a saga in itself...) Anyway, these photos were taken on the Sunday by a work-mate of mine who'd seen the group in action and was pretty keen to shoot some more film. Pretty good job he did too!
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Greg & Paul guarding the encampment |
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Scott errrr... guarding the campfire?? |
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Donald & Paul. Still guarding the encampment |
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Me, looking like the most Arrogant Prick on two legs.... |
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Nice shot of the Encampment in the background. Us milling around prior to the battle. |
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The Battle begins.... ! A group of Foot Soldiers with pole weapons against a group of Knights.... |
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Crash! Bang! Thud! Ouch! Clang! AAARRRRRGGGHHH!!! Muuuuummmmeeeee!!!! |
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As the battle breaks up, Dean & I "Gang up" on Glenn |
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After trampling bodies to get there (see previous pic) I'm in "at the Kill..." |
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Thank you Donald, for so fortuitously exposing your armpit
for me to plant my sword in! |
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Pitched Battle; Me fighting behind a "Portable Wall" |
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Me looking 'heroically knackered' afterwards. |
And now.. some more stuff from Public shows...
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The Ladies of the High Table,
Abbey Museum 98. |
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My "Zen Moment" First time I'd worn my dagger on the field. Man, did it come in handy...!!
Abbey 98 |
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L to R; Warren, Robert, Yours Truly & Martin, relaxing before the Tournament.
Abbey Museum 98. |
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Brendan and I do battle before the High Table..
Abbey
Museum 98. |
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L to R; Martin, Yours Truly, Dean & Peter, clowning around for the camera.
Abbey 98. |
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Cliff (Master of Archers) and a few pals doing the Agincourt
thing... (sometime 98) |
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Me playing "Foot Soldier" at Brisbane Medieval Fayre & Tournament '99 |
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Me playing "Foot Soldier" at Brisbane Medieval Fayre & Tournament '99 again |
If you wish to purchase high quality reproduction Arms & Armour; contact Alan,
from Falcons Forge.
He made my harness, all bar the leather bits. In fact, he probably made most of
the armour in these photos...
Unfortunately, the *Official* Lion Rampant homepage. no longer exists, due to the demise of the ISP (one.tel) hosting it. If it was still up and running you could have seen many more examples of Alan's work and Lion Rampant in action. To date a new "Web-host" has yet to be found
 (3/5/03) There is a "temporary" site for KOLR at http://www.geocities.com/kolr14/ containing a handful of photos, a brief description of the group and an email link....
Update 2002.
Unfortunately, due to some "differences of opinion" a New Medieval Group has split off from KOLR (more later).
Later.
The New Medieval Group is called "The Companie of the Phoenix". Whilst the group as yet doesn't have sufficient numbers to do a full on "Tournament" their eventual aim (or so I believe) is to depict a Mercenary Band and give demonstrations of how the various elements (foot soldiers, archers, gunners and Knights) would work together in an actual battle. Note: The following is MY personal opinion only;
A "Tournament", whilst it is in fact a "Contest of Arms" and indeed frequently Spectacular, it has Rules (read out by the Marshall) that must be adhered to. In short it is a somewhat "ritualised" affair and therefore NOT a "real" Battle. For example, in a rigidly stratified society such as existed in the Middle Ages, a mere Sergeant at Arms (ie, Foot Soldier) would never even dream of challenging a Knight at a Tournament. However, in the reality of a Battle (be it a War or Border Skirmish) the same two could indeed wind up facing each other "over a shield rim", as it were... Just as the Nobility often decried the use of Archers in war as being "un-gentlemanly", the outcries were far less vocal if *they* happened to be the ones with Archers in their Army.....
I hope this is making some kind of sense because the point I'm trying to make is that the two groups offer something to both the audience and the re-enactment community. On the one hand is KOLR with the Spectacle and full Chivalric Display of a High Medieval Tournament, whilst on the other hand is Phoenix portraying some of the more brutal aspects of medieval life; Tax collectors, village raids etc. I for one hope to see the "mixed melee" scenario mentioned above in action in the not too distant future... It should be well worth a look!
Update 2003.
I've given the game away and sold most of my armour. The items retained are the Blades (Natch), the gauntlets and the chain shirt (although if I get a decent offer for it, out it goes.....)
Whilst it was a bit of a wrench when it came down to actually selling the harness, my reasons were thus;
A/ Partly because I hadn't performed with KOLR (or any other group) since mid 2000
B/ Partly because I'd taken a break (that kept extending.....) and had no immediate plans to "get back into it...."
C/ More than "partly" due to the split mentioned above.. I have friends in "both camps", as it were, and am unwilling to choose between them
But mostly D/ wanting to raise funds for a trip to the UK.
  
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