Reenactors of past eras
Any historical epoch can be viewed from different angles. For example, some believe that the Middle Ages were not all that bad. Ukraine has its own medieval buffs, who gathered recently for the first international festival of medieval culture, Kyivska fortetsia (Kyiv Fortress). For these reenactors, building an almost original historical setting, including weapons, suits of armor, and household items, is not a game but part of reality. This is also another way to understand the essence of man, but never confuse reenactors with Tolkienists.
According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, reenactors are people who specialize in recreating the daily life, traditions, and objects of a specific historical period. In Ukraine this movement is confined to the western regions, where Lviv’s historical reenactment club Sribny vovk (Silver Wolf) and the Military-Historical Troop Chorna Halych (Black Jackdaw) are active. There are also similar clubs in Rivne, Lutsk, and in Khmelnytsky oblast.
Reenactors claim that the recreated past is part of reality. Viktor Kravchenko, captain of the military-historical reenactment club Teutonic Order of the Kyiv Comturia,” explains the philosophy of reenactors: “There are reasons for this. Some people may think that these are guys acting out the role of knights. In fact, if you take a closer look at the world around us, you will see that people are constantly playing games. Who needs this? We meet with these fellows in the field and it is immediately clear who is who. There is another explanation. When people are engaged in sports, like mountain hiking or sculling, when they are in extreme situations, they reveal their true selves.”
During battles reenactors always uphold combat tolerance, and when the fights are over they celebrate with their foes until morning. They say that good enemies are better than bad friends. During the merrymaking after battles they socialize with each other, sing, play special games, and dance. A favorite combat technique is Slap-Paddy, where men slap each other’s faces. “But they do it in a cultured way,” notes a member of Chorna Halych. The first player slaps his opponent lightly on the face, with the slaps becoming increasingly stronger until one player quits the game.
Reenactors resort to camaraderie only during rest periods. Every club has a clear-cut hierarchy, depending on its specialization, so junior members unquestioningly take orders from their superiors. Reenactors take special offence when they are referred to as Tolkienists. They claim that what they do is totally different from the activities of Tolkienists, who live in a world of fantasy and tales, whereas reenactors live in specific historical circumstances.
Kravchenko explains: “For example, in the case of the Teutonic Order we take a concrete historical aspect: a 30-year period, from 1380 to 1410. We select archaeological finds relating to this period, samples of body armor, weapons, and clothing. Since such archaeological material is usually insufficient, we consult drawings and paintings. After that we draw geometrical sketches specifying all radiuses, curves, and so on. If we encounter difficulties, like now — we have few sources relating to Prussia — we start looking for general European trends. For example, the Italians were once the main suppliers of equipment throughout Europe, which is why body armor was made according to Italian designs. What reenactors do is a cross between armory and a Boy Scout group. We have to dig up every detail. Did this or that really happen? Why such a helmet? What we do is experimental archaeology, it is an archaeological experiment.”
There are a few female reenactors, who represent about 20 percent of members. As a rule, they do not fight but carry out household and aesthetic functions: they cook, dance, sing, and make decorations.
The organizers decided to stage the medieval cultural festival Kyiv Fortress on the grounds of the historical and architectural memorial of the same name. Since the 19th century it has been the only surviving fortress in Kyiv from the Kyivan Rus’ period. Its construction began in the 11th century, and in 1240 it was destroyed by Batu Khan’s horde. In subsequent years it was restored and considerably expanded. It would be difficult to find a better place for the festival, but the weather was a formidable obstacle. The heat wave meant that less than half of the scheduled events took place.
However, the participants, who came from various parts of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Odesa, Cherkasy, Rivne, Kyiv, and Lviv) say that they enjoyed the festival, especially since contacts among reenactors are rare because this movement is underdeveloped in Ukraine. “The last time we saw each other was in Vyborg (Russia), which is 1,700 kilometers from here,” they told me sadly.
The festival was marred by misunderstandings with the management of Kyiv Fortress. According to festival organizer Liudmyla Novykova-Poliova, the management of the historical monument refused to honor the established arrangements. The deputy director of the historical and architectural museum refused to talk to me when I asked for a comment.
Needless to say, there were funding problems, which are omnipresent, especially when it comes to unconventional ideas backed by enthusiasts. Despite all these problems, Novykova-Poliova is determined to continue holding the festival because Kyivska Fortetsia is the only occasion when Ukrainian reenactors can meet each other in their own country.
