Who should fight (was)Re: Ducal perogative

Lori Jones LJONES at ossm.edu
Sun Mar 2 20:08:53 PST 1997


Well, I was catching up on my reading from the list when this 
particular subject caught my eye.  After reading the posts on the 
subject and thinking about the opinions and attitudes expressed by 
many individuals, I'd like to add a few thoughts to the mix.  

As near as I can tell, our Crown Tournament oath does not allow 
competitors the luxury of  bowing out.  In Ansteorra, that privilege 
is reserved for the Duchy.  They, and they alone, have the right to 
enter a Crown List and later elect to withdraw.   All others (ranking 
from County on down) must keep the oath they swore upon entering 
the tourney.  It seems to me that forfeiture of a bout (someone of 
non-ducal rank walking off the field and refusing to fight any more) 
should not be allowed.  Now, I know you can't force someone to fight  
(duh!), so a possible way to discourage this might be not allowing 
that person to fight in any more Crown lists (after all, to be a King 
one should be able to keep his word, yes?)

Sure, it is possible for someone to fight half-heartedly, or to 
purposely relax their defense, or to use an unfamiliar style of 
weapon, etc.,  in order to give an advantage to an opponent they'd 
rather not "take out", but these things are all still just another 
means of bowing out in a less public fashion.  My opinion is that 
this is extremely unfair to all competitors, as it allows someone 
that doesn't even want to win the opportunity to affect the 
outcome of the list and, by doing so, to affect the welfare of the 
entire kingdom).  YMMV.

Our kingdom prides itself on maintaining high standards of honor.  
These highest standards should ALWAYS be evident in our Crown 
Tournaments.  IMO, there is no honor in fighting just to try and
ensure that someone else does or does not win. 

Many times I've heard the argument that up-and-coming fighters should 
enter Crown for the opportunity to "prove" themselves to members of 
the chivalry or to show off their skills.  I disagree with this. 
Crown Tournaments comprise only 2 of 52 weekends out of every year - 
leaving plenty of other opportunities for fighters to display their 
skill at arms.  Those who enter our kingdom's most prestigious list 
with the dream of ruling this great kingdom deserve the chance to win 
or lose to someone who shares this same dream, not just one who 
wants to build a reputation or make a name for themselves. 

Again, YMMV.

Those who enter Crown Tournament should do so with the sole intent 
of doing honor to themselves, their consort and the Kingdom they wish
to rule.  

I've seen much to indicate that many in the populace feel it is the 
right of an Ansteorran citizen  (regardless of personna, rank, or 
geographical origin) to enter Crown List.  This simply is not true.  
Entering Crown list is a privilege granted by the King, as the 
person and their consort must be acceptable to the Crown.  Our 
Kingdom's generous tradition is that anyone can (after fulfilling 
requirements of Kingdom Law and aquiring a member of the Chivalry to 
speak for them) enter the Crown List - whether they happen to be the 
best or the worst fighter in the kingdom (at least this is what 
Ansteorran tradition seems to indicate).  


Bs. Katrionna MacLochlainn, 
CSS, CSM, CIM, QG, KG, LoW, SC, SCo, ST, SF 
Barony of Wiesenfeuer, Kingdom of Ansteorra

*********************************
"Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; 
 argument an exchange of ignorance."  
  - Robert Quillen

*********************************
Lori Jones
Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics, Library
LJONES at ossm.edu



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