| |
|
The Tenans of Noble Folly, inspired by the tournament societies and secular knightly orders of the 14th and 15th centuries, attempts to foster attitudes of chivalry through the tournament experience. Striving to bring our message chiefly using "chivalry by example," we pioneered and have sponsored the pas d'armes tournament format; helped other groups to organize themselves into similar companies; and have tried to encourage and guide the new "chivalric renaissance" in and out of the SCA.
The Motto of the team is Noble Folly. Translated into Latin this is Virtutem Fatuitatus which literary means Manly Foolishness
The Tenans strive to uphold a high level of authenticity both on and off the field. We deplore the "sport mentality." Without this form of integrity, our statements of chivalry would be out of context, and would become detached from the powerful cultural symbols to which they are attached. To this end, we encourage and promote field appearance as an integral part of the tournament of chivalry.
The Companions have bound themselves into a corporate company that these things can be brought to a wider audience. We believe that there is something magical in the chivalric ideal; we would be as much Lancelot as the Black Prince. We strive to strike a delicate balance between the two, knowing in our hearts that serving knightly franchise is an impossible task, that we are far, far from the ideals. They are never met. We believe there is nobility and value in the effort, however, and have pledged ourselves to the task. We invite others to join us in this quest, others who think as we do, and we openly offer our assistance and our counsel to others who would like to make the attempt.
This quote, from a 15th century document, sums what tournament companies are about:
Then hear, princes and princesses, lords, ladies, and damsels, knights and squires, the Very High, Very Excellent, and Very Puissant Prince, My Lord the Duke of Burgundy, Count of Flanders and Artois, Count Palantine of Burgundy, Count of Namur, etc., makes known to all that for the reverence of God and the maintenance of our Christian Faith, and to honour and exalt the noble order of knighthood, and also for the following three reasons: first to do honor to knights, who for their high and noble deeds are worthy of being recommended; second, so that those who are at present still capable and strong of body and do each day the deeds pertaining to chivalry shall have cause to continue from good to better; and third, so that those knights and gentlemen who shall see worn the order which shall be mentioned below should honour those who wear it, and be encouraged to employ themselves on such customs, that by their valiance they may acquire good renown, and deserve in their time to be chosen to bear the said order; my said lord the Duke has today undertaken and founded an order which is called "the Golden Fleece", in which, with and besides the person of my lord the Duke himself, are twenty-four knights, gentlemen of name and arms without reproach, born and procreated in legal marriage, of whom a declaration of the names and surnames follows...
Most of these groups operate within the larger context of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), and yet
all strive by their examples to explore different avenues of the tournament as a tool for re-enactment and for the teaching of virtue.
Earl Sir Brion Thornbird
Research material learn more about King Rene and the tournments he held.
An article on King Rene d' Anjou Pictures from Le Cueur d'Amours Espris [The Book of the Heart Possessed by Love] A story of Saladin and the order of Knighthood The Knighting Ceremony of Urien ap Taliesin| Home | Site Map | Links |
Updated on 7 May 2000 