For this week’s blog entry – we gratefully pass the pen to the Baroness Stierbach.
This year, the Best Barony turns 26! It is time to bring out your red, or your Classical Clothing (or, maybe, your Classical Red Clothing :D), and be inspired by the Nine Muses at our celebration on Saturday, September 14, at Mountain Run Winery in Culpeper, Virginia.
(Here is a link to more information about our Birthday Celebrations: https://baronialbirthday.stierbach.atlantia.sca.org/ )
If you have ever wondered about our barony, here are some facts about us, taken from the Atlantia Wiki page:
The Barony was founded in A.S. 32, and our founding Baron and Baroness were Ivan Ivanovich and Rowan Berran McDowell. His Excellency Ivan currently lives in the Barony of Bright Hills, where Countess Rowan also resides.
Stierbach is a large territory! Our lands include the counties of Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Warren, Clark, and Stafford, as well as the cities of Manassas, Chantilly, Clarke County, Frederick County, Shenandoah County, Warren County, the city of Winchester, and Centreville. Our Canton of Sudentorre encompasses Caroline County, King George County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, and Fredericksburg.
Our Baronial arms are a wonderful pun: we have three bulls courant, which in heraldic terms means that they are running. The field is divided in half horizontally (per fess) by an embattlement.
This makes our arms, heraldically, the Battle of Bull Run, which was fought near Bull Run Creek, which is in the City of Manassas – the area of Stierbach in which we were founded.
We have had, so far, nine Barons and Baronesses:
Baron Ivan Ivanovich & Baroness Rowan Berran McDowell
A.S. 32 – A.S. 34
Baron Dafydd Sean ap Hywel & Baroness Morgan Catriona Bruce
A.S. 34 – A.S. 35
Baron Mika Longbow & Baroness Ursla d’Arcy
A.S. 35 – A.S. 38
Baron Colum Maxwell & Baroness Briana Malukas
A.S. 38 – A.S.42
Baron Flaithri Cearnaigh & Baroness Rhowen verch Tuder
A.S. 42 – A.S. 47
Baron Valgard av Mors & Baroness Esperanza Susanna Flecha
A.S. 47 – A.S. 52
Baron Dietrich Saphir zum Drache & Baroness Karin Taylor de Cameron
A.S. 52 – A.S. 56
Baron Wulff Nuremberger & Baroness Genefe Wolfelin
A.S. 56 – A.S. 58
Baron Dunstan Stonehill & Baroness Cynthia Anne of Silver Lakes
A.S. 58 – Present
We have amazing people in this, the Best Barony! Here are our Baronial awards.
*Don’t forget that YOU can recommend members of our Barony for any of these awards using this link: https://polling.atlantia.sca.org/index.php *
Order of Saint Roch
Given to those subjects who have distinguished themselves by their service to the Barony. Converted from the original Holy Cow award where it was said “Holy Cow, you have done a lot of work!”
Award of the Silver Bow
Given to those subjects who have distinguished themselves by their skill with bow and arrow, either target or combat. It recognizes also their leadership in furthering combat or target archery education and techniques, and their honorable deportment on and off the field. Formerly called the Order of the Vined Bow.
Award of the Minotaur
Given to those subjects of the barony who have distinguished themselves by their efforts on the heavy fighting field in defense of Stierbach. Formerly called the Order of Theseus.
Award of the Silver Glove
Given to those subjects of the barony who have distinguished themselves by their efforts on the rapier fighting field in defense of Stierbach. Formerly called the Order of the Argent Glove.
Award of the Silver Axe
Given to those subjects of the barony who have distinguished themselves by their efforts on the thrown weapons fighting field in defense of Stierbach. Formerly called the Order of the Dueling Axe.
Award of the Silver Compass
Given to those subjects of the barony who have distinguished themselves by their efforts and willingness to teach others the arts and sciences of the period, and/or those who have achieved excellence in the arts and sciences of the period. Formerly called the Northern Star Award.
Order of the Silver Heart
Given to those subjects of the barony who have distinguished themselves far and above the ordinary in service to the barony. Formerly called the Heart of Stierbach.
Award of the Bull and the Crescent
Given to those children of the barony who have distinguished themselves far and above the ordinary in service to the barony. Formerly called the Promise of Stierbach, and briefly the Silver Moon.
Holder of the Dreamer’s Cup
Token acknowledging an individual who has best embodied the spirit of the Society during a Baronial event. Selected by the Autocrat, Seneschal, Baroness, and current holder for the Cup. (Baron will act as a tiebreaker.) The recipient has the privilege of carrying the cup at all events he/she attends until the next Baronial event when a successor is selected, and the cup is passed on.
Award of the Silver Stirrup
Silver Stirrup of Stierbach, Award of the This order name was registered to Stierbach, Barony of in November of 2015 (via Atlantia).
Award of the Silver Horns
Given to those in the Barony who have distinguished themselves by service to the Barony. May be received more than once.
Award of the Bull and Arrow
Given to those children of the Barony who have distinguished themselves far and above in Archery.
*If you do not currently have an ESP account, there is a link on this page that will take you to a PDF that will show you how to do so: https://polling.atlantia.sca.org/guides/Getting_Started-v2.pdf
*If you have ever wondered whether or not someone already has an award that you think that they deserve, you can look them up in the Atlantia Kingdom Order of Precedence search page, found here: https://op.atlantia.sca.org/search.php
Thank you Your Excellency for this most Excellent history lesson!