Preserving Your Local History

Getting Started

As members of the Society for Creative Anachronism we tend to revere history; after all, we are recreating the past. Without knowing the past, we cannot learn from it, be inspired by it, or recreate it.

But what about the history more close to home; the history of the group we play in? Do you know the history? Do you remember?

When we preserve our local history we immortalize great deeds, teach important lessons, help others form spectacular ideas, and remember those that are no longer with us.

Preserving your local history can be a challenge but it can also be a wonderful experience as well. The key to making it happen is to knowing how to start; specifically by knowing what you are looking for and where to find it.

Roman Pastimes: Felix Sex and Duodicem Scripta

Image 1.  Finished game boards and tokens.

Introduction

Games and other diversions are an important part of society, both ancient and modern. It is games that we play, and to some extent, how we play them that we learn, grow, acquire socialization skills, and expand our knowledge.  Games also give us the opportunity to satisfy our primal urges to conquer our opponent without doing actual harm.  For our ancestors; games provided the opportunity for entertainment, diversion, and as a way to learn strategy.

The Nine Worthies

Established in the Middle Ages, the list of the Nine Worthies was first penned by Jacques de Longuyon in his book Voeux du Paon; a literary work translated as "The Vows of the Peacock."  The Vows of the Peacock was considered to be a very popular romance novel in the 14th century.  In his book, de Longuyon describes, amongst other things, nine virtues that he associated with the concept of romantic chivalry.

De Longuyon's list of The Nine is separated into three distinct groups, each with three people in it.  The list of The Nine starts with the three good Pagans; famous names from Rome and Greece--Hector, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar form this list.  The second list is comprised of the three good Jews; Joshua, David, and the little known Judas Maccabeus.  The last and final section--reserved for the three good Christians--the exalted names of King Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon are recorded.