MICEL FOLCLAND
REGIA ANGLORUM
RECREATING BRITISH CULTURE FROM 950 TO 1066 CE
Living History at Its Best!
Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Norman and British Living History

CONTINUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
Opinions and Information Noted below Are Not Necessarily Official Statements of Regia Anglorum and Are Not Intended to Be Thought of as Such.

We Are Regia Anglorum
In Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin!

If you are Interested In
Serious Living History
High Standards for Historical Accuracy for Reenactments
Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Norman, Cornish and Other British History from about 950 to 1066 ce
READ ON!

WHAT IS LIVING HISTORY?
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Living History is the re-creation of another time period in the present. It is more than a fancy-dress costume party, somewhat more than experimental archaeology, more than just battle recreation and more than camping in funny tents. Living History is a subculture in which participants immerse themselves.

Living Historians re-create many different eras. You might have heard of folks who re-create the American Civil War, the American War of Independence. There are others who re-create eras as diverse as the Great War, the Roman Empire, World War II and the English Civil War. Regia Anglorum tries to recreate medieval culture from Dark Ages Britain. All aspects, from battle to special festivities to the everyday homely details of living in that time.

Just like that favorite teacher or professor made history more exciting for you, we try to make history exciting. It is not that living historians try to denigrate history or that they burlesque it. It is not that they do not care about facts, that they try to change medieval history into some kind of Tolkien fantasy or that we are just making up an excuse to wear fancy costumes, beat our friends over the heads with clubs or speak in a code that outsiders cannot understand. We are all serious about the history...but we aren't going to let that stand in the way of having a good time!

In living history, you can find friendship, camaraderie and much more. Many long-lasting friendships, relationships and even marriages have started in living history. Living history is parties and drinking and arts and sports...and much more. And living history is--like it or not, believe it or not--educational.

We honestly feel that the best way to learn is through doing. We may make mistakes--all historians do--and there are certain areas in which we excel and certain areas in which we fall short--but we try to resolve that. And we hope that if you are also a serious student of history--or just interested in one portion of the big picture--that you will join us. Explore the past with us. I'm willing to bet that you find it fun. And satisfying. And if you don't watch out, you might learn a thing or two along the way!

WHAT DOES DARK-AGES BRITAIN HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
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The most popular eras for reenacting in the United States are the American Civil War, the American War of Independence and other quintessentially American eras of history. Many reenactors do these eras to honor the sacrifices of the soldiers of these eras, because ancestors were active during these eras or for other personal and patriotic reasons. For the most part medieval reenactment in the States has remained rather limited, less accurate and more fantastic.

At first glance, this seems to be natural. There is more documentation available, some within a reenactor's own family. There are few medieval sites in North America, so that reenactments are more limited. Many reenactors, more used to celebrating American independence from European culture, cannot see how European culture has any real influence on American culture.

That is changing. Many medieval reenactors are becoming more involved in serious living history. Although most serious American reenactors are still more interested in recreating American history, this is slowly changing and people are realizing how integral other history is to the formation of the United States. American culture was not created in a vacuum, and it certainly has not developed in isolation either. By recreating European medieval history, Americans are actually paying tribute to those forces which molded American culture.

Regia Anglorum--"Kingdom of the English"--was formed in the United Kingdom in 1986, and it expanded to include North America at the start of this century. It prides itself as one of the best living-history groups in the world and maintains a high degree of accuracy, safety and other standards. It is involved with rebated-steel combat, with period arts, with educating the public, with fostering camaraderie and with having fun as it does all those things. The North American branches do no less!

WHAT ARE WE UP TO?
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"What are we doing tonight, Brain?"

"Same thing we do every night, Pinky. Plot to take over the world..."

Well, not exactly, but we haven't actually been resting. By popular vote we chose a name--Micel Folcland--and colors--green and gray. The name means "Great Folcland;" Folcland, itself, literally means land of the folk or, idiomatically (and quoting Anglo-Saxon language authority Steve Pollington) "a word meaning 'tribal land, land held in common by the folc'." Charles Wright, a professor at the University of Illinois specializing in Old English, notes that the latest research has shown this to be slightly outmoded, and offers the Wife's Lament as a poetic, non-legalistic use of the term as nation or homeland. Our thanks to Mister Pollinton and Professor Wright for their help! The colors are to be used on shields, weapons and other objects to indicate the owner is a member of Micel Folcland.

We held an organizational meeting/work weekend in January of 2005 and got to know everyone. Then on the weekend of 17 June, we held a Living history Exhibition (LHE) at Jubilee Old English Fair. It was in th CA camp, they put us as far away from the normal folk as they could and it only lasted three hours, but we had a nice display and talked to a few interested people. We decided what we needed to do better, and we have set our sights for a better display next time.

At the Regia feast and meeting held at the 2005 Pennsic, we were given permission to expand our membership area to include Indiana. In November, we applied for a land grant, and it was given by the Lawspeaker on 29 November. Official confirmation was given right before the New Year. Micel Folcland is now an official branch of Regia Anglorum!

A well-attended class on Dark Age Reenacting was held on 21 January in Urbana, Illinois, at the Festival of Maidens (an SCA event). A joint meeting of Regia Anglorum in North America and the Vikings North America was also held.

On the weekend of 22-23 April, 2006, Micel Folcland held its first independent LHE and encampment at Forest Glen, a Vermillion County forest preserve near Westville, Illinois, at a site used by many living history groups. "Folcland Fest I: A Viking Celebration of Spring" was attended by four members of Micel Folcland--Babette Colburn, Karen Bergquist, Julie Watkins and Folo Watkins, and there was a steady stream of interested folks, who looked at artifacts, talked to the reenactors and asked a lot of intelligent questions. We cooked, did naalbinding, bonework and listened as a pack of coyotes ran through the camp at night. A good time was had during a splendid weekend, and we talked about upcoming activities. Susan Biggs--the manager of the site-and her staff liked the event, and we were invited back for next year, and we also discussed organizing a timeline event that might include other eras. For more pictures from the event, see the Regia Flickr page and the Micel Folcland Flickr page.

We to set up at Jubilee Old English Fair over the weekend of 17-18 June. We were set up next to St. Sebastian, a 14th-century living-history group, and once again we had a steady stream of visitors. Babette and Karen did cooking. Babette's son, Ethan, was also there, running around with his newly acquired wooden sword. Julie did naalbinding and card-weaving, using her new loom. Folo used his new shaving horse, but spent most time talking to the public and performing his usual functions at the fair. Quite a few friends and interested potential members stopped by. An informal meeting was held on Saturday night, and the entire camp was woken up when a tree fell at 4 in the morning, landing directly in the Saint Sebastian firepit. Nobody was harmed.

Micel Folcland was invited by Norsa, a branch of the Vikings North America, to participate in South Elgin's Scandinavian Day on 10 September. Despite wet weather for much of the day, a lot of fun was had by all. A highlight was a visit to the Viking (sometimes incorrectly called the Raven), the ship built in Norway in 1893 and sailed to the Chicago World's Fair to prove that the Sagas were not myth. The fair was the Columbian Exposition, celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of Columbus, and the Norwegians wanted to remind people that the Vikings were here first!

Our size doubled at our first Hearth night, which was held in Homewood in September. Karen was kind enough to host a weekend of sewing, archery and much more. Everyone got a chance to know each other better.

In January, we will have another meeting at Festival of Maidens 34, while in February, we turned out in force for Reenactor Fest II, where we shared a table with Folump Enterprises. In February we also became incorporated as a nfp corporation.

At the start of April, four Regia training officers came over from the United Kingdom. Ian Uzzell. Hazel Uzzell, Jenny Uzzell-Smith and Jon Smith came over on their own tuppence and devoted the entire time to teaching. They taught, shared information and listened to us, and are bringing what they found back to the Mother Stem. We were visited by potential members, as well as members of Geforthian Strand and Wynmerestow as well, and we had a great banquet on Saturday night where our visitors were properly welcomed and feted. An account is here and photos may be found here.

Later in April, instead of Folcland Fest II, we helped run a timeline event at Forest Glen. There was a small reenactor turn-out, but we had fun. Forest Glen has agreed to hold it again. An account is here, while photos are here.

In June, we set up again at Jubilee Olde English Fair. In September, two of our members drove out to Keizer, Oregon, to participate in Westmearc's training event which hosted Martin and Clare Williams. A few weeks later, the Eolder, Kim Siddorn, visited Micel Folcland on a cross-USA trip, and Karen Bergquist guided him and his wife around Chicagoland, and Babette Colburn arranged a visit to the Viking which saw the turn out of several Micel Folcland members. For the latest information on preservation efforts of the Viking click here.

On the weekend of 26-28 October, Hearth Night II was held at Forest Glen County Preserve near Westville, Illinois. We had the cabin, and we worked on cooking techniques, combat, archery, natural dyeing, fire-making with flint-and-steel, gaming, talking about Regia matters and much more. Chuck Ehschlaeger was chosen and agreed to serve as Military Training Officer. It was cold, the firewood burnt too quickly and we all had a great time!

Karen traveled to the United Kingdom in November and took part in working at Wychurst, plastering outside walls and marking a section with her initials and those of Micel Folcland.

There were meetings at Festival of Maidens in January and at Reenactor Fest 4 in February. Karen and Folo gave presentations.

Hearth Night III was be held on 8 March in Urbana, Illinois. The main attractions was a day-long basket-weaving class by Donna Weeks.

The Second Timeline event was held at Forest Glen on the weekend of 3-4 May, and the following weekend saw an encampment at the Culver Academy Timeline in Culver, Indiana.

Micel Folcland appeared at Swedish Day in Geneva, Illinois on 15 June (the current site of The Viking, and there was be an encampment at Jubilee Old English Fair near Brimfield, Illinois the next weekend. A fine article on the encampment appeared in the Beacon.

Hearth Night, our training weekend, will be held 11-12 October 2-8 in Forest Glen Preserve, near Westville, Illinois. It is free and open to all persons interested in the period and in serious living history. We do have information up.

We have been contacted for other events during 2008. Stay tuned, and we'll post details as soon as they're finalized!
Maybe not a grab for world domination, but it keeps us busy...

OFFICERS
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Group Leader Responsible for coordinating Micel Folcland, its members, its officers and its activities.
Authenticity Officer Advises on and determines matters of historical accuracy of kit and clothing.
Membership Officer/Treasurer Handles members joining Regia and maintains the membership records and renewal details.
Military Training Officer Handles training for and management of military endeavors

For t-shirts, bags and other merchandise bearing the Micel Folcland logo, go to the Micel Folcland Online Store. To indicate your location or to see where Micel Folcland members live, go to our Frappr home page. For access to a great Flickr archive of Regia photographs--events, combat, projects and much more--click here. And for those of you who do MySpace, click here to go to our MySpace page.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
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Regia's main efforts are to educate the public, and it holds various shows, involving Battle Tacticals, Living History Exhibitions, classroom excursions and the like. Above all else, you, your clothing, your kit and your behavior will need to be historically accurate. This is sometimes referred to as "authenticity," but this is confusing since some people regard an authentic artifact to be an artifact from the time it represents. Historical is determined by our knowledge and interpretation of historical facts of the period.

We have issued four Public Statements on conduce within Micel Folcland that we recommend that all potential members and interested persons read. These are:

Public Statement 1--Accuracy Standards
Public Statement 2--Cultural Identity
Public Statement 3--Minimum Requirements for Membership
Public Statement 4--Minimal Clothing Requirements
Public Statement 5-Official Policy of the Micel Folcland Authenticity Officer

FOR MORE INFORMATION
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MAIN REGIA LINK
Regia Anglorum
For more information on Micel Folcland Fólki Rusli Þorgilsson
GROUPS IN NORTH AMERICA
Danelaw (FL, GA, AL)
Wynmerestow (CANADA)
Bjornstad (CA)
Westmearc (OR, WA)
Geforðian Strandi (rest of North America)
GROUPS IN BRITAIN
Gwerin y Gwyr Silly Pages (A branch of Regia in Wales with a delightful page full of the lighter side of reenacting.
http://www.debec.org.uk/ (Milites de Bec is a Norman-centric branch with very interesting and informative pages)
RAiNA MAILING LISTS (Membership Not Required)
North American List
Micel Folcland Mailing List
EXTERNAL LINKS
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Note that Regia has no control over the following and neither it nor its member groups are not responsible for their contents:

Non-Commercial Links
Anglo Saxon Links (More Saxon-related links than you can shake a pattern-welded sword at)
Anglo-Saxon Names (Names you can use for Anglo-Saxon impressions)
Archaeology of York (Pictures of Artifacts from York; you can buy prints too!)
Footware of the Middle Ages (Shoes, shoes, shoes, from throughout the middle ages)
Hurstwic Food Page (Good analysis of Norse diet)
Julius Work Calendar (Anglo-Saxon Calendar, also featured in Robert Lacey's THE YEAR 1000; includes the Tiberius calendar)
Modern English to Old English Vocabulary (What it says. Not exhaustive but very useful.)
Norse Names (On creating Norse names, including links to names found in Landnámabók )
Northvegr (An Asatru site that has many valuable primary documents, including an Old Norse-English dictionary. )
Viking Answer Lady (A collection of articles dealing with many aspects of the Viking Age. Invaluable!)
Viking resources for the Reenactor (The main page for Thora Sharktooth's articles on the Viking Age. Invaluable!)
Viking Site (Jesse Byock's web site; he's one of my favorite living historians, and the site delivers. The page showing an animated feud is perhaps the most fun.)

Commercial Links
Neither Regia Anglorum nor Micel Folcland endorse any vendor. Please check with the AO before buying anything for use on the line!
Armlann (Chicago-area maker of accurate leather goods, including shoes)
Cold Steel (Spear Shafts and Other Goodies)
Dru Shoemaker (Dru does excellent, accurate shoes and other stuff as well)
Fettered Cock Pewters (Our neighbors at Pennsic and nice people. Pewter, silver and gold.)
Gaukler Medieval Wares (Authentic artifacts and accurate reproductions.)
Hearthstone Arts (Potters, willing to do custom and historically accurate objects)
Historic Enterprises (Great people to work with and great wares! Right now, they are mostly later period, but they're working with Regia and the Vikes to produce accurate Dark Ages kit now. Any of us who have purchased appropriate crosstiming stuff from them even before are more than satisfied! These are the folk in the Tudor-style shop by the barn at Pennsic.)
Lost Viking (Spear shafts and Other Goodies)
Micel Folcland Online Shop (T-shirts, caps, buttons & other items with the Micel Folcland logo; wear your membership proudly!)
Purpleheart Armory (Spear shafts and other goodies)
Raymond's Quiet Press (High-quality reproductions and recreations, mainly bronze and silver. Recreations are based on finds from archaeological digs.)
Regia Anglorum Online Shop (Items with the Regia logo)
Talbot's Fine Accessories (Local and very skilled. His collection of antiquities is large, and his merchandise is made from castings of the original. Mostly pewter and bronze.)
Wareham Forge (Cookware and Other Metalwork from the Viking Age. Darrell does a lot of the metal work for the L'Ans aux Meadows site)
Wm. Booth, Draper, At the Sign of the Unicorn (Primarily an 18th century Chicagoland sutler providing flax and hemp linen, linsey-woolsey, wool, notions, books and patterns)

last updated: July 2008