Core Values • Integrity • Fairness • Loyalty • Respect

Brandenburg is very active within the Empire. Our charter requires that certain events are held on a regular basis. In addition to these requirements, Brandenburg hosts and participates in several activities each year for its members and for the community. Here are a few examples of our activities:

The Tournament: Each month, Brandenburg holds a tournament of arts and arms. For the arts, members may research and present an art work that can be scored (judged arts) or just to share in order to receive input from other artists (non-judged arts). In combat, we provide a setting to compete in the three forms practiced in Brandenburg. They include Shinai (a training weapon for newcomers), Rapier and Armored combat. In general, our tourneys are themed in an effort to make each month special. Tournament themes have included Elizabethan Prize Fighting, Siege of a Castle, Pas d ’arms and many, many others. If tourneys are canceled due to weather or other reasons, make up events are scheduled by the crown.

Wars: At least once each year, Brandenburg holds a war. The “war” is a term we use for group competition. At the Imperial level and in many other chapters, wars are used to determine the next Crown (leader) of that chapter or of the Empire. Although Brandenburg does not use this method to select its chapter crown, we still host a war for fun. As with the tournament, Brandenburg wars are typically themed.

Archery: Target Archery tournaments are held every other month (we shoot 2 months worth at a time). These tournaments give members an opportunity at developing their marksmanship skills.

Demonstrations: Several times each year, Brandenburg participates in public demonstrations for schools, special events and for the community. Currently, we participate in the Norway Hall Viking Festival each year. We also present demonstrations for several area schools and other community events. Demonstrations are our way of giving back to the community by providing a valuable educational experience.

Collegia (Classes): Collegia are Brandenburg’s specialty. Many of our members have been involved with living history for decades and several members are professional artists and educators. Brandenburg has a strong commitment to sharing this information with the Duchy and the Empire at large. In recent years, Brandenburg has held collegia in combat, archery, wood craving, herbology, hand sewing, music, theatre and many other topics.

Feasts: Each year Brandenburg celebrates special occasions by holding a feast. This is a period dinner held to mark occasions such as the investiture of a new crown or the Yule time. Feasts are a great time to celebrate Brandenburg, eat great food and drink and don your fancy costumes. Brandenburg has a long tradition of presenting excellent feasts. Members are encouraged to volunteer to help in any way they can from helping in the kitchen to providing entertainment.

National Events and other local activities: In addition to our own events, Brandenburg is located in a hub of terrific activities suited to our living history society. To the north and south of our chapter, we have other chapters of the Empire (Esperance to the North and Terre Neuve to the south). These chapters are very active and also hold events each month. From time to time, Brandenburg participates in joint events as a way to stay connected to our neighbors. There are also 2 major national events held nearby. Both of these events are camping events! (more about this later). These events provide an opportunity to meet members from across the county.

The Brandenburg Encampment: Of all activities Brandenburg participates in, nothing is more exciting and truly transcendent than the period encampment. Brandenburg has period encampments each year at the annual Imperial Crown War. We also have full encampments for other special events from time to time. Brandenburg takes great pains to ensure that our encampments meet a very high standard of excellence. Encampments are generally coordinated by a quartermaster. It is the responsibility of this person to organize the encampment so that all participants have space needed for their tents and other camping gear. In order to create a period atmosphere, the quartermaster will also assign camping locations in order to keep the central part of the encampment period in style. Those participants who have period tents will be placed in a way as to create a courtyard where many of our camp activities will occur such as knightings, feasts and classes. If you do not have a period tent, you are still welcome to participate in the encampment. As part of our encampment, we establish a “backstage” area for modern tents and all members gear. This gives us the ability to have the comforts of today while we still get to play in the setting of the past.

As a new member of Brandenburg, you are considered to be an independent member of the chapter. Should you desire to do so, you have the right to join (or form) an estate. Each estate provides representation in matters that affect the entire chapter such as funding of events and planning and approval of special activities. Additionally, estates help to set rules and policy at both the local level and the Imperial level. The estates of each chapter are organized as follows:

For more information about estates, please visit www.adrianempire.org and go to the library section.

If you have not yet been to an event, we invite you to join us! Our website contains information about upcoming events. There are several ways that members may participate. Here is some information about how to prepare for an event and what activities are usually available to members.

What should I Bring? Events are usually held outdoors. At minimum, you will want to bring something to sit on (a blanket or chair) and something to drink. On hot days, you may want to cover your head in some fashion. On cold days, you may want to bring warmer garb or a cloak (more on costumes later).

It is tradition in Brandenburg that we are committed to a presenting a period feel to all of our events. To that end, we ask that you make a conscious effort to conceal any non-period items such as coolers and modern camp chairs. A simple blanket covering such items is acceptable. As you become more active, we strongly encourage you to consider more period items for events. Wooden folding chairs and leather pouches are inexpensive and easy to come by. If you need assistance in locating these items for purchase (or better yet, making them yourself!), please ask a member of Brandenburg. We are always ready to help.

It is also tradition in Brandenburg that we hold a group afternoon repast (pot luck lunch) at events. We believe this a great opportunity for a communal experience and allows for members to get to know one another. We ask that you bring items that can be shared and have a historically period feel such as fruit, cheese, meats, veggies, breads, etc. Please avoid overtly modern items such as bags of chips or fast food.

What should I wear? The Adrian Empire requires its members to dress in period appropriate attire at all official events. We strongly support this requirement, but we also have no expectation that you will arrive to your first events in full period perfect garb. We do ask that you make an effort to avoid obvious modern clothing. Here are a few suggestions and how you can easily achieve a basic medieval/renaissance costume appropriate for events:

Men: Shirts - a simple white peasant shirt or a plain tunic. These are available at many ren faires and online for a very good price and are also easy to make yourself. Pants – tight fitting sweat pants in a solid color make a great substitute for basic men’s hose. Shoes – black or brown work boots or motorcycle boots will do the trick.

Women: Dress – a simple sleeved gown or skirt and bodice. Shoes – work boots or neutral colored sandals (not flip flops) will do the trick. If you need assistance, we are here to help! Feel free to ask the Hospitaler or the Crown for help with your costume.

How do I get involved in combat, arts, archery or just help out? Getting involved with these activities is simple. There will be officers in charge of each of these areas at events (we call them ministers). Each is responsible for setting up their respective activities and providing members with information about rules and requirements. For full details on combat, arts and archery, please go to the Adrian Empire website library section.

Here is a brief description of each discipline within the Empire:

Combat – In Brandenburg we practice 3 forms of combat. Each form has minimum armor requirements for safety and members must complete a qualification test in order to participate. Shinai is a bamboo sword used as a training weapon. This is the first weapon all new combatants begin with. Tournaments in shinai are held each month and are restricted to non-knights only. Rapier combat is our renaissance style of combat (think of fencing). Rapier uses 15th and 16th century steel replica weapons designed for competitive dueling. Armored combat is contact competitive combat with “live steel” weapons in full medieval style armor.

Arts – Arts and Sciences tournaments are also held each month. These tournaments are broken into 2 divisions (called lysts). The masters lyst is for beginners and the Knights lyst is for more advanced artisans. If you enter a tournament, you have the option of having your work scored (judged entry) or you may receive feedback only (non-judged entry). Arts have basic research requirements in order to qualify as a valid entry. See the arts minister for more information.

Archery – target archery tournaments are held each month. All participants must qualify to shoot in order to meet basic safety requirements. Archery has 2 divisions (lysts), The Bowmans lyst for beginners and the Huntsmans list for more advanced participants. For more information, please see our archery minister.

Ministry – Brandenburg is committed to service. After all, events do not happen all by themselves. We strongly encourage all of our members to actively participate by volunteering to help with some aspect of each event. Even if you are new to us, your help is needed! At each event, we need assistance setting up and tearing down court, the combat field and the archery range. With a little bit of training, you can also help with sign in tables, marshaling the combat field or the archery range. All members also have the option of taking on a more significant role as one of its ministers. If you are interested, please see the crown or a crown minister.

This is so much fun! What else can I do? There is so much more that you can do! Far too much to fit in this little introduction to the Brandenburg family. But since you asked, here are a few more things that we encourage our new members to do… We love new ideas! – That right, Brandenburg is always seeking people to present us with ideas for tourney themes, classes to offer, special event sites and many other things. If you have an idea, let us know about it. But be warned…the Crown may love your idea and ask you to do the research and perhaps even organize it! (really, it’s fun and worth the effort) Bring your friends and family! – Brandenburg exists solely due to the dedication of its members. It is the job of every member to encourage others to get involved. If you are as inspired by this group as we are, tell your friends and family. We have loaner garb available for visitors and loaner fight gear for those interested in a little taste of combat!

Brandenburg is a wonderful place to participate in this fascinating hobby. One of the things that make our events so special is our longstanding commitment to presenting a historically period atmosphere. To that end, we ask that all members adhere to some basic rules of etiquette and courtesy.

1) It is our intent to create a good medieval/renaissance setting. Please be sure to conceal all modern items as much as possible.

2) For the courtesy of others, smoking is not permitted in event areas.

3) Soda cans, plastic bottles and other modern food and drink items are not permitted in event areas. Please pour drinks into a period type drinking vessel (think wood, pewter or glass) and place food items on a plate or cloth napkin.

4) If you are planning games or entertainment, please try to use period games and avoid modern ones (think 30 and 1 instead of blackjack or Uno). Also, do not bring electric guitars or handheld electronic games. These are not permitted in the event areas. Music players with period music for atmosphere may be used by permission but must be concealed.

5) Avoid overtly non-period topics of discussion. It is not appropriate to loudly discuss the latest Padres games during court.

6) Courtesy is of the utmost importance in the Empire. Always do your best to be polite. Persons should be addressed by their proper title. If you do not know their proper title, you can use mi ’lord or mi ’lady. This is an acceptable form of address for everyone. If someone is wearing a crown, is it likely they are of high rank. It is proper to bow if they are addressing you.