Coronet Tourney 9

An Tir’s ninth Coronet Tourney

Held on 10 July 1976 July in Duvall, WA.
Victor Theodulf of Borogrove.

An Tir Surprise Coronet Tourney

Response to the Surprise date change in The Crier August 1976, page 2.

The ninth An Tir Coronet tourney had originally been scheduled for May 15th, but the tradition of the victor and inspiration being coronated on the same day as the tourney had changed. Late the previous year the tradition changed, most likely because the Kingdom of the West changed this tradition for Crown Tournaments and Coronations the previous year.

The last An Tir Coronet Tourney to also see the immediate elevation of victor and consort was the sixth, with Edward Zifran of Gendy and Fiona di Varanus in June 1975. Elrond Blacksabre and Gilraen of Regen (the seventh Coronets) were the first who had a separate Coronation, which occurred at Twelfth Night 1976.

With the eighth Coronet Tourney planned for March 27th, and with a schedule for three Coronet Tourneys a year, the next for 1976 had been scheduled for May 15th. But the winner of the March tourney, Steingrim Wulfaresson Stallari and his consort Hrefna Aebsynth Neilsdattir weren’t coronated until May 1st, making the plan for a May 15th Coronet Tourney too soon.

So the tourney was rescheduled to July 15th. The tournament held on May 15th was renamed the “An Tir NonCoronet.”¹

However, for some unknown reason, though both The Page (newsletter of the Kingdom of the West) and ‘’The Crier’’ (newsletter of the Principality of An Tir) listed the date as July 17th, the ninth Coronet Tourney was actually held in Duval on July 10th. Surprise!

9th Coronet Tourney

Due to a misunderstanding about the date, the lists for this single-elimination tournament was only about 8 fighters. The Victor was Theodulf of Borogrove, who bested Nhille von Hakenkreuz of Lions Gate, in best two out of three finals.

The only other fighters whose names have been recorded are Sir Elrond Blacksabre and Morgan of Aberystwyth. As told by Theodulf of Borogrove: “I fought Morgan in the second round. He was a relatively new fighter, so it was unusual that he would get as far as the semi-final round. He came up to me before our fight with a panicked look on his face. He never expected to get this close to becoming Prince and was very worried it might happen. He begged me to dispatch him quickly to prevent that from happening. BTW I worked closely with Morgan when I made him Black Lion Herald while I was on the throne.”

Event Chronicle

An Tir Surprise Coronet tourney, Duvall, July 10, 1976
Chronicled by Genevra of Estolat, edited by Deirdre Muldomhnaigh.

Amid flying rumors as to how the mis-scheduling of the event had occurred, the Tourney for the Coronet of An Tir took place on July 10, in County Du Val. Enough folk of An Tir were present to make it an enjoyable and worthwhile event; all the Baronies were represented.

Events began slowly. Master Duncan of Chisholm was compelled to quest far and strike a difficult bargain with the wizard Olivetti [a typewriter brand] that he might obtain sufficient copies of waivers. On his return, he delegated Genevra of Estolat as Mis-tress-of-the-Lists-for-a-day, to her befuddlement.

The procession to Prince Steingrim and Princess Hrefna started at 1:30. Master Theodulf of Borogrove, who was heralding, was threatened into incredible accuracy by a sledgehammer-nielding member of Viscount Sir Elrond's household, Pietrov the Russ (evidently a close cousin of Sir Elrond). Prince Steingrim gave forth a number of pronouncements, for the most part regarding the Punitive Raid on Shasta.

An injured Sir Elrond

After court, bards were enlisted to glorify each fighter in the lists. Challenges were few, mainly for warm-up and qualification. Shortly after his first fight in the lists, Sir Elrond was called away to fireperson duty. His prolonged absence caused some rescheduling of the lists, and many breaks between fights. The breaks were well-filled: Gilvaethe gave a demonstration of oriental sword techniques; Prince Steingrim and other citizens danced bransles to the sound of tiny musicians in a box, provided by Lions Gate's Dance Master; Demoiselle Rachel performed an exotic belly dance; and Mica and Rachel fought long and fiercely (with pillows and much giggling), Rachel emerging victorious.

The final round of fighting saw Theodulf of Borogrove (Madrone) defeat Nhille von Hakenkreuz (Lions Gate). Theodulf and his lady, Anne of Caerdydd, will be crowned Prince and Princess of An Tir on September 11th. After the fighting, there ensued several impromptu wrestling matches, during which Sir Elrond, who had survived the lists relatively unmaimed, somehow injured his arm. It was quickly tended.

At final court, Nhille von Hakenkreuz was presented with the Order of the Silver Rose, for being second best in the lists, and was also gifted with the Mucking Tall Maul, for fierceness, stupidity, and/or improvement in fighting. Prince Steingrim called for all officers present to attend a meeting of the Privy Council during the planned Unravelling at Wakefield Castle. The fighter poems were held for another event, to the relief of many. As the spectators and fighters were packing to go, the protection of Sean Gealt (which had resulted in fine temperate weather all day) was lifted, and the first drops of rain fell on the heads of the departing.²

Coronation

Prince Theodulf of Borogrove with Princess Anne of Caerdydd were coronated at Games Tourney and An Tir Principality Coronation, 11 September 1976 in Madrone, at Ravenna Park.

Citations

¹’’The Crier’’, July 1976, page 12.
²’’The Crier’’, September 1976, page 16