Membership - Introduction
Membership - Introduction 
You might say, That's a funny name.
Pronounced with a hard 'G', as in "gate", 'Regia Anglorum' is vulgate Latin and means "The Kingdoms of the English", a term used by Early Mediæval chroniclers to refer to the English state, just as we might say "Great Britain" today. It implies no particular boundary, either Geographically or spiritually.
Founded in 1986, Regia Anglorum is a society based in the UK but with a rapidly growing membership across the Atlantic, having members in Florida, California, Oregon, Ohio and Maryland. We are a group of people from all walks of life who share a common interest in the period that used to be called The Dark Ages, but is now more accurately known as the Early Mediaeval Period - roughly from the time of Alfred the Great to Richard the Lionheart - although much of our work aims to recreate a cross-section of British life around the turn of the first millennium. It was a time when Britain was host to many peoples - Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Danes, Norse, Cymru, Viking raiders and even some Normans. Regia portrays all of these and more.
We are proud of our strong stance on authentic portrayal and have acquired a considerable academic reputation for accuracy. This we maintain and augment by seeing not only the wood, but the trees as well!
We feel that we do our ancestors no service at all if we portray them as mindlessly violent and their lives as nasty, brutish and short. England was the jewel of Europe; rich in gold and silver and self-sufficient in all aspects of life. Whilst life continued much as it had done for over a thousand years, politically the English state was moving towards a form of democratic monarchy, only to be brought up short one day in October 1066. But that, as they say, is another story...
The society's
work deliberately has a strong educational slant and we consider that authenticity
is of the highest importance. We prefer to work from found material where possible
and are extremely cautious regarding such things as the interpretation of styles
depicted in manuscript sources. A suprising number of our members are archaeologists
or historians.
In general, the geographical location decides the ‘ethnic background’ of any Local Group. For example, the north London group, Middleseaxe, has a Saxon identity, whereas a group from Wales may decide to recreate the lives of the native Welsh. However, everyone in Regia is encouraged to develop a secondary character of a different background, so you are by no means restricted. In fact, the society positively encourages character development and some members are known by their ‘taken’ name.
Limitless opportunities exist for interaction with people from ‘other lands’ who have a quite different experience of life, especially around the Living History Exhibit.
Over the next few pages you will learn about the activities of the society; whether you just want to live the life, fight the fight or pick up period crafts and skills - or take it even further - and sail Viking ships, help reconstruct Saxon buildings or ride with the nobles. We will also show you the other benefits of joining and show you how to go about joining our society.
OK
- so that was the basic sales pitch - but I'm sure you want to find out more
out what we do - and more importantly what is was to live like a Saxon, Viking
or Norman. Follow me here to find out; or return to
the membership menu.
For the very best in early medieval re-creation, you need look no further than Regia Anglorum.
For more information about our wide range of re-creative and recreational activities, your local group contact etc; please send an SAE to: J. Kim Siddorn
9, Durleigh Close
Headley Park
Bristol
BS13 7NQ. or e-mail our membership officer on membership@regia.orgIf you do not get a response in time then feel free to the webmaster a line at webmaster@regia.org in case your email/letter has got lost.