A History of An Tir

A HISTORY OF AN TIR by Sir Richard Fitzalan, Master of the Pelican, Baron Glymmere.

Preface

The intent of this wiki page is to act as an outline and general overview of the history of the Society for Creative Anachronism in the Pacific Northwest. To this end, it will be a constantly revised and growing “book” as research and writing allows. Most major events mentioned will be linked to fuller articles elsewhere in the wiki. Minor events or historical analysis will occur within the lines of this page.

Introduction

Since the first known SCA event in the geographical area now known as An Tir began in 1969 (AS IV), these lands have gone through many decades of growth and development. I divide these years into three general periods with further subdivisions for study and organization. First, the “Origins” period from 1969-1973, during which branches first appear in Three Mountains (Portland, OR) and Madrone (Seattle, WA). Second, the “Principality” period from the Royal Tourney of Union in May 1973 to the creation of the Kingdom of An Tir in January 1982. Third, the “Kingdom” period from 1982 to current, though this period is further subdivided by the creation of principalities within An Tir (1996) and the separation of the Principality of Avacal into the Kingdom of Avacal (2015). While I am a professional librarian, researcher, and historian, the views I express on this page are mine and not those of other historians. An Tir is rich in history and as in any society there are many stories and interpretations of events. I encourage discussion using the Discussion tab for the wiki page. I acknowledge as a wiki page that anyone can change things at any time, though it is my hope we can discuss things before making changes.

Origins

The SCA began in the San Francisco Bay Area of California in 1966 with Diana Listmaker’s Last Tournament? / First Tournament. Oral tradition suggests that two members from the early years of the California group, which became the Kingdom of the West, moved to cities in the Pacific Northwest and decided to create groups here. During these years records and photographs are few and memories lost or vague. Much of the research during this period relies on the publications of the Kingdom of the West, of which the PNW was then part. And the “rules” of the SCA were still very much in development and only sometimes applied. The result was a fluid period of development.

The First Events

The first SCA activity in the PNW was organized by Sir Frederic of the West Tower who was knighted in the Kingdom of the West in 1968. In 1969 he was living in Portland, Oregon. The Kingdom of the West newsletter, The Page, in their December 1969 issue, advertised that he was “now engaged in organizing this new barony (The Barony of Three Mountains) in the Portland, Oregon area.” He is titled “Seneschal” of the new group in the newsletter. Three Mountains’ first “official event” was a New Years Eve Revel on 31 December 1969 at Sir Frederic’s home, 1867 14th St. S.W. in Portland.

This was followed in the January 1970 issue of The Page with the announcement of the beginning of a group in the Seattle area, led by “Seneschal Raymond the Mild.” This group is unnamed in the article. The first event of the Seattle group “A Sewing Fest and Practice Session”, was hosted at the home of Maid Laurellen of Evergreen on Mercer Island at 3705 90th Ave S.E. on 31 January 1970. Raymond “will be present to practice with interested fighters.” Ladies Sheen of Ire, Maid Laurellen, and “other ladies will be sewing and chattering, and Maid Anne Borst will instruct all interested in a few simple bransles.”

In The Page for March 1970, Edwin Bersark, Earl Marshal to His Majesty of the West, announced the appointment of Sir Frederick of the West Tower as the first marshal, representative and assistant for the Baronies of Three Mountains and Madrone.

In May 1970, the Barony of Madrone is listed in ‘’The Page’’ as scheduled to hold their “’’’1st Tourney’’’” on May 3rd in Olympia, WA. However, the June 1970 ‘’The Page’’ announced a joint event to be held on June 20th, hosted by the Baronies of Three Mountains and Madrone: First Baronial Tournaments. Both were announced to happened on Raymond the Mild’s father’s farm in Olympia, WA. For more discussion whether the May event was postponed until June or there were actually two events, see The First Tourney.

Ceremonial salute for the pagan wedding in Washington Park, held in Portland in conjunction with the Northwest Science Fiction Convention. May 1970.

The early SCA has a well documented connection with Science Fiction conventions. Many members joined after seeing a demonstration of SCA folks at a Sci-Fi Con. This early relationship between the two “geekdoms” occurred in An Tir as well. At Norwestercon 70, held in Portland at the Heathman Hotel, the Barony of Three Mountains did a demo and tourney on May 29-31.

According to ‘’The Oregon Journal’’ (1 June 1970), part of the SCA presence included a “ceremonial salute” for a pagan wedding in Washington Park that weekend. As well as “jousting matches between members of Society of Creative Anachronism to determine who would be first baron to rule over Portland society.”

Branches

Oral tradition has it that in the beginning the Barony of Three Mountains and the Barony of Madrone were considered to be the branches covering all of Oregon and Washington respectively.

The baronies of Three Mountains and Madrone in what would become An Tir. From the April 1971 Lydd newsletter.

Barony of Three Mountains - 1969. See First Events above for the first mention of the Barony of Three Mountains in ‘’The Page’’ in December 1969. By April 1970, Three Mountains announced “sewing parties occur at Sir Frederick’s address ‘Friday and other times.” Up until then, no Baron had been mentioned in any publication. But in the caption of the earliest known photograph of Three Mountains folk in the 1 June 1970 Oregon Journal, it stated at the Northwest Science Fiction Convention at the Heathman Hotel, “jousting matches between members of Society of Creative Anachronism to determine who would be first baron to rule over Portland society.”

Barony of Madrone - 1970. See First Events above for the first mention of events in the Seattle area that become the Barony of Madrone. The first use of Madrone as a Barony appears in the March 1970 ‘’The Page’’.

Events

While a fuller list of events during this period is being developed, here are a few that have fuller pages currently:

The First Tourney hosted by Madrone held in Olympia, WA on June 1970.

House of York Tournament and Revel held in Madrone on July 16, 1972.

Lammastide Tourney held in Madrone on August 5, 1972.

Groups

Several households and groups developed during the early years. It appears that such groups were the main building blocks for branches and, though often unofficial, such groups were very well known and important to the development of branches and events.

Ordure of Motley

The Voice of the Turtle (Musical Group)

The House of York (Household)

Principality of An Tir

By 1973 there had been sufficient growth in the PNW that the membership in the SCA numbered sufficiently (100+ subscribers to The Page) that the Kingdom of the West created them jointly as a Principality. This action occurred at the Royal Tourney of Union in Madrone, with the signing of a Charter by Baron Frederic of the West Tower for Three Mountains and Baron Raymond the Mild for Madrone and King Paul of Bellatrix for the Kingdom of the West. It was noted at the time that the Board of Directors of the SCA had not yet approved and their charter would hopefully follow soon after. An Tir, in what would become a not uncommon trait as a cadet of the West, offered to “send our collection agency down for the real one.” The union of these two baronies into the Principality of An Tir was then followed in August 1973 with the First Coronet Tournament.

Coronet Tournaments and Coronations

Coronet Tournaments would continue throughout the years from 1973 to 1981. For the first six, the victor and their inspiration were immediately coronated as Prince and Princess. Starting in 1975, a separate event for coronation would be held a few months later. From 1973 to 1978 there were three coronet tournaments and coronations held each year. Beginning in 1979 this was reduced to only two reigns per year, a tradition that continued into the Kingdom years and continues to this day.

Here is a list of all the Coronet Tournaments and Principality Coronations from 1973-1981.