The Company of Chivalry

reenactment group
title=The Company of Chivalry (Ye Compaynye of Cheualrye)
est=1988
location=Europe, based in United Kingdom
period=1360-1390, primarily 1370
special=Combat Display and Living History
mems= around 70
alliance= [http://theema.co.uk/ Early Medieval Alliance]
url=http://www.yecompaynyeofcheualrye.com

The Company of Chivalry is a living history group portraying a Military Company in the age of Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), under the command of Sir Thomas Hungerford (c. 1330 – 3 December 1397), a Vassal of John of Gaunt 1st Duke of Lancaster (March 6 1340 – February 3 1399).

The group performs at Medieval Reenactment events; with civilian Living History and military Combat Display aspects. The Company of Chivalry is well known for its vivid display of daily life in a medieval camp especially in the Castles of Wales for CADW. The Group has the only fully trained Medieval Siege Engine Crew in the United Kingdom, and regularly displays the use of four types of Siege Engine at Caerphilly Castle in South Wales.

The society has set its effective date as 1370, during the Hundred Years War at a time when the English were ascendent against the Armies of France. Within the society the military aspect consists of soldiers who are primarily made up of Billmen with a gunner in charge of a small black powder cannon, commanded by armoured Knights.

Name

There is not a single correct spelling for the name of the company; the group usually uses “The Company of Chivalry” or the more Archaeic “Ye Compaynye of Cheualrye”

Origins and History

The Company of Chivalry was formed in 1988 by a group of people with a love for medieval England. Over the years they have developed a system of operating that has caused them to evolve from a small group to a well structured society of over 50 active members. The aim of the society is to recreate the daily life, culture and technology of English society in the Plantagenet period of the late fourteenth century.

Membership

There are around seventy five people involved with the group and about fifty of them are considered active. The active members live in the United Kingdom; the General Membership is mostly drawn from the West Country (Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon, Gloucestershire), and from Warwickshire. The society actively recruits and welcomes enquiries for membership and events from all over the UK and Europe, the society is happy to accept members with or without prior experience; and welcomes families to join.

Events

The Company of Chivalry primarily works with CADW, and English Heritage, and some privately owned properties such as Pembroke Caste; and carries out living history events in close cooperation with them. The Group usually carries out between twelve and fifteen events each year/season between Easter and September, in the UK. The Society has developed strong links with Compagnia di Porta Giovia an Italian Reenactment Society Based in Milano, Italy, and travels to Morimondo, Italy every year to participate in a reenactment of The Battle of Casorate (1352) between Carlo IV of Bohemia and the Duke Visconti of Milano. The Socety also attends private events.

For the 2008 Season The Company of Chivalry are committed to attend the following Events:

23rd-24th March – Caerphilly Castle, South Wales

4th-5th May – Caerphilly Castle, South Wales

17th-18th May – Battle of Casorate, Morimondo, Italy

25th-26th May – Caerphilly Castle, South Wales with Bowman of the Rose

31st May/1st June – Templecombe Medieval Pageant, Templecombe, Somerset

12th-13th July – Tewkesbury Medieval Festival, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

26th-27th July – Big Cheese (Caerphilly Castle, South Wales)

2nd-3rd August – Pembroke Castle, South Wales

24th-25th August – Caerphilly Castle, South Wales with Bowman of the Rose

6th-7th September – Caldicot Castle Market/Siege, South Wales

Video

* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zyqCaIW1hQU A Good Hanging] The Company of Chivalry at Pembroke Castle in 2007
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m09vT4mWWfQ The Company of Chivalry at Farleigh Hungerford Castle June 2006]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfng6WchAI0 Battle of Casorate Reenactment May 2005]

External links

* [http://www.yecompaynyeofcheualrye.com Official Website of The Company of Chivalry]
* [http://photos.yecompaynyeofcheualrye.com/ Official Photograph Gallery of The Company of Chivalry]
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8813468092 The Company of Chivalry Facebook Group]
* [http://www.portagiovia.net Official Website of La Compagnia di Porta Giovia]
* [http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk CADW Official Website] , Welsh Historic Monuments
* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ English Heritage]
* [http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ Historic Scotland]
* [http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/enjoying/visit_the_vale/attractions/historic/cosmeston_medieval_village.aspx Cosmeston Medieval Village]
* [http://www.gdfb.co.uk Get Dressed for Battle] Reenactment Supplies
* [http://www.pembroke-castle.co.uk/ Official Pembroke Castle Website]
* [http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/LivingHistory/LivingHistorySocieties.htm Historic UK]
* [http://www.medievaldesign.com Medieval Designs, Reenactment Goods and Supplies]
* [http://www.past-tents.demon.co.uk Past Tents] Suppliers of Authentic Period Tents and canvas
* [http://www.kats-hats.co.uk/ Kat's Hats] - Historical Headresses, Costumes and Accessories
*List of historical reenactment groups

References

*The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation, Ian Mortimer, ISBN 978-0224073011 (2006)
* [http://www.skirmishmagazine.co.uk/ Skirmish Magazine]
* [http://events.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/disp.asp?i=77419 Bridgewater Mercury February 2008]
* [http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2002/ppomatthew.htm Bristol University October 2002]
* [http://www.blagdon.org/blagdon/blag_leisure/entries/history/history0401.htm Blagdon Local History Society Review of Talk by Dr Andrew Newton on Medieval Medicine January 2004]