The meaning of the word ‘Iloncsuk’ can be traced back to Turkish origins, meaning ‘snake’. The Iloncsuk clan ruled the plains around Kecskemét (Hungary), and this is where our name comes from. The association was founded in 1998 in Kunszentmiklós. In the beginning, we worked as an archery team and then the attention of the members turned to close combat. Since our establishment, we have been trying to present the glory of the Kuns to the interested public. The main profile of our team is to present the costumes, weaponry and lifestyle of the Kuns who settled in the area with Khan Kötöny, and the turbulent decades and centuries that followed. The closest to the modern era is the Jászkun National Guard, which takes you back to the 1848/49 War of Independence. We try to present the different periods as authentically as possible. The members of the team are also involved in various handicraft activities (leatherwork, forging, horseshoeing and knife-making). We have organized our last year on the basis of less is sometimes more. By this we mean that we cannot meet every request, but where we can we try to participate with all our might. Over the years, we have participated in many small and large traditional commemorations and events. Fortunately, we have also had several requests for documentaries, such as Regnum Fest and Alone against the Great Mongol Empire. Our association is looking to the future with unbroken enthusiasm and confidence for such and similar requests.
Contacts:
Email: Iloncsuk01@outlook.hu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iloncsukszabadcsapat/
The ‘Isenbrand Saga’ is a living history-based project, focusing on the central decades of the fifth century ad, i.e. the last years of the reign of Attila the Hun. The project has three main elements: the first is fifth century living history activity, the second is a novel (planned to be part of a series) about Isenbrand – the Warrior of Attila – and movies produced under the name of the Isenbrand Saga. I’m a 35-year-old information technologist in love with storytelling and history. I started to research and to work on my Germanic gear after I got the chance to impersonate Attila the Hun in a documentary. I think storytelling is the most effective way to spread historical facts and we are in a great need to do so. We have much incorrect information about the Huns and we usually forget that the Hunnic Empire consisted of different peoples having different origins. The Hunnic Empire became great only because it allowed different cultures to merge into a strong unity. Through the Isenbrand Saga project I wanted to tell a story about heroism, loyalty and honour seasoned with some other elements: a bit of supernatural, intrigue and betrayal. Isenbrand, a warrior of Attila the Hun, becomes a toy of fate: his captain betrays him, then he loses everything step by step. Meanwhile, he gets into trouble with a mysterious killer, monsters lurking in the night and the scheming of some nobles. And above his head hovers the sword of doom: he learns that Attila’s life is in danger, and if the great king dies, the empire will perish with him.
Contacts:
Website: https://www.patreon.com/Isenbrandsaga
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isenbrandsaga
The ‘Nyugati Gyepűk Pajzsa’ group researches and exercises the combat of the elite armoured cavalry units of the tenth century from the Grand Duchy of Hungary. It places great emphasis on the authentic recreation and application of equestrian armour and close combat weapons, as well as on the authentic equestrian equipment and riding techniques. The team is special because it uses scientifically sophisticated equipment and weapon reconstructions to fight in realistic close combat on horseback, free-fight style, and strives to make the fighting techniques as authentic as possible to be near the originals.
Contacts:
Website: https://nyugatigyepu.hu/
Email: nyugatigyepukpajzsa@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nyugati-Gyep%C5%B1k-Pajzsa-Haditorna-Egyes%C3%BClet/100064818606119/
The Hungarian-Turán Foundation is the largest traditionalist organization in Hungary. It consists of two parts: a traditionalist one with military traditionalists, folk musicians, craftsmen, equestrian traditionalists and horse breeders; and a scientific one with scientific researchers in history, archaeology, anthropology, genetics, ethnography and linguistics. The researchers of the Foundation all respect Hungarian traditions and culture, but at the same time their research proceeds exclusively along the lines of modern science. With the symbolic term ‘Turán’, the Foundation conveys that it is not only researching the history of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin, but also the migration of Hungarians outside the Basin, the early stages of their ethnogenesis (leading to distant, even Asian regions) and their kinship relations. The Hungarian-Turán Foundation has extensive connections with professionals and traditionalists in various countries (Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova), but especially in related countries such as: Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and the member republics of the Russian Federation: Bashkiria, Tatarstan, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Buryatia, Altai Republic, Tuva and Yakutia. The Foundation considers its task to present scientific results to a non-expert audience, as well as to help Hungarian traditionalist groups establish contact with similar organizations of related peoples. It also supports the high-quality organization and implementation of joint programmes. The Hungarian-Turán Foundation organizes many traditional sports (ethnosports) programmes (archery, falconry, horse riding skills, wrestling, etc.) and similar activities. The events organized by the Foundation – the Kurultaj Hungarian Tribal Gathering and the Day of the Ancestors – are the largest tradition-preserving events in Europe since 2012.
Contacts:
Email: info@hungarian-turan.hu
Website: https://kurultaj.hu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kurultaj
We are a non-profit association for public benefit, established in 2012 with headquarters in the city of Varna, Bulgaria. The main goal of the association is the study of the historical heritage, martial culture, way of life and culture of the Bulgarians during the Middle Ages. The association organizes and conducts events – festivals, assemblies, seminars and forums – contributing to the development and promotion of the historical and cultural-living heritage, uniting the efforts of a large part of the re-enactors in Bulgaria, together with archaeologists, historians and scientists. An important task of the Association is to develop research and reconstruction activities on Bulgarians during the early Middle Ages, the seventh to tenth centuries, to study their places of residence, way of life and culture, military and equestrian traditions and combat practices. The members of the association build historical reconstructions of clothing, weapons and equipment, working hard to achieve maximum authenticity of the reconstruction, working with a wide range of masters of ancient crafts – blacksmiths, tanners, weavers, potters, etc. – to restore combat practices on foot and from horseback, thanks to the opportunity to work with horses, striving to present their reconstruction fully and thoroughly to the public. Over the last 12 years, the association has organized more than 170 events, including more than 100 festivals and assemblies on historical topics, including the periods of Antiquity, Early and Late Middle Ages, and more than seventy events including exhibitions of historical reconstructions, seminars and open lessons for students, archery tournaments, etc., while participating in other events in the country and abroad. We have also been to over fifty festivals and tournaments over the years.
Contacts:
Website: www.avitohol.org
Email: jasminparvanov@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avitohol12/
The Madara Horseman project started as an idea to create a modern sport (martial art) based on historical tradition, combining horse, dog and human handling of the main ancient weapons. In the process, several main directions of development took shape, training horses, training people in the specific riding that we call ‘combat’, training in working with different types of weapons and training a dog. A strong point in the school’s work is the master’s methods, which have been developed over the years for training people in combat riding, archery, spear and sabre work. Another strong direction in the school’s work is the socialization, training and preparation of children and the specifics of the school’s activities. The successful work of the school in creating modern methods based on historical traditions in the field of martial arts on horseback and on foot has been appreciated over the years with numerous invitations to hold seminars and trainings in a number of countries worldwide. Dimitar Trukanov, who is the founder of the school, was awarded the highest instructor degree in horseback archery by the International Federation of Equestrian Archery, with only three mounted archers in the world having this degree.
Email: trukan@abv.bg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066814110050
https://www.facebook.com/dimitar.trukanov
The Bulgarian School of Ancient Military Arts – Greatness is an association for historical re-enactment of two major periods of Bulgarian history: Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The main goal of the School is the recreation of the ancient martial culture of the Bulgarians and its values, through the exercise of the body in historical forms of armed struggle. This is an educational and creative activity, a means of personal experience of the ancient cultural forms of Antiquity and the Middle Ages and their preservation in the form of Ancient War Games – Areti. A highlight of the School’s activity is the creation of the School of Old Bulgarian Sabre, which aims to revive and preserve historical sabre fighting from the Bulgarian Middle Ages and make it part of the world of today’s popular Historical Fencing and Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). The ancient martial arts practiced at the school are presented to the general public in the form of combat demonstration, battle reenactment and historical martial sports. Fighters from the school take part in chains of tournaments, according to the rules of the HMBIA (International Association for Historical Medieval Combat), IFAA (International Archery Association/FA) and IAF (International Falconry Organization) etc. The Bulgarian School of Ancient Military Arts – Greatness also conducts cultural and educational activities. Among them are: Sky Fighters falcon competitions, New Beginning and Odryuza – the Cradle of a Thousand Cities – historical gatherings, traditional archery tournament Historical Park and many others.
Contacts:
Email: m.petrov@ipark.bg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/school.velichie
Jordan Sivkov has been engaged in re-enactment since 2008. Initially, his interest was focused on researching and making the clothes of the Bulgarians and other peoples from the early Middle Ages, the seventh to tenth centuries. In 2010, he participated for the first time in a historical festival in Asenovgrad, Bulgaria, and then in 2012 in the festival in Pliska, Bulgaria. These participations started his research activity, which led to the creation of a site dedicated to the clothing of the Bulgarians from the early Middle Ages, which was met with great interest by the re-enactor community in Bulgaria and served as a benchmark for increasing the authenticity of historical reenactment. Interest in the site provoked Jordan to collect more data and after three years of research activity, conversations with many archaeologists and historians, attempts to understand how the people of that time thought and answering the question ‘why so?’, he created a new, detailed and expanded site version. In the process of collecting data, he researches literature related to Antiquity and the Middle Ages, which is where his interest in nomadic peoples such as the Scythians, Huns, Avars, Bulgarians, Pechenegs and Cumans comes from. He focuses his re-enactor activity on the Huns and Scythians because of their interesting way of life. With the reconstruction of Huns and Scythians, he has participated in festivals in Bulgaria and abroad. He has taken part in medieval festivals as a Bulgarian warrior or as a Cuman. Since 2015, he has been making leather items for the purposes of historical reconstruction – leather accessories, bags, belts, shoes and boots – which he says he enjoys doing. His reconstructions of leather accessories, shoes and boots are renowned in re-enactor circles worldwide.
Contacts:
Email: sivkov.jordan@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordan.sivkov/
https://www.facebook.com/Jordan.Sivkov.Leatherworks/
Kalina Atanasova has a PhD degree in Bulgarian medieval archaeology. She is the author of a monograph and several scientific articles. Their subject matter comprises the clothing during the First and Second Bulgarian Empires and the Byzantine period, which includes the settling of the so-called late nomads on the Balkans. Under the alias Badamba, the author and her team have been making reconstructions and replicas of historical costumes for re-enactors, museum expositions and thematic exhibitions since 2006. Some of them can be viewed on her website. In the form of a travelling exhibition, living pictures (scenes from history) and lectures, the results of their work also participate in historical festivals in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia, helping to present to the public visually and interactively the way of life and culture of the Bulgarians from the twelfth to fourteenth century.
Contacts:
Website: https://badamba.info/workshop/en_index.html
Email: kalina@badamba.info
Boris Bedrosov has been a part of the Bulgarian re-enactment scene for about two decades. Although his main field of interest is the military life of the Second Bulgarian Empire and early stages of Ottoman rule (late twelfth to mid-fifteenth century), he is also fascinated by the military history of the Balkans for a very long period – from the ninth century to the Second World War. Since a very young age, he has loved to make things by his own hands. Starting as a hobby in 2006, when he made his first helmet and shield, there has been a significant evolution in his skills and craftsmanship. Now he is able to create beautiful, accurate and detailed historical reproductions of a wide variety of knives, daggers, swords and other medieval weapons, helmets, armour and shields. They are never made ‘in series’, but are hand-made and unique. He is continually learning new armouring techniques, because he believes in continual personal development and growth. He always searches for new challenges and loves making new pieces. The main rules in his work are: 1) hand-work – every element of his products is made using only high quality materials (although he uses power tools, he constantly tries to make by hand as many details as possible); 2) historical accuracy – he makes his pieces based purely on historical finds, extant original pieces or depictions from period sources; 3) attention to detail – his pieces are as close as possible in appearance to the originals in construction, shape, detail and decoration, or meet the specific customer’s demand.
Contacts:
Email: bbedrosov@abv.bg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borisbedrosovarmoury
Nokors (from ‘nökör, the Mongolian word for ‘companion’ or ‘friend’) is a historical re-enactment (living history) group. It was established in 2018 as a public association, registered as a legal entity. There are two major directions in historical research and re-enactment that Nokors follows: material culture of the Golden Horde – a nomadic community of the thirteenth to fourteenth century – and material culture of the citizens of the Golden Horde (officials, merchants and artisans), including the population of the ‘national’ non-Mongol communities – Venetians, Genoese, Wallachians, Moldavians and Bulgars. Minor directions of our research include reconstructing the material culture of the nomadic peoples living during the first to ninth century ad. To be able to recreate the daily life of a nomadic society, we try to reproduce as accurately as possible the dressing habits and weaponry, everyday carrying (EDC) and common items used on a daily basis, such as living quarters, hairdressing and food habits. Nokors is interested in spreading cultural and historical information for the benefit of the public viewer, by presenting a realistic depiction of the nomadic life that can reach as many people as possible. We attend historical festivals and cultural events, where we carry out workshops open to the public for painting, calligraphy, sewing techniques, archery and medicinal plants. We are on a continuous path of improving our knowledge, so we strive to be updated on the most recent historical and archaeological finds. Nokors is mostly interested in research of the Tatar influence in the Dobrogea area and the various ways Tatar culture influenced Romanian history.
Contacts:
E-mail: nokors1330@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nokors1330
Hrafn Vaeringi is a renowned combat sports group based in the United Kingdom, specializing in the portrayal of warriors from the tenth and eleventh centuries. With impressive experience in engagements throughout the UK and Europe, the group prides itself on fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and familial bonds among its members. Encouraging individuals to craft their own narratives through the mastery of sword, axe or spear combat, Hrafn Vaeringi has cultivated a community built on the foundation of martial artistry. Through the art of combat, the group has not only forged enduring connections but also a profound collective identity, akin to that of a tight-knit family. The valour and prowess demonstrated by members both on and off the battlefield have garnered widespread recognition, with the tales of their triumphs resonating far beyond geographical boundaries. Hrafn Vaeringi’s fighters are celebrated globally for their remarkable achievements, solidifying the group’s esteemed reputation in the realm of combat sports. As a collective of dedicated and skilled warriors, Hrafn Vaeringi exemplifies the fusion of historical authenticity with a contemporary spirit, embodying the timeless ideals of honour, discipline and kinship. Their unwavering commitment to their craft and their ability to weave captivating narratives through the art of combat serve as testaments to the indelible impact of their endeavours.
Contacts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrafnvaeringi
Founded during 1994 in Omaha (Nebraska), the Skjaldborg is a Viking Age living history group. Comprised of exclusive members as well as of individuals who hold membership in other groups and hobbies, we allow access to our group to all those enthusiasts who share in a love and a passion for the Viking Age, whether it is recreating the arts and crafts of the period or fighting for the crowd with our signature Live, Steel Combat. With our group motto of ‘Many Shields, One Family’, we have created a tight-knit group that strives to help each member improve in kit or combat, as well as strengthening ties in the ‘real’ world outside of the hobby. Another signature feature we are proud to hold is the ability to join and work together on our group mission without a jarl, king, or other sort of group hierarchy. We are all free men and women coming together without oaths or owed dues. While the group was founded in Omaha, we have since grown to encompass most of The Heartland in the United States, with members and units in Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio and beyond. We are always open to new members seeking to join with us. As with most groups, we also started with a few tents in a field at events. Due to our generous benefactors and friends, we were allowed to build our very own Viking trade home in the Danish capital of the US in Elk Horn, Iowa. We also help run, maintain and build at the Ravensborg Viking Longfort, the very first longfort in America. As the years pass by, the Skjaldborg will continue to strive for better combat demonstrations, crafting displays and contributions to our community and public. We hope you enjoy the pictures provided to this great work and hope to hear from anyone who wants to reach out to us. We want to give special thanks to every one of our photographers who provided their skills and expertise to this project: Megan Yenter of Darling Muse Photos, Matt DiGirolamo of The Ancient Armory, Kolla Mánadóttir, Daina Faulhaber, Cat Adams, Christian Pearson, Philip Ryan and Amy Studer of the Skjaldborg.
Contacts:
E-mail: skjaldborgvikings@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theskjaldborg/
Amages Drachen is a re-enactment group created by means of the living history, i.e. through reconstructions of clothing and artefacts, to make living history tangible. Our members come from the Rhine-Main area and the Stuttgart area and are committed to teaching and depicting ancient steppe cultures. Both Scythian and Sarmatian representations from a period of about 600 bc up to approximately ad 300, which we have produced on the basis of archaeological finds and historical sources, are part of our repertoire. We would like to introduce event visitors to the material culture of ancient steppe nomads with self-created replicas, explanations and lectures. The steppe belt today includes, amongst others, large parts of Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, and was inhabited in ancient times by nomadic tribes; in particular, the Scythians, Saka, Sauromatians and Sarmatians, who are also part of our representations. Unfortunately, these nomadic cultures have left no written records of themselves. The knowledge of these scripture-free cultures can today only be taken from archaeological finds and written sources of neighbouring cultures. From the first millennium bc until late Antiquity, these ancient nomads stood in constant contact with the settled ‘high cultures’ on the edge of the steppe belt: Persians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans. These cultural contacts were both peaceful and warlike: on the one hand, the nomads benefited from the trade routes through the steppe areas (Silk Road); on the other hand, the mounted archers were also dreaded warriors or coveted mercenaries. Despite this, these ‘mer-milkers’ and ‘horse-bowers’, as they were called by ancient authors, are still rarely found in the current knowledge of history, but they have always had a decisive influence on European history and have contributed to shape the present-day face of Europe.
Contacts:
E-mail: amages.drachen@gmx.de
Website: https://www.sarmaten-steppenkultur.de/index.php/en/home-3/
The Lords of the Orient (Les Seigneurs d’Orient) is an historical re-enacting club based in Menton, France, since 2017. Our thirty-strong membership has many history students and teachers. Our area of expertise is the twelfth-century Near East, especially the Oriental Latin States (Outre Mer/Holy Land). We re-enact both Jerusalem’s royal court and a Syrian Emir’s court, with a camp, furniture, civil and military outfits and workshops. We can cover projects from the First Crusade to the thirteenth century. The Lords of the Orient is part of the Living History Lovers Federation with The Somatophylakes, re-enacting Greeks and Macedonian phalanxes. We can thus gather more than forty fully equipped adults in a large camp. We take part in historical festivals, patrimonial exhibitions and run conferences on feudal society and thirteenth-century Oriental Latin states. We’ve been hired for television documentaries by Patrick Spica Productions, RMC Découverte (The Secret of Monaco’s Grimaldi Fortress) and ZED production – Curiosity (The Siege of Acre), for illustrations in books or magazines by the likes of Pen & Sword Books and Heimdal Édition. Our main activities include historical research, artefact fabrication, civil and military outfit building, sword-shield and lance-shield medieval fights, military group movements and formations, camp life and public shows.
Contacts:
E-mail: cyril.errera@hotmail.com