Michael de Champagne
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 Michael Maximillien de Champagne 📸: Wolfegar Von Rothenburg | ||||||||||||||
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 Per chevron inverted, sable and ermine |
Who I Am
My registered SCA name is Michael Maximillien de Champagne, coloquially known as Michael de Champagne. I am the proud founder of Maison de Champagne.
I live in Aquaterra, in the Western Region of An Tir.
I went to my first event in Fall of 2023 and became a member by the end of the year.
What I Do
In the SCA, I mostly do service with a drizzle of arts and sciences. However, my arts are a little more modern with my main hobbies/work in digital graphics and photography. However, I leverage my digital arts knowledge to help with scribal tasks like creating and printing charter blanks which, in turn, help me with bettering my painting skills.
I have been very service minded since discovering that it’s always nice to have a reason to be somewhere. I have a long history of leadership and volunteering with other organizations. Volunteering can be tough but it is rewarding work and you get to meet a lot of people through service. I did not know anyone in the SCA when I joined, so service has been a boon to opening my social circle.
In general, I'd say my SCA interests include:
- Service
- Scribal arts, creating & painting charters
- Games, like Aquaterra’s favorite pastime, bocce
- Book Heraldry
- Cooking for feasts
Where You Can Find Me
The lands of Aquaterra are my hearth and home, but I also attend many Madrone events. I try to make Kingdom events when I can, but being newer, I haven’t traveled out of my area much just yet. When I attend Kingdom events, you can find me taking photos or at the Chatelaine’s table.
My Heraldry
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Arms: Per chevron inverted, sable and ermine. -
Badge: Or, a chevron fractured and inverted sable. -
Badge: Sable, issuant to chief from a cup argent a rainbow throughout proper, a bordure argent. -
Badge: Badge for Maison de Champagne. Per pale purpure and argent all semy of cups counterchanged. -
Badge: Badge for the Fellowship of the Pretzel. (Fieldless) A pretzel proper, spotted argent. (Pending Registration).
Motto:
Des actes, non des paroles.
"Deeds, not words."
My Persona
Persona:
Born the son of a modest vintner in the rolling hills of the Champagne region of France in the year 1432, Michael Maximillien de Champagne grew up around the scent of crushed grapes and oak casks. Though his family had produced wine for generations, they had never risen beyond the status of respected artisans. From a young age, Michael wanted for more. Not just prosperity, but recognition, refinement, and rank.
Gifted with charisma and a keen mind for trade, Michael expanded his family’s modest holdings into a thriving wine business. Eventually, his barrels graced the tables of merchants in Paris and even reached the courts of Burgundy. He cultivated not only vines, but relationships with guilds, knights, and minor nobles, trading fine vintages for favors, access, and influence.
He dressed better than his station, painted in the evenings, and sponsored many a tournament, bettering his Barony. Though not of noble blood, he purchased land, learned the etiquette of the court, and dreamed of a future where his name would not merely be signed on contracts but attached to a coat of arms.
The world of the nobility was not easily breached. With each harvest, each cask aged to perfection, each coin earned and carefully placed, he builds a legacy, determined that the de Champagne name would one day stand proudly alongside the oldest houses of France.
Items of Interest
First Event
- Aquaterra Banner War 2023
Houses
- Maison de Champagne
- Fellowship of the Pretzel (Pending)
Aquaterra Officer / Championship
- Branch Pursuivant - Aquaterra 2024-2025
- Games Champion - Aquaterra 2024-2025
- Chatelaine - Aquaterra May 2025-Current
Retinue / Guard work
- Retinue for Már Skál and Tabitta (Aquaterra) 2025-Current
- Guard/Attendant for her royal majesty Ana de la Sara at Athenaeum 2025
Awards & Tokens
Armigerous
- Sanguine Thorn at Ursulmas LIX/2025 (AoA level for service)
Non-Armigerous and Tokens
- Personal token from Baroness Zahra Bint al-Rammah at Good Yule 2023.
- Silver Dolphin at Boar’s Hunt 2024 (Barony of Aquaterra first level service award).
- Games Champion of Aquaterra at Aquaterra Champions 2024.
- Personal token from Baron Mar Skal at Athenaeum 2025.
My SCA Timeline
September 9 2023 - First event, Banner War - Aquaterra
December 2 2023 - Good Yule - Aquaterra Kitchen Volunteer (made 120 orange mousse cups) Received Aquaterra Baroness’ Personal Token 10am-7pm
January 14 2024 - 12th Night - An Tir (in Madrone/Bellevue) Gate Volunteer (Prereg/CC) 8am-5pm
January 27 2024 - Ursulmas - Aquaterra 24x30” paper Fight posters donated (heavy, rapier, youth, archery/thrown) Photography
Feb 6 2024 - Raging Rogue Tavern - Madrone Kitchen Volunteer (made 90 hand-twisted soft pretzels), washed dishes, event cleanup. 10am-7pm
March 16 2024 - Spring Colloquium - Madrone - Attendee Made a lyripipe hood pattern. Traded a hat for a hat at the gear swap.
March 26 2024 - Stepped Up as Baronial Herald - Aquaterra March 26 2024 - Stepped up as Financial Committee Member - Aquaterra
April 11 2024 - Submitted for first SCA Name - Michael Maximilien de Champagne
May 4, 2024 - Lionhearts in the Park (Martial Championship) - Madrone Lists Master Volunteer 9am-4pm
June 1, 2024 - Boar’s Hunt - Aquaterra - Instructor: Heraldry Class (Field Divisions), Town Cry, Photography 9am-9pm. Received Baronial Award: Silver Dolphin
June 29, 2024 - Athenaeum - Madrone - Gate Volunteer (Cash/Check) 8am-10am
June 30, 2024 - Mt. Vernon Art & Garden Fair Demo - Aquaterra - Made & gave away heraldry coloring packs for kids & teardown - 10am-3pm
July 13, 2024 - Peasant’s Revel - Madrone - Attendee - Cheese Donation $20
August 10, 2024 - Aquaterra Champions - Created 7 letters of intent for competitors and latecomers. Won games tournament and claimed title Aquaterra Games Champion. Swore fealty, friendship and service to current and future coronets.
September 20-22, 2024 - Aquaterra Banner War - Co-Steward under Jaida Coordinated, ran, and judged event content. Advertised via social and print media. Helped with setup and teardown. Learned how to run a weekend camping event. Created 2 letters of intent. Took a lot of photos. Acted as town crier. First time camping.
October 19, 2024 - Baronial Pre-Polling Meet & Greet Live-streamed for absent attendees and took photos. Photos used for new coronets on barony website.
December 7, 2024 - Aquaterra Good Yule - Made printed flyers. Kitchen Volunteer: cooked falafel for 100, made baklava for 100 and also a vegan, nut-free version, pistachio pudding for gf
January 25-26, 2025 - Aquaterra Ursulmas Head Herald: Recruited & organized heralds for field & cry. Advertising Lead: created and ordered printed banner signage, created & printed wristband art, created updated revision of event collateral, created, printed and sold event shirts as fundraiser for next coronets’ reign - raised 1k. Advertised event on local event sites & social media. Responsible for organizing return of lost & found. Award received: Sanguine Thorn (Service Award that includes an AOA)
“We have heard amazing things about your tenure as a herald. We have heard that your tenure might possibly be one of the most successful that your barony has seen.” - Queen Ana de la Sara, An Tir Reign 84 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb8vMenFlb8&t=2776s timestamp 44:30)
February 8 2025 - Madrone Rogue’s Tavern Kitchen Volunteer (made 120 hand-twisted soft pretzels), washed dishes, event cleanup. Returned Ursulmas lost & found. 10am-7pm
February 22, 2025 Tir Righ February Investiture Aquaterra Retinue Returned Ursulmas Lost & Found
March 8, 2025 - Wyewood Kingdom A&S/Queen’s Rapier Championship Aquaterra Retinue & Event Photography - Photo selected for An Tir Crier Cover
March 25, 2025 - Aquaterra Created new starter set of 5 charters for Aquaterra’s 7th coronets.
April 1, 2025 - Aquaterra Spearheaded task to revamp barony eric flags. Got bids, presented options, and worked with volunteers to get new flag sets made to replace old set.
April 5, 2025 - Vulcanfeldt Baroness’ War Aquaterra Retinue Photography - Used photos to refresh Aquaterra website & social media banners for new coronets.
April 17, 2025 - Aquaterra Made business cards for seneschal
May 1, 2025 - Aquaterra Left Herald office. Took Chatelaine office.
June 6-8 2025 - Aquaterra Boars Hunt, Event Steward Photography. Sponsored all tournaments. Contributed foundation of dayboard food. Event coordination & setup. First point of contact for site. Newcomers site walk & picnic.
June 28, 2025 - Madrone Athenaeum, volunteer Exhibitor load-in 8-10, gate (pre-reg, cash, & cc) 10am-1pm, royal guard/attendant 3pm-5pm Received Aquaterra Baron’s Personal Token