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David Knebel of Fort Worth is knighted during activities at the Society for Creative Anachronism coronation at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. Hundreds of medieval and renaissance history buffs attended the daylong events on Saturday.<BR>
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Celebration fit for a kingSociety of history enthusiasts holds its bi-annual crowning<B>By THALIA I. LONGORIA, tlongoria@sastandardtimes.com or 659-8378</B><BR>
<B>July 9, 2006</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 PTSIZE=12 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"></B>Instead of playing cowboys and Indians as a child, Michael Geisendorff of Midland imagined himself as a medieval knight. <IMG SRC="http://www.sanangelostandardtimes.com/sast/images/spacers/spacer.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="10" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <BR>
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On Saturday, reality surpassed his childhood expectations when he was crowned King of Ansteorra in San Angelo. The Society for Creative Anachronism, which is a worldwide nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the appearances and values of medieval and renaissance Europe, held a bi-annual crowning at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. ''I tried to be a knight before finding this society,'' said Geisendorff, dubbed King Aaron MacGregor within the kingdom, which covers most of what is otherwise known as Texas and all of Oklahoma. ''It's a huge honor. I dreamed about being a knight growing up.'' Saturday's all-day event was held to honor Geisendorff and his wife Tiffany Geisendorff. Their reign will last six months. Geisendorff has been active in SCA for about 18 years and previously served as king in 2002. ''I'm responsible for the fun of five to seven thousand people. I allow them to play their games and have their fun while I deal with mundane responsibilities,'' Geisendorff said. At Saturday's medieval spectacle, about 300 participants were all in renaissance and medieval attire, trying to closely relive history. The event also had an evening feast, merchants and a King's Champion tournament where participants fought each other for the honor of being the king's right hand man. Emulating a real tournament, contestants dressed in armor and shields battled with wrapped rattan sticks serving as their swords. Combatants competed until one dealt a blow that would have been considered debilitating if the sword play was real. Camaraderie, honor and upholding tradition are the values that Beth Wolff from the Fort Worth area believes is the most prominent aspect of the SCA. ''You can walk back into a life of dignity and honor,'' she said Saturday. ''We love upholding things like honesty and chivalry.'' Wolff played the role of bard - poet, singer and songwriter - for the outgoing monarch, and she said she is looking forward to the return of the Geisendorffs. ''I've been incredibly impressed by who they are,'' Wolff said. ''For most of us, it's a dream. They are very special to us.''<BR>
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