Gaius Octavius Lunaris
Name/Blazonry
Gaius Octavius Lunaris, known to his friends by Octavian for short. I was first known within the society as Octavian Silvermoon circa February 1999, so you might remember me under that name.
You can see to the right a visual image of my device. The badge is opposing fields of purple with a silver border and silver with a purple border while the device is the badge with a silver heraldic tyger on the purple field and a purple heraldic rose on the silver field.
Persona History
There are two time periods that I alternatively re-enact. I have had a love for Roman culture with a 4th century persona as well as a later 14th century Italian persona.
===4th c. Italy / Roman Gaius Octavius Lunaris, known as Octavian to his friends, lives in the Etruscan/Tuscany area of Italy. The Etruscans were around until they were assimilated into the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC.[i] At its maximum extent, during the foundational period of Rome and the Roman kingdom, it flourished in three confederacies of cities: of Etruria, of the Po valley with the eastern Alps, and of Latium and Campania.[ii] Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany, western Umbria, and northern Latium. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci.[iii] Their Roman name is the origin of the terms Tuscany, which refers to their heartland, and Etruria, which can refer to their wider region.
Gaius was born in the year 306 AD, the same year as the death of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and his son Constantine the Great was proclaimed Augustus of the West by the legions in Britain. This was 400 years after Rome had brought Etruria into its fold. He was born in the most northerly city of Etruria, Luna. It stood on the very frontier, on the left bank of the Macra, which formed the north-western boundary of that land.[iv]
It was the frontier town of Etruria, on the left bank of the river Macra, the boundary in imperial times between Etruria and Liguria. When the Romans first appeared in these parts, however, the Ligurians were in possession of the territory as far as Pisa.
And though at one time in the possession of the Ligurians, together with a wide tract to the south, even down to Pisa and the Arno, yet Luna was originally Etruscan, and as such it was recognised in imperial times.[v] It’s importance seems to have been derived chiefly from its vast and commodious port, truly "worthy of a people who long held dominion of the sea," and which is now known as the Gulf of Spezia.[vi]
After the fall of the Roman Empire Luna was desolated by the Lombards, Saracens, and Normans, but it was a yet more formidable, though invisible, foe that depopulated the site, and that ultimately caused it, in the fifteenth century, to be utterly deserted.[vii]
Only the Roman elite had a complete formal education. A tradesman or farmer would expect to pick up most of his vocational skills on the job. He had been raised on a vineyard and worked inside the house as the youngest child while his older brothers worked the land. Wanting to get away from this lifestyle, Gaius worked for a while in the shipping industry, both around the ports and on the ships. He left the vineyard in his late teens/early 20s and was gone for about 10 years. As he settled into adulthood around age 30 he came back to his home town of Luna and took up a the family trade of wine making. Luna, under the Romans, was renowned for its wine, which was the best in all Etruria.[viii]
Workes Cited
Ancient sources
§ Dionysius of Halicarnassus: Roman Antiquities at LacusCurtius
§ Herodotus. The History Volume I at Project Gutenberg
§ Herodotus. The History Volume II at Project Gutenberg
§ Livy (1905) [original c. 27 BC-17 AD]. From the Founding of the City. Trans. Canon Roberts. Wikisource.
§ Polybius: The Rise of the Roman Empire at LacusCurtius
Modern sources
§ Alinei, Mario, ed. (2003). Etrusco: una forma arcaica di ungherese. Bologna: Il Mulino.
§ Barker, G.; T. Rasmussen (1998). The Etruscans. London: Blackwell.
§ Bloch, Raymond (1969). The ancient civilization of the Etruscans. New York: Cowles Book.
§ Bonfante, Larissa; et al. ed. (1986). Etruscan Life and Afterlife: a Handbook of Etruscan Studies. Warminster: Aris and Phillips.
§ Bonfante, Larissa (1990). Etruscan. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-07118-2.
§ Bonfante, Larissa (2006). Etruscan Inscriptions and Etruscan Religion in The Religion of the Etruscans. Austin: University of Texas Press.
§ Bonfante, G.; L. Bonfante (2002). The Etruscan Language. An Introduction. Manchester University Press.
§ Bram, L. (editor) (1975). Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
§ Brendel, Otto (1995). Etruscan art. New Haven: Yale University Press.
§ Dennis, George (1848). The Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria. London: John Murray. Available in the Gazeteer of Bill Thayer's Website at [4]
§ Freeman, Edward Augustus (1893). History of Federal Government in Greece and Italy. London, New York: Macmillan and Co.
§ Strabo. The Geography of Strabo published in Vol. II of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1923
[i] Rix, Helmut. "Etruscan." In The Ancient Languages of Europe, ed. Roger D. Woodard. Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. 141-164.
[ii] A good map of the Italian range and cities of the culture at the beginning of its history can be found at [1], the mysteriousetruscans.com site. The topic of the "League of Etruria" is covered in Freeman, pages 562-565. The league in northern Italy is mentioned in Livy, Book V, Section 33. The passage also identifies the Raetii as a remnant of the 12 cities "beyond the Apennines." The Campanian Etruscans are mentioned (among many sources) by Polybius, (II.17). The entire subject with complete ancient sources in footnotes was worked up by George Dennis in his Introduction.In the LacusCurtius transcription, the references in Dennis's footnotes link to the texts in English or Latin; the reader may also find the English of some of them on WikiSource or other Internet sites.
[iii] According to Félix Gaffiot's Dictionnaire Illustré Latin Français, the term Tusci was used by the major authors of the Roman Republic: Livy, Cicero, Horace, et al. A number of cognate words developed, including Tuscia and Tusculanensis. Tusci was clearly the principal term used to designate things Etruscan. Etrusci and Etrūria were used less often, mainly by Cicero and Horace, and they lack cognates. According to the Online Etymological Dictionary, the English use of Etruscan dates from 1706.
[iv] Strabo, V.p222. Strabo speaks of Macra as a place — χωρίον; but Pliny is more definite in marking it as a river, the boundary of Etruria — flumen Macra, Liguriae finis — patet ora Liguriae inter amnes Varum et Macram — adnectitur septimae, in quâ Etruria est, ab amne Macra — Tiberis amnis à Macra
[v] Much confusion has arisen from the contradictory statements of ancient writers in calling this territory sometimes Ligurian, sometimes Etruscan. On one side are Mela (II.4 — Luna Ligurum); Frontinus (Strat.III.2 — Luna, oppidum Ligurum); Persius (Sat. VI.6); Statius (Sylv. IV.3, 99);a Justin (XX.1); Polybius (II.16); Aristotle (or the author of De Mirand. Auscultat., c94); Lycophron (Cassandra, 1356); cf. Juven. Sat.III.257; Liv. XXI.59. On the other hand, we have Strabo (V. p222); Pliny (III.8; XIV.8, 5); Silius Italicus (VIII.482); Lucan (I.586); Statius (Sylv. IV.4, 23); Martial (Epig. XIII.30); cf. Plin. XI.97; Ptolemy (Geog. p68, ed. Bert.); and Stephanus (sub voce Σελήνη); who all represent Luna as Etruscan. Livy (XLI.13) explains the discrepancy by stating that Luna with its ager was captured by the Romans from the Ligurians; but that before it belonged to the latter it had been Etruscan. Lycophron, however, represents the Ligures as dispossessed of Pisa and its territory by the Etruscans. Cluver (II p458) gathers from Servius (Aen. X.179), that Luna must have been founded some ages before the Trojan War.
[vi] As that Gulf lies on the Ligurian, and Luna on the Etruscan side of the Macra, it has been supposed either that there was anciently a port, properly that of Luna, at the mouth of the river, on the spot now called the Marsh of Seccagna (Holsten. ad Cluver. p25; Targioni, Viaggi in Toscana, X. pp406, 440)
[vii] There is an old legend which ascribes its destruction to another cause. The lord of Luna won the affections of a certain Empress, who, to obtain her end, feigned herself dead; her lover playing the resurrectionist, and carrying her to his own house. This coming to the ears of the Emperor, he not only took vengeance on the offenders, but laid the city in the dust. Alberti, Descrit. d'Italia, p22.
[viii] Plin. XIV.8, 5.
14th c. Italy
Octavian was born during the early 1500's in what was once known as the town of Luna (Luni), which is in the Etruscan part of Italy. Luna was an ancient city of Etruria, Italy, and is located at the present-day city of Luni Mare, approximately 4 miles southeast of modern Sarzana. The town as it was known under the name of Luna was destroyed by Sardinian ships in the year 1015, and due to the spreading of Malaria, most of the population had moved to Sarzana by 1058. Only in 1204, with the transfer of the bishop's see to Sarzana, does the city become just a name, and it's called in writings "the cursed", cited by Dante amid the dead city and again mentioned by Petrarca as "once famous and powerful and now only a naked and useless name". 1
Being a coastal town, it had suffered the ravages of pirates documented as early as the mid- 800's. In one of these raids, Octavian was taken captive aboard a Portugese Nau called the 'Moca Sozinhia.' For his capability at scribal duties, massage and chainmaille, he was forced to remain on the crew as the Masseur and later the Scribe. While on the Moca Sozinhia, he learned how to defend himself with a Rapier and now enjoys the art of fencing. On one of the coastal visits that the Moca Sozinhia often had, he picked up a charming lass by the name of Amatite, and figured it was a sign that he found another Italian so far from her shores and whose last name seemed to be of his family's home just translated into another tongue. She joined the crew with him and they were married some years later. It was not to last in permanence however, and they parted and went their separate ways years later.
From the original crew of the Moca Sozinhia, rose forth from foam of the sea like Aphrodite a new ship called the Mer Serene. Now two ships, it became known as the Castillian Fleet(sic). through the years many ships have come and gone in the fleet such as Dragon's Blood, Sapphire Dragon, and Drakkar. The courtesans of the Mer Serene still sail the seas under the Castillian Fleet's red and black banner, but the Moca Sozinhia have since sold and burned their ship to buy lands inland and maintain a tavern as the Castillian Trading Co.
In the most recent years, Octavian has grown a bit restless with the sea life, and he has drifted inland, fighting within the Barony of Dragon's Mist as a fencer. The skills which he first learned aboard ship have been honed and has become defender of the (then-Shire) of Dragon's Mist in AS 45, and of the neighboring Shire of Mountain's Edge in AS 44 and 46. In this manner shall he be able to continue his marshal skills while still having time for the many crafts he enjoys.
SCA History
I was introduced to the SCA in the Winter of 1999 in the Shire of Coeur du Val. I was attending a Catholic youth conference on Valentine's Day Weekend where I found other people who shared my sense of humor and love for british comedy (Monty Python in particular). They told me I might like the SCA, and so I attended my first event soon after, which was Couer de Villian.
I lived in the Barony of Terra Pomaria[1] by boundary since then for the next 10 years or so, but never too much involved in the local scene. I spent 4 years in Monmouth for college at WOU, and another 3 still living in the area before moving back into Salem in 2006, and there is not much of an SCA scene within Monmouth/Independence and I didn't get out much. Starting in 2006 I became more involved in Terra Pomaria. I moved back home to Dragon's Mist in 2010 and continued being active with Dragon's Mist and Mountain's Edge. An Tir has always been my home and remains close to my heart, as will playing Norse Stickball
Martial Arts
- Rapier Junior Marshal
- Thrown Weapons Junior Marshal, Dragon's Mist Baronial Marshal
Awards
I can be found on the An Tir Roll of Arms
- Award of Arms (An Tir), Sep 24, 2011 (AS XLVI)
- Pinecone (Three Mountains), Sep 22, 2012 (AS XLVII)
- Jewel of the Dragon (originally Hand of Fulla) (Dragon's Mist), Feb 16, 2013 (AS XLVII)
- Goutte de Sang (Styrkarr Jarlsskald, Stjarna), Sep 27, 2014 (AS XLIX)
- Golden Torc (Three Mountains), Aug 17, 2014 (AS XLVIII)
- Yeoman (Dragon's Mist), Feb 13, 2016
- Mountain's Pride (Three Mountains), Aug 13, 2016 (AS XLXI)
Championships
- Rapier Defender (Mountain Edge), Mar 28, 2009 (AS XLIII)
- Rapier Defender (Dragon's Mist), Aug 21, 2010 (AS XLV)
- Rapier Champion (Mountain Edge), Apr 2, 2011 (AS XLV)
- Thrown Weapons Champion (Dragon's Mist), Jun 21, 2014 (AS XLVIII)
- Thrown Weapons Champion (Three Mountains), Jun 13, 2015 (AS XLIV)
Interests
Historical Italian fencing styles for the early 1500's, fermentation of fruit wines, Norse Stickball, chainmaille, Thrown Weapons, Rapier
Fencing
Fencing is my true passion in the SCA. I truly enjoy the art of the sword and practice Japanese Kendo as well as European Fencing. I first started fencing about 2000-2003, from Terra Pomaria's fencing practice and have continued through each of the places I live, the most recent being back home to Dragon's Mist. I am studying Camillo Agrippa who was fencing master during the 16th century in Rome, simplified Achille Marozzo's eleven guards down to four: prima, seconda, terza and quarta, which roughly correspond to the hand positions used today in the Italian school. He is also regarded as the man who most contributed to the development of the rapier as a primarily thrusting weapon.
Woodwork
If only I still had the house I rented in Monmouth with my garage work space to be able to do more, and the garage full of carpentry tools that my father has.
Scribal
I started learning calligraphy around the time that I became involved in the SCA, but have never been very good at it. I have also developed an interest in Japaense sumi-e and have started to learn proper technique of the brush.
Events Attended
Keep in mind, the A.S. year is determined by the 'new year' being May 1st, 1966. Mid Realm has a nice conversion chart if you need to check the date of an event, or today's date :) - http://www.midrealm.org/asconvert.html
Between my first event and AS44, I frequented the following events every year with rare exception: Dragon's Mist Defender's Tourney, July Coronation, William Tell, and Acorn War. Though unsanctioned, it is worth noting that I started to be a part of the Moca Sozinhia as of about 2001/2002 and started to go to, and help run, The Gathering as a part of the household that was running it, likewise did I start to go to Courtesan Carnival which was first known as "The Other 12th Night" until it got its' own name.
I have a few notable excepts that stand out over time, and I will keep them here, otherwise I have about 10 years of eventing history that is a repeat of those events.
AS33 (1998/1999)
- Couer de Villian
AS35 (2000/2001)
- Spring Coronet
AS36 (2001/2002)
- Gathering 2
AS37 (2002/2003)
- Gathering 3
AS39 (2004/2005)
- July Coronation
- Rapier Demo at Salem World Fair
- Gathering 5
- Courtesan Carnival
AS40 (2005/2006)
- Gathering 6
- Sea Dog 5
- Courtesan Carnival
AS42 (2007/2008)
- Autumn War
AS43 (2008/2009)
- Faire in the Grove Demo
- An Tir / West War
AS44 (2009/2010)
- Mountain's Edge Defender's Tourney - I won :)
- Faire in the Grove Demo
- Stoller Middle School Demo - All of the fighting were fencers.
- The Gathering - last one!
- Dragon's Mist Defender Tourney
- July Coronation
- Sea Dog Nights - day-tripping for fire dancing
- Long & Short of It
- Sport of Kings
- September Crown
- Acorn War
- St. Crispin's Feast
AS45 (2010/2011)
- Mountain's Edge Defender's Tourney
- Faire in the Grove Demo
- Dragon's Mist Defender's Tourney
- Grand Thing
- Blackethorne Revel
- Acorn War
AS46 (2011/2012)
- Mountain's Edge Defender's Tourney (I won :) )
Retinue as Queen's Guard for Ieuan and Gwyneth)
- Twelfnight
AS47 (2012/2013)
- Boar's Head Hunt (received AoA from Thorin & Daegmear)
- Mountain's Edge Defender's Tourney
- Carnivale di Venezia
- Egil Skalllagrimson Memorial Tournament
- July Coronation
- Acorn War
- Feast of St. Crispin's
- Dragon's Mist Yule Feast
- Twelfthnight
AS48 (2013/2014)
- July Coronation
- 3M Champions Tourney
- Acorn War
- Carnevale di Venezia (Feb 15)
- Faire in the Grove (May 3-4)
- Boar's Head Hunt
AS49 (2014/2015)
- Boar's Head Hunt
- Three Mountains Yule
- Dragon's Mist Yule
- Carnevale di Venezia
- Faire in the Grove
- July Coronation
- Acorn War
AS50 (2015/2016)
- Boar's Head Hunt
- Three Mountains Yule
- Dragon's Mist Yule
- Twelfthnight
- Carnevale di Venezia
- Stromgard's Founding Revel
- Faire in the Grove