Living History is our way of helping understand the ways of yore, the fascination in how, why, who doesn't disappear with age. Trying the real 'interactive experience' of issuing commands to a pike line during a skirmish, or laithing some wood, forging a knife, and more, is why Anakron Living History exists.
The full display for larger events contains a variety of seperate craftsmen as portrayed in the period. Our popular tavern set up is ideal for interaction with the public, and refreshments are available if requested, and permitted via the local authorities.
The armoury display shows off the groups own items, and is great for pubic interaction. The Sword Master and his eleves are always open to discuss and explain the crafting, use and fighting techniques of the time. It is always a pleasure to explain to the public the benfits of a closed or open helm, and the weight of chainmail. Yes, it is heavy isnt it.....
Our Sword master displays sword fighting techniques from various treatises available, These techniques provide us with insight into how to correctly use the weapon to it's greatest effect. The treatise are works of marketing genius rather than ever lasting pearls of knowledge. Our aim is to show how the Hollywoodesque hack and slash feast is just not possible. The blades themselves are of different weights, and just swinging this haphazardly is tiring work. We are available for demonstrations of sword skills and improvised duelling. Get in touch if you would like more information.
So what was Medieval warfare really like?
We are often asked this question during our events, to be honest, who knows really? The HEMA teams are modern humans, they train to use the blade safely and accurately. They don't train to use the killing blow....and that is the difference. The mindset of being able to go hand to hand is something even modern day professionals must have a conscience issue. The remaining recites of battle are a base, but many are not contemporary, and most are biased. Losers of battles generally take to the lengthy works of a scribe to recite how they were soundly defeated. Our own perceptions are of course clouded by works from later writings .... Which can viking can ever forgive Wagner? The same is suffered from the glorification of Ivanhoe and King Arthur...
Our skirmish is a great show, and is adapted according to the environment, safety regulations both for us and the crowd are our primary concern (and no our swords are not sharp...otherwise we would have a horrible turnover and alot of clearing up after our battles). Our nominated safety officers can advise on what is possible in the selected terrain. Just get in touch via our contact form. The scenario is used to show the specatators the slower paced manoeuvres, and the use of combined arms to offer defensive and offensive movements. Communication, peripheral vision and actions remain 'improvised' on the spur of the moment. We train not to strike to hurt but to show the intensity of a battle. We hope you ask the questions, we love to talk about and how it would have been.
Medieval Life was not all about war....
We know....Our sisters know as well...our aim is to show life in another time. Anakron is about making people understand the past through interaction and learning. No army marched alone, a condotta would have initiated a 2 year service. Normal that the baggage train and activity would have followed. Unfortunately I cannot imply that economy and market economics would have have followed.