Tatiana Alexsievna
The year is 1565 and I live in the Ottoman Empire. I was born in the Principality of Kiev and at the age of 15 was kidnapped by the Tatars when they raided my village. Sold into slavery, I was bought by Sulieiman the Magnificent's mother and added to his harem in 1530. I've given Sulieiman a strong boy who has grown into a vibrant warrior. As a mother of a Prince, I have favoured status. My son and I have been given a province on the northern side of the Black Sea to rule on behalf of the Sultan. Sulieiman is old now, nearing the end of his life, and we have had a nice relationship. All the mothers of the Princes are navigating the tricky political waters, each of us trying to ensure it is our son chosen as the Heir. Sulieman is proud of my son and allows me special privilege. Even though most of my family has been killed in the war, he occasionally allows me to travel back to my home in Kiev to visit those still alive. This explains why you mostly see me wearing Turkish garb, but once in a while, my late period Kiev shows up.
Tatiana Alexsievna also lives in the Barony of Seagirt in the Principality of Tir Righ. I am protegee to Master John MacAndrew. I joined the SCA July 1995 and played full time until 2005. In the beginning, as I figured things out, I stepped in to help with little tasks. These included helping to sew new Kingdom cloaks (where I learned how to applique), participate in the set-up and clean-up of 12th Night (Seagirt, 2001) and helped clean kitchens after feasts. My first office was Shire Chronicler (Seagirt 1995-1997) during which time I also produced the Seagirt 20 year Celebration book. At Daffodil 2002, I cooked my first feast and my team and I fed 150 people. As our shire moved toward Baronial status, I sewed all the Defender banners as well as the Rapier Champion’s cloak and the *temporary* kneeling cushion. During these early years, I also joined retinue in the role of attendant for both Davin & Groa, and Skepti & Asa. After becoming a single parent, I took time off to raise my two young boys (2006 – 2012) with occasional appearances at Kingdom and Principality events throughout the years and came back full time in 2012.
When I returned to the SCA, I began contributing my time to event stewarding, and holding Principality offices. The accomplishment, of which I am most proud, was reviving the Avacal Tir Righ War. I was event steward two years in a row of this week-long event. It required the biggest event team I’ve ever assembled as well as working with a mundane organization to organize a public medieval fair/demo. In the past 5 years I have held 2 Principality offices, starting as Chatelaine, and currently holding the Chronicler’s office. As Chronicler, I have revitalized the Principality newsletter, the Northern Sentinel and worked with all our branch officers to ensure our reporting is happening on time and meeting Kingdom requirements. I have also held various roles on 6 different Principality retinues. I currently serve on Baronial retinue as the largess coordinator and am deputy Seneschal for Seagirt.
I believe that mentoring new event stewards in extremely important, and in the past 3 years, after stewarding a few local events, have worked with and mentored Seagirtians to be event stewards. It’s nice to be able to hand the reigns over, and focus my energies in other places where they might be needed. This has included jump starting TUTR in Seagirt, finding a new “clubhouse” for our Tuesday night Althings after we outgrew our old space, leading the redesign of Seagirt’s new kneeling cushion (a group effort!), co-feast stewarding Daffodil AS52 and most recently starting conversations about guilds at the local level, beginning with starting the Culinary Guild of Seagirt.
A fullish listing of my service is listed below.
Positions Held: Offices • Chronicler (Seagirt) – 1995-1997; also produced the Seagirt 20 year celebration book • Principality Chatelaine (August 2013 – Feb 2016); took office from 60% reporting to 100% on-time; began an ongoing discussion with branches on importance of recruitment and retention • Principality Chronicler (Feb 2016 – current); editor and producer of the Northern Sentinel e-magazine (http://tirrigh.org/newsletter.php); published “how to publish a branch newsletter” pamphlet • Deputy Seneschal, Barony of Seagirt (Jan 2018 – current)
Kingdom Retinue o Davin & Groa (2001) - attendant o Skepti & Asa (2001) - attendant o Savaric and Dalla (2015) – attendant, sewing team
Principality Retinue o Ulgar and Juahara (2013) – attendant, primary sewing team o Savaric and Dalla (2013/14) – attendant, sewing team o Kerrigan and Lenora AS 49-50 (2014/15) – largess coordinator o Olin and Chiara AS 49-50 (2015 Feb-Aug) – attendant, primary sewing team / procurer of Royal underwear amongst other garb) o Einar and Tangwystl AS 52 (Feb – Aug 2017) – largess coordinator o William and Nadezhda AS 53 (Aug – Feb 2018) – Court reporter, primary sewing team o Vikingr and Lishinia AS 53-54 (Feb- Aug, 2018) – emergency fill-in wherever needed
Baronial Retinue o Largess coordinator (Fall 2017 – present)
Event Steward o Island Newcomers AS 48 (Jul 2013); o Seagirt Summer Tourney AS 48 (Aug 2013) o Seagirt Yule AS 48 (December 2013) o Co-event steward, Tir Righ Arts & Sciences, and Bardic competition AS 49(Sept 2014) o Inter-kingdom War and demo Avacal Tir Righ AS 50 (2015) – one week event o Inter-kingdom War and demo Avacal Tir Righ AS 51 (2016) – one week event o Seagirt Summer Tourney AS 53 (2018)
Random Service • I have created larger largesse gifts and prize donations to Principality and Barony (haversacks, painted floor cloths, cushions, gameboards, spice kits etc). While some may consider this an art, I consider making and donating largess and prizes a service • I have been a member of various event teams for local and Principality events e.g. Head of Gate – An Tir / Tir Righ Heraldic and Scribal Symposium • I have provided newcomer support/guidance (including taking a demoiselle at Seagirt Yule, AS 52; my first mentor/student relationship) • I have been part of multiple teams for peerage elevations (sewing and embellishing garb and thank you gifts – including Baron and Baroness Seagirt, Viscount Ulfgar (Pelican), Baroness Glynnis (Pelican), Dame Arianna(Pelican gifts), Baron Finn (Pelican). I love being part of a team pulling beautiful things together and seeing the finished products walking around events. • I have taught wall painting and stenciling and assisted the Lions Gate decorating team for their 40 year Baronial banquet with painting fabric walls and decorating the hall
Samples of some of the arts projects I have made as service to the SCA are on my mundane Facebook page (Kimberley Stratford), in an album called “Things I have Made.”
Highest Award: Goutte de Sang Seagull (Seagirt long term service award) Jun 19, 1997 (AS XXXII) Award of Arms (An Tir) Mar 7, 1998 (AS XXXII) Silver Whale (Seagirt Persona Development award) Aug 22, 1999 (AS XXXIV) Forget-me-not (An Tir) Jan 13, 2001 (AS XXXV) Forget-me-not (An Tir) Jul 21, 2001 (AS XXXVI) Silent Harp (Seagirt A&S award) Mar 22, 2003 (AS XXXVII) Goutte de Sang (An Tir) Jun 21, 2003 (AS XXXVIII) Rock (Seagirt service award from Baron and Baroness) (2) Dec 13, 2003 (AS XXXVIII) Aug, 2015 (AS L) Jambe de Lion (An Tir) Jun 11, 2005 (AS XL) l'Etoile d'Argent (Tir Righ) Feb 22, 2014 (AS XLVIII) Prince's Favour Ulfgar (Tir Righ) Feb 22, 2014 (AS XLVIII) Princess' Talon of Favour Juahara (Tir Righ) Feb 22, 2014 (AS XLVIII) Princess' Talon of Favour Dalla (Tir Righ) Aug 23, 2014 (AS XLIX) Prince's Favour Savaric (Tir Righ) Aug 23, 2014 (AS XLIX) Bountiful Hand Styrkar & Styarna (An Tir) Oct 25, 2014 (AS XLIX) Silver Pillar (Tir Righ) Dec 13, 2014 (AS XLIX) Coronet’s Favour Kerrigan & Lenora (Tir Righ) Feb, 2015 (AS 50) Prince's Favour Olen (Tir Righ) Aug 27, 2015 (AS 50) Princess' Talon of Favour Chiara (Tir Righ) Aug 27, 2015 (AS 50) Inspirational Consort (An Tir) Jul 15, 2017 (AS LII) Prince’s Favour Einar (Tir Righ) Aug 26, 2017 (AS LII) Princess’ Talon Tangwystl (Tir Righ) Aug 26, 2017 (AS LII) Prince’s Favour William (Tir Righ) Dec, 2018 (AS LIII) Princess’ Talon Nadezhda (Tir Righ) Dec, 2018 (AS LIII)