ANST - Artemisian Coronation, etc. (long)

[Dennis and/or Dory Grace]

Hi all, Aquilanne here.

Artemisia just recently had her second coronation, the new Crowns being
from our home Barony of 1000 Eyes; the King  presently being a *squire* to
one of Lyonel's former squire brothers (nifty cool, eh?). They did some
neat stuff with the ceremony, and though it's a bit long, it might be of
interest to any quasi-SCA-anthropologists out there, plus I just wanted to
share a bit of it with you all.

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Coronation Ceremony of John & Alyna

January 10th, 1998

Populace Draws Nigh for Coronation Ceremony
 
Barons and Baroness are seated in the front of the hall on either side of
the thrones. On a prearranged signal by Lord James Newton Stiles, Meg and
Conner step to the side of the dais and begin singing "Burden of the
Crown."   
 
Individual group banner bearers are in the back of the hall with their
group's rolled up banners.
 
Katlin will be in the back with an assistant and the mantles of state.
Gareth and Fenix will be in back with the chains of estate, and Lord Jurgen
will be with them and the sword of state.
 
Viscountess Anna, Viscountess Courtney, Master Einendoch,  and Sir Landolf
are in the back of the hall with the canopy and poles.
 
Niccolo, the Royal Herald begins walking forward from the back of the hall.
 He announces:
 
 "In the year of our Lord 1997,  being Anno Societatus 32,  on the 11th day
of October; that same fated day long ago, when William, Duke of Normandy
did become known as the Conqueror, a great tournament was held in the
Barony of Arn Hold.  The undisputed victor of that day was John de Clare
fighting for the honor of his lady sister Alyna  Isabelle de Clare and the
right to wear the Crown of Artemisia.   By right of arms John and Alyna did
become the Crown Prince and Princess.  This day John and Alyna come forward
to claim the Crown and Thrones of Artemisia."
 
John and Alyna come forward under a canopy borne by 4 Pillars of Artemesia.
 The Herald says:  "Stand and pay due tribute to John and Alyna, coming
forward under the ensign of Artemisia.  The canopy is borne by 4 members
the Order of the Pillar of Artemisia, Viscountess Anna Zauberkunstlerin,
Viscountess Courtney Caeseria lmy, Master Einendoch, Thane of Arnhold, and
Sir Landolf Witkowski".
 
John and Alyna come forward  to front of hall stopping in front of the
thrones.  The canopy bearers pass legs of canopy off to 4 designatedpeople
to place the legs of the canopy in portable holes.  The Pillars of
Artemisia stand to the sides of the thrones.
 
John and Alyna pick up the Crowns, which are on the thrones.   John says,
"These crowns represent Artemisia.  They are made of precious metals found
in these lands, crafted by the skilled hands of Artemisians.  But without
the people of Artemisia, these are mere bands of metal."
 
John calls forward the 4 Pillars of Artemisia and  says; " I charge you to
go to the back of this hall and give these Crowns to the people of
Artemisia and have the crowns passed forward."
 
4 Crown passers then go to the back of the hall.  As they walk away, John
says, "I beg a boon of the people of Artemisia.  Please take these Crowns
and add your touch and warmth to them, and pass them on to your fellow
Artemisians."
 
The Crowns are passed forward,  during this time the Loch Salann Music
Guild will play.
 
As the Crowns make it to the front of the hall they are passed to the Baron
of Arn Hold and Sentinel's Keep, who pass them to the baron/ess of Loch
Salann and 1000 Eyes, who hold the Crowns for John and Alyna.
 
John and Alyna point to the Crowns and say  "These Crowns now truly
contain the magic it takes to make an Artemisian King and Queen.  They have
been passed to  Us through the populace of Artemisia.   The warmth of your
love  and your belief in our common dream give these crowns life".    In
Our reign we will always try to keep these Crowns warm with our touch, in
memory of yours".
 
John takes the King's Crown and says: "I won the right to wear this Crown
by right of Arms. (John turns to Alyna)  But I could not win this by
Myself.  It was your inspiration that gave me the strength to be
victorious.  And it is by your hand that I wish to be Crowned.
 
Alyna takes  the King's Crown from John and says:  "By the grace of God and
right of arms, I do crown you King of all Artemisia." and then crowns John.
 
John then takes the Queen's Crown and says: "As you have inspired me in the
past,  I ask you to reign beside me as Queen"  John then crowns Alyna.
 
Royal Herald announces that  the  mantles of state  were made by Mistress
Yelisveta Katlin  Savrasova, and  are presented to John and Alyna by her.

They either put them on or touch them and have them put away.  Next the
chains of state, made by Mistress Carol of Stargate are brought forward by
Viscount Sir Gareth ap Llewllyn and Lady Morwenna atte Fenix.  Same process.
 
Lord Jurgen von Lowenburg, the maker of the sword of state  will bring
forward the sword and present it to John.
 
The Herald announces to the populace, "Now stands before you, clad in the
vestments of the Crown and Kingdom of Artemisia,  John and Alyna, second
King and Queen of these lands."   "Long live the King, Long live the Queen,
 Long live these sovereign lands of Artemisia."
 
Royal Herald reads the listing of the lands of Artemisia.  As each group is
called forward, a person from that group bearing the groups banner comes
forward.   Banner bearers will come forward and alternate which side of the
hall they stand on. 
 
The baronies will be announced last.  As the baronies are called forward
the baron/ess will come forward with their banner and bow, then kneel
before the king and queen.   When all four baronies are called forward, the
baronage will immediately go into fealty oaths.  
 
The fealty oath for  the baronage shall be:.... 
 
This day do I _________, Baron/ess of ___________,  render homage and
fealty to the King, Queen, and Kingdom of  Artemisia.     I do swear to be
Thier liege man of life and limb and to rule my lands justly and honorably
in the Thier name.   I shall continue to voice the words and desires of the
Crown to my people and the needs of my people to the Crown.  This I do
swear by the ideals of chivalry and all I hold sacred and true, so say I
_________
 
John and Alyna will say:  "So do We, John and Alyna, hear these oaths, and
do for Our part, swear to protect you and your households to the best of
Our ability, till the stars shall fall from the sky, the world ends, or
these Crowns pass from Our hands."
 
Completing the baronage fealty oaths the baronage will return to their
thrones.  

The royal herald will ask the knights to stand, when they have all stood.
John will say;  "Knights of the Realm, while I have you all gathered here
this day, I charge you with a quest.  Go forth amongst  the young warriors
of Artemisia, fighting and working with as many as you can.  Share your
knowledge of chivalric virtues and values as you share the art of fighting
with these young fighters." John will have the knights face out to the
populace and John will say: "Fighters of Artemisia,  before you stands the
flower of chivalry of this Kingdom.   I charge each of you to seek these
gentlemen out and learn from them, that the prowess of this Kingdom shall
be enhanced."
 
The Herald will ask the members of the Order of the Laurel to stand. When
 they are all standing, John will say: "Laurels of this Realm,  I would
like to charge you with a quest  to impart your respective arts and talents
to each aspiring artisan in Our Kingdom."  John will have the Laurels  face
out to the populace, then John will say: "Artisans of Artemisa, before you
stands the pinnacle of artistic achievement  of this Kingdom.  I charge
each of you to seek these gentles out and learn from them, that the beauty
of Our Kingdom shall be enhanced."
 
The herald asks members of the Order of the Pelican to stand.   When they
are all standing, John he shall say:  "Pelicans of the Realm,  you are the
backbone of our great society.  Your knowledge and skills and your
willingness to serve are what make Our Kingdom run.   I charge you with a
quest, go forth and find those who would serve and teach them your skills."
 John will ask the Pelicans to face the populace, and John will say:
"people of Artemisia, before you stands the Pelicans of the Kingdom.   
 'Tis by the unselfish service of the populace that Our Kingdom runs.
Those of you who wish to serve, I charge you to seek these gentles out and
learn their skills.
 
Herald will then ask members of the Orders who wish to swear fealty come
forward and kneel before the Crown.  The herald will call forward, Royal
Peers,  the Officers of the Realm and then the populace who wishes to swear
fealty. 
 
John and Alyna will hold the Sword of State, members of the populace will
say after the herald:  "this day do I, _________ swear homage and fealty to
the Crown and Kingdom of Artemisa.  Endeavoring always to be a true
leigeman, for the greater glory of Artemisia.  This I do swear by this
sword and by my honor."
 
John and Alyna will say:  "So do We, John and Alyna, hear these oaths,and
do for Our part, swear to protect you and your households to the best of
Our ability, till the stars shall fall from the sky, the world ends, or
these Crowns pass from Our hands.
 
Everyone is dismissed to their seats.
 
The Royal Herald calls forward Thorfinn and Sarah who are recognized for
their service.  And Sarah recognized as the first lady of the Rose for the
Kingdom of Artemisia.
 The Royal Herald calls forward the court of Their Majesties:
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This also came over the Artemisian list from a fellow who recently moved to
An Tir:
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>	Neat thing at An Tir's coronation, when the knights swear fealty to their
>new king... the all draw their swords, etc and lay their *live steel* on
>his person as they swear their fealty.  After the oath, the king responds
>with something like.... "I see by the fact I am unharmed that you accept me
>as your true King...."   I thought it was very cool. 
*************************************************

So, there's a little inter-kingdom anthropology to mull over, digest, or
pop into the delete/trash receptical, as each may see fit.

Aquilanne



Dory Grace--The Inkwell
denouncer of Tytyvylus & warrior crone
amazing at mail.utexas.edu
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