The Company of Blood and Gold
Hail and well met. You stand at the pavilion of a company from the most splendid court of 15th century Europe: the Duchy of Burgundy.
We are a living, breathing fellowship dedicated to the resurrection of a pivotal era. Far from the stereotype of a “Dark Age,” the 15th century was a time of explosive cultural exchange, technological ingenuity, and profound social change. As Burgundian subjects, we represent the apex of this sophistication—a cultural powerhouse whose influence flowed directly into the heart of the Wars of the Roses, shaping the armour, aspirations, and arts of England’s warring factions.
Our Threefold Purpose: Inform, Educate, Entertain
To Inform on European Influence
The struggle for the English throne was not fought in isolation. Burgundy, under the powerful Valois dukes, was a key political player, providing mercenaries, financing, and cutting-edge military technology. More subtly, it exported a culture of chivalric spectacle, elaborate fashion, and artistic patronage that defined late medieval nobility. We demonstrate how “Europeanisation” was already shaping British identity long before the Renaissance.
To Educate on 15th Century Life
We move beyond kings and battles to the very fabric of society. Our aim is to illuminate the full spectrum of existence, from the lord in his castle to the artisan in the town, offering a nuanced, human-scale understanding of the past.
To Entertain with Authenticity
History is a grand story, and we are its storytellers. Through immersive demonstrations, hands-on interaction, and dramatic presentations, we strive to make the past resonate emotionally and intellectually, creating memorable encounters that ignite a lasting passion for history.
Our Living Camp: A Glimpse into Our World
Our encampment is a microcosm of the 15th century world. Here, theory becomes practice, and history is something you can touch, taste, and question.
The Arts of Peace
Medieval Stonemasonry: Discover the geometry and grit behind Gothic splendour. We demonstrate the tools, techniques, and templates used to raise the cathedrals and castles of Europe, explaining the life of a craftsman in a guild society.
The Weaver’s Art: From raw, greasy fleece to vibrant cloth, we trace the journey of medieval textiles. Experience the rhythmic clack of the loom and understand how fabric was a marker of wealth, status, and law (through sumptuary regulations).
Cuisine & Culinary Alchemy: Step into our kitchen, where history is seasoned with saffron, pepper, and ginger. We explore the paradox of medieval food: the lavish spice trade that flavoured noble tables, the strictures of fast days, the symbolism of dishes, and the practical, nutritious diets of common folk. Taste the past, and learn how food was medicine, status, and faith on a plate.
The Surgeon’s Apothecary: Venture into the misunderstood world of medieval medicine, a blend of ancient humoural theory, practical herb-lore, and early surgery. We discuss the surprising advancements, the role of monastic gardens, and the reality of treatment in an age without antibiotics.
The Realities of Status & War
We bring to life the weight of a knight’s armour, the strategy of the noble court, and the complex social codes that governed life, love, and conflict in the 15th century.
The Arts of War & Politics
Arms, Armour & Our Knight: Meet our knight in a full harness of articulated plate armour. This is not just a display of martial might but a lecture on technology, economics, and the body. Learn how a knight moved, fought, and was dressed by his squire. Handle replica weapons and understand the brutal, skilled reality of medieval combat.
A Lord’s Life: Our very own Burgundian lord and lady host talks on the immense responsibilities, political manoeuvring, and extravagant display required of the nobility. Discuss management of estates, the complexities of marriage alliances, the courtly love ideal, and the crushing weight of chivalric expectation.
Hidden Voices: Feminism in the Middle Ages: Did women have agency? Our popular talk challenges modern assumptions. We explore the lives of powerful duchesses, shrewd merchants, literate nuns, and defiant peasants. Through figures like Christine de Pizan and the realities of widow’s rights, we reveal a landscape where women navigated and sometimes bent a patriarchal system to their will.
Our Ethos: A Commitment to Depth
We are not merely re-enactors; we are interpreters. Every stitch, recipe, and demonstration is underpinned by historical research from wills, household accounts, chronicles, and art. We embrace the complexity, the contradictions, and the sheer humanity of the past, presenting it with accuracy, passion, and respect.
We invite you to linger in our camp, to ask probing questions of our lord, to feel the weight of a knight’s gauntlet, to savour a spiced wafer, and to listen to the lute by the fire. Join our retinue for a while, and see the 15th century not as a distant date, but as a world alive with struggle, creativity, and colour.
Votre dévoué serviteur,
The Company of Blood and Gold