An Tir Coronation 14
Prince Steingrim Wulfaresson Stallari with Princess Janeltis Karaine, Starfollower on 13 May 1978 at An Tir Coronation in First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR.
Event Announcement
AN TIR CORONATION, THREE MOUNTAINS, 13 MAY, A.S, XIII.
The new Prince and Princess of An Tir will be crowned on May 13, at the First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Ave., Portland, OR. The cost for the event will be $1.50 for persons over age 12. The hall seats only 150 persons, so reservations are recommended. (Contact Mistress Sumingo--Margie Symank; or Niamoto- Krista McGowan)
First Court begins at 4 PM; Second Court will follow immediately thereafter. The Barony will provide Cornish game hen halves. Folk must bring the rest of the "feast" themselves. There's a grocery store three blocks away ... Alcohol will not be allowed in the church. Spiced apple cider and fruit juice will be provided instead.
Following the dinner there are plans for two revels. One, at Lady Gairloch's (Doris Johnson), is intended to be a noisy revel. The other, at the home of Lord James of Northkeep (Jim Oliver) will be or not as folk wish.
From The Crier (May 1978).
Event Chronicle
AN TIR CORONATION, THREE MOUNTAINS, 13 MAY, A.S. XIII. --chronicled by Deirdre, edited by Genevra
The Barony of Three Mountains hosted the coronation of Their Highnesses Steingrim and Janeltis. Valkyrie was responsible for the kitchen work of the feast.
At Opening Court, Their Highnesses Manfred and Koressa presented numerous awards to An Tir citizens. Her Occidental Majesty Bevin, also in attendance, handed out many Kingdom-level awards. His Occidental Majesty Gregory had planned to attend via personal dragon, but was daunted by the tempestuous skies of An Tir.
The Knights of An Tir swore fealty to the Crown of the West, as did those Laurels and Pelicans who so chose.
The University of Ithra received an Award of Arms, and Ludwig von Lemminghaus was named High Sheriff of Caer Lyon , thus becoming the first holder of this new title for the head of a shire. On a less-pleasant note, Prince Manfred outlawed the Polish House of Rhamphorynchus, formerly of Three Mountains, because of "rude and presumptuous behavior and inciting to riot.”
Then came presentations : Queen Bevin presented the Prince and Princess with a book and a picture; Their Highnesses and Valkyrie and Ulfred presented her with a gold chain. Steingrim was called forward; stopped from last-minute flight only because folk stood on the toes of his pointed shoes, he was given a secret scroll whose contents yet remain unknown. To Their Highnesses, Janeltis Karaine Starfarer presented needlework renditions of their devices. Various and sundry other presentations ensued.
Announcements followed the parade of gifts. Deirdre announced the "winner” of the Crier Ant Jokes Contest: Maelen of Kynge's Lea. Her prize was an illuminated and annotated copy of MacTruck, by Bela of Eastmarch-- a fitting retaliation. Gerhard Kendal announced War With Golden Rivers.
Then Prince Manfred called forth Gwendolyn Caer Cerddinnen and awarded her a torc, made by his own hands, as a reward for her services as scribe and personal defender. He called forth Valkyrie and Ulfred, and gave Valkyrie a copper brooch and Ulfred a belt, both also his own work, as rewards for service and advice. He gave them a ring and a pouch of groats to bestow on Maid Kirka in gratitude for her silence and secret-keeping. Then did His Highness say, speaking of his reign, "Its been Interesting and I'd do it again." (One assumes he meant the Oriental meaning, as in the curse, “May you live in Interesting times.")
By this point the populace, starved and exhausted, cheered the announcement that Coronation would follow the feast. The feast consisted of roasted Rock Cornish game hen halves, fruit juice and cider (alcohol being banned on the churchly premises), barley stew, and various picnic-style foods provided by individuals.
After the meal, the heralds assembled the populace for the Grand March, and handed out cryptically-numbered name cards. Sober and parched, the citizens noted that we must be breaking in a new herald, who struggled valiantly through the esoteric Norse and Celtic names.
Then did follow the coronation of Steingrim Stallari and Janeltis Karaine Starfarer as Prince and Princess of An Tir. Covers were whisked from the portable thrones (director's chairs) to reveal backs embroidered with Their Highness' arms. The knights, officers, peers, landed barons and baronesses swore fealty to Their Highnesses, who in turn swore fealty to the King and Queen of the West.
Koressa Dokubjalla was made Viscountess and a member of the Ladies of Valorous Estate. Donn an Bronach, Morimoto Koryu, Miyamoto, and Michael of Dragsonswood were named Princess'Escort. Manfred Eiffenblau was summoned forth and created Prince's Champion. He is thus responsible for guarding the Princess, protecting the unattached young ladies of An Tir, and defending the Principality banner. Manfred then demanded, byrnie-clad and with drawn steel, whether any dared dispute Steingrim's claim to the throne. The silence was deafening.
First Court of His Highness Steingrim and Her Highness Janeltis then followed. Thick and fast the presentations came. Manfred, Valkyrie, Ulfred, Erin of Lemati, and Koressa presented Her Highness with a personal Princess' crown, made by Manfred. Frederick of the West Tower addressed a flowery speech of love and respect to Her Highness and then, in sterner tones, named the Prince a raper of sheep and proposed that his moustache be adorned with pink ribbons and bells. Frederick was dragged shouting from the hall to be thrown in the nearest puddle, of which there was a goodly assortment. Baron Dietrich van Kriegsheldenburg presented Irish linen hangings to Their Highnesses; Ulfred and Valkyrie gave Steingrim a T-shirt on which was printed WARMONGER, a title to which His Highness has long aspired. The ever-offensive Barque presented Steingrim with a pair of rose-colored glasses (on a stem, in the proper Medieval mode) lest he be depressed by the generally grey aspect of An Tir. Peliond Melchor and Jeannie of Portland gave Her Highness a signed copy of Vonda N. McIntyre's new novel DREAMSNAKE (note plug by chronicler). The Shire of Seagirt gave the throne two ceramic orcas, their symbols.
Then from outer darkness (with gnashing of teeth) appeared Frederick the Dragonmaster, the cousin of the recently-drowned Frederick of the West Tower. He came from far-off Byzantium, and rent his garments in lament for his deceased cousin. However he did volunteer to assume his cousin's lands, holdings, and sheep. Yea, even Daisy. His Highness, in his wisdom, granted permission.
Various announcements were made, abolishing the Post Awful, banning tourneys, etc. All then fell to cleanup, after which some viewed films of the first SCA tourneys, and then departed either to revels or to a long-earned rest. Your Chronicler retired to soak her writer's cramped hand in Irish Whiskey, from the inside (of course). (The Chronicler bravely listed all presentations . The Editor bravely-and regretfully--had to edit most of them out, due to space. Apologies to those so omitted.)
From The Crier (August 1978)
Annotations from the Kingdom of the West History website: “I believe this is the event that I attended alone, Gregory being otherwise committed. I'd been given authority to create Laurels and Pelicans at the recommendation of the Laurels and Pelicans of An Tir (which I did, at least one of each) and to knight any fighter strongly recommended by the chivalry of An Tir (which they didn't, at that time). It was a fine event!” – Bevin Fraser or Sterling