Living History

Kelsey bandages a fellow reenactor at a recent event

This week’s episode is the first part of Alena’s interview with Kelsey Freeman, a blogger and reenactor of many interests and experiences. In this first half they discuss:
• How Kelsey got her start reenacting
• World War 2 reenacting and tacticals
• mixing photography and reenacting

Musical Interlude: Cossacks in Berlin

Download: Interview with Kelsey Freeman

Episode Summary

This week we will tell you about a reenactment group that we’re involved in called the Guild of Saint Maurice. Reenacting an encampment of soldiers (and their wives) from the Holy Roman Empire in the year 1529. We’ll get into:
• The history of the Holy Roman Empire and of the Landsknecht.
• Women’s roles
• Why we picked this timeperiod
• How the group formed and its current organizaional structure
• Historical Research on the Landsknecht and the timeperiod
• All about our clothing and kit
• Where we present and what sorts of activities we represent
Musical Interlude: We Be Soldiers 3 by Ravenrook Consort

Download:16th C Mercenaries

Episode Summary

While at Reenactorfest 6 Stephen got an opportunity to sit down with Rick Kakouris and Chris Last of the Guilde of Saint Michael from the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Their guild recreates a “trained band” from 16th century England. They talked about:

• Their introduction to the faire and to the Guilde of Saint Michael
• How they bring history to the faire
• Their faire family and their families at the faire
• Their newest venture

Musical Interlude: Hielan Sodger performed by Tourdion

Download: Trayned Band

Episode Summary:

This week Stephen and Alena discuss reenacting close-quarters, weapon combat. We talked about:
• Why do it?
• Safety and legal issues
• Different styles, including:
- western martial arts,
- SCA
- limited hit groups,
- LARP, and
- Choreographed combat.

Musical Interlude: Black Cat Quadrille Performed by Old New England

Download:Historical Combat part 1