"I had the opportunity to handle the prototype Tinker Pearce Line Longswords by CAS/Hanwei, and they are beautiful, well-balanced, quick-handling swords at an excellent price. The sharp and blunt versions handle almost identically in cuts, thrusts, and quick posta (guard) transitions. These promise to be the mid-priced training weapon of choice for longsword studies."
Sean Hayes, Maestro d`armi, Northwest Fencing Academy and University of Oregon
All Hallows’s Eve is upon us. Halloween has a rich history from the ancient Celts and Druids to Rome. Whatever its history, it is one of our most colorful and celebrated festivals.
Some trace the history of Halloween back to the Celtic people of pre-medieval Europe. The Celts divided the year into halves, the “light half” consisting of spring and summer. The “dark half” comprised fall and winter. Celts celebrated the light half with the festival of “Samhain” (pronounced sah-wen), which they observed during the October/November lunar cycle. Following the Roman conquest of Britain, the Celts adopted the Julian calendar and celebrated Samhain on November l.
Other historians believe the origin of Halloween resulted from the tradition of celebrating the lives of Christian martyrs on the date of their deaths. Pope Boniface in May 13, 609 established one day of remembrance for the martyrs. Pope Gregory later changed the date of remembrance to November 1 and he deemed it all saints day. The night before was known as All Hallows’s Eve (“Halloween” being a colloquial contraction of that phrase). Costumes and gifts and bobbing for apples became part of this new holiday. They remain to this day.
If you haven’t planned your costume for this year’s holiday, TheCastleCourt has a terrific selection of unique duds. Why not don the apparel of the 300 Spartan warriors. We have the cape, the armor, the sandals, the briefs and the sword in stock. A Roman soldier would be an exciting choice for a costume. Proper dress for a Roman centurion would be the plumed battle helmet, the lorica segmentata armor and the sandals. How about attending the party as a crusader, Henry VIII or a Knight Templar. TheCastleCourt also has these costumes in stock.
We have an excellent selection of historical clothes, armor, boots, swords and shields that will transform you for this colorful day. Don’t wait too long to select your costume as the demand is always strong at this time of year.
Our prices are right and we have not raised shipping costs. Take me to the website!
TheCastleCourt has a small selection of the long anticipated Hanwei Tinker Pearce longswords. Here is what experts are saying about this sword "I had the opportunity to handle the prototype Tinker Pearce Line Longswords by CAS/Hanwei, and they are beautiful, well-balanced, quick-handling swords at an excellent price. The sharp and blunt versions handle almost identically in cuts, thrusts, and quick posta (guard) transitions. These promise to be the mid-priced training weapon of choice for longsword studies."
Sean Hayes, Maestro d`armi, Northwest Fencing Academy and University of Oregon
Order yours today before it is on backorder.
William Marshall, a landless noble, was one of the bravest and most accomplished military men of Medieval Europe. He served three Plantagenet kings, Henry II, Richard I (Lionheart) and John.
William was one of the greatest champions of the joust, a game which consisted of a clash between two knights on horseback. The champions of these Medieval competitions are comparable to famous athletes of modern times. He won twelve horses and three hundred knights held for ransom in one season. He established himself early as the best at this competition.
He not only excelled at the joust, but was a brave warrior again his country’s enemies. He first came to the attention of the Plantagenets by saving Queen Eleanor, Henry II’s wife, from capture to be held for ramsom. His fierce fighting allowed the Queen to escape, but William was captured. Queen Eleanor not only paid his ransom, but rewarded him with horses, gold and fine clothes. From this point forward the Plantagenet castles were open to him. His first assignment was the tutoring of Henry’s sons, Henry, Richard, Geoffrey and John in the art of warfare and swordsmanship.
He served Henry II as an advisor and general of his army. He was loyal to the King until the very end. At the time of the King’s death Richard was involved in a rebellion with the French against his father. William Marshall confronted Richard on the road and could have killed him, but instead he told Richard, “I will not kill you; I will leave that to God” and with that he thrust a spear into Richard’s horse. Shortly after this event the Henry II died.
Richard was now the King of England. One of his first acts as King was to summon William Marshall. Although they were in confrontation before Henry’s death, Richard knew how valuable William Marshall would be to this kingdom. He bestowed on Marshall a major castle and kept him as his primary advisor. After Richard Lionheart was crowned King, he immediately left for the Third Crusade. William Marshall was left to hold the kingdom together. He did a marvelous job in the face of John, Richard’s brother, attempt to usurp the throne. William stood by Richard’s side until the King was killed in a frivolous encounter in 1199.
Richard designated John, the least qualified of Henry’s sons to be king,( according to historians) as heir to the English throne. Again Marshall was there. John had a disastrous reign due to the lands that he lost to the French. Marshall realized that John had no friends among his vassals, so he advised the surrender to the French. William was also instrumental in requiring John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, the first document of English freedom.
The Earl of Pembroke, William Marshall, died in 1219. He was one of the most chivalrous knights of any age.
At my website, TheCastleCourt, we are featuring the William Marshall battle ready sword for $215.00. This is a huge discount for this sword. Drop by today and take advantage of this special!
The Castle Court has added to its product mix quality knives with Hanwei collectible and functional knives and Muela hunting knives. Visit the New and Notable category to take a look at all our new products. We have the Hanwei Pearl Folder Knife, the dream knife of every collector at $362.00. Suggested retail on this handmade knife is $504.00. Give yourself a gift or Christmas shop early for that avid knife collector.
We would like to reward you for visiting our blog and website. If you mention this blog in an email to us, we will give you a small gift. The reward will not be the Hope Diamond or a piece from the Crown Jewels, but we will present you with a Roman coin keychain or earrings, or other replica Roman coin pieces. At least this is a unique gift that you cannot buy at Walmart.
Any suggestions of products that you would like to see on our website will be taken very seriously. We value your opinions and will reward you for any suggestions that will make us more valuable in your eyes. Stop by TheCastleCourt today
If you are looking for Dad a terrific, unique gift, we have some affordable battle helmets, battle ready and collectible swords that he would certainly appreciate. Also the helmets are a great accent piece for his den or office or our Samurai sword letter opener is eye-catching as well as functional.
We are now offering a lay-away option for those who prefer not to use Paypal or a credit card. The customer has the option of setting up a two to twelve month payment plan.
For those who have signed up for our newsletter, we conducted a drawing for a CAS/Iberia chainmail coif. The winner was from south Florida. Drop by and register for our newsletter and you too will be eligible for some really cool stuff. As for our newsletter, Queen Doodles I of Fresh Air Ridge and all points north, south, east and west, is getting ready to publish her first fact filled article.
Drop by TheCastleCourt.com today and shop for Dad or yourself.
As early as the first century A.D. the Roman historian Tacitus described the ancestors of the Vikings as well armed and skilled at sailing ships. Seven centuries later these warriors pillaged Europe and the British Isles and continental Europe. They were also hungry for rich land as well as plunder. The beauty of Ireland’s green fields drew them like a magnet. During their escapades in this green land, they founded towns, including Dublin.
They worshipped the War God, Odin; the whole Christian world trembled at the mention of the fierce men from the sea.
Scandinavia from when they came prospered with the rich hauls of gold, silver, clothes and livestock taken in the raids. Their exploits were celebrated in the form of sagas, stories passed down from each generation. To go Viking promised a young man glory and fame. They were celebrated with names such as Eric-Blood Axe, Thor-Sword, and Born-headhunter.
One of the sagas that has been passed down through history is the exploits of Eric, the red. Eric and his father, Thorvald, immigrated to Iceland, one of the settlements that the Vikings had established in 860. The two came from Norway reluctantly to the cold land of Iceland. The saga states that they had to leave their native Norway because of “some killings.”
The pair settled on the northwestern peninsula of Hornstradir and barely made a living fishing and hunting for seals. While there they heard stories of a remarkable discovery of a land past Iceland and out into the western sea. Eric never forgot the story.
Due to Eric’s good looks and physical prowess, he was able to marry and move into a less harsh settlement. However, he was not content to put aside his sword and axe for true love and good fortune. He became involved in a blood feud and killed a man. Although the Vikings were often brutal to their enemies, murder was not tolerated in their settlements. The fiery Eric was expelled from Haukadal, his wife’s home.
They moved to Breidjaford. They lived peacefully there for only a short time. Eric had a conflict with his neighbor’s sons, who were grown. During an altercation, Eric killed both. The fiery red head was expelled from Iceland for three years.
Eric dared not return to Norway, so he proceeded to fulfill his dream of find the mysterious land to the west. He put out to sea with 30 companions, both family and neighbors, and an assortment of farm animals. He traveled due west over 450 miles of cold choppy seas before he sighted the world’s largest island. He was very disappointed at his first sighting of the huge mass of ice, stony mountains and snow. He found it hardly fit for beasts. Not willing to accept defeat, he steered the ship further south to determine if any place on the island existed for man.
Suddenly in the distance he saw green at the tip of a crenellated cape (Cape Farewell). The travelers landed and set up a base camp at Eriksey, near the entrance of Eriksfjord. The next three years he spent hunting, fishing, and birding. In the summers he explored further into the interior of the huge island locating fjord after fjord.
After his three year exile, Eric returned with his family to Iceland. Once again the he needed more space than the crowded country afforded him. He fought with his neighbors and was expelled. He decided that he would establish a colony in the land which he discovered. He named the place, Greenland, because he thought a pleasant name would lure settlers.
The red-bearded Viking had no problem recruiting the Iceland natives, because there was a shortage of land and there had been a severe famine. In 986, 25 ships set sail for Greenland, but only 14 ships with 450 people made it to the large island. Some perished at sea and the others returned to Iceland.
They established a settlement at Brattahlid, near the head of the inlet known as Eriksfjord. Eric finally found a haven that settled his restless soul. He presided over his colony, and judged the affairs of his neighbors. He ate and drank hugely in line with his boisterous nature. He was a good husband and father, and raised three sons and a daughter. One of his sons followed in the footsteps of his father. One morning in the summer, Eric watched his son, Leif, sail away into the midsummer mist.
What a life Eric led! If you would like to take a look at the replica swords, shields and clothing of the Vikings. Please visit my website at TheCastleCourt.
At this time of the year our thoughts turn to love and how to please our significant other on Valentines day.Many years ago there was a beautiful place totally dedicated to pleasure and love. The famous legend of Camelot was written here.
At the end of the twelfth century one of the most famous castle courts was in Poitiers, France and was devoted to courtly love. This lively court was presided over by Eleanor of Aquitaine, the wife of Henry II of England and the ex-wife of Louis VII of France. The “beautiful people” throughout Europe gathered in Poitiers to learn the proper art of love. Poets, playwrights, musicians, jesters, princes, princesses, lords and ladies frolicked in the bedroms and banquet halls of this famous court where the male was taught to subject his body and soul to the desires of the female of his dreams. He fought with sword and lance to prove his love and to eliminate the competition for the affections of his beloved. He wore her colors on his armor, and she cheered him in the joust. He was her knight in shining armor.
On February 14, the ultimate lover’s day, why give her only flowers and chocolate? Give her a symbol of your undying love, a knight in shining armor. Ladies, why not give your love a sword, a symbol of strength and courage?
