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Out of The Myths of Time
Chivalry — with a grain of sand

by Lord Darius "Which Way to Bagdad?" von Tannenburg

Somebody may have wished for us to live in interesting times. Note to all, leave good tips at Chinese restaurants. We do indeed live in interesting times. Just turn on the T.V. to any channel — they are all covering the same thing. I refer, of course, to the war with Iraq. What does that have to do with medieval society? I'm getting there. Most people know somebody who is there, or someone who knows someone. Dreiburgen is certainly well represented; Steinsee gave up her warriors en masse. Those that went have been prepared by their mundane military training. They have received countless tips from older family members who also served. Is it too far a stretch to imagine that their time with us in the SCA may have contributed to their readiness? Certainly they have a bond that developed from working and training as part of the same unit. But they also took the time to play with us and each other away from the mundane military. The modern military teaches it's own code of conduct. This code is based on medieval models, something we in the Society get to experience first hand.

I have no doubt that as our people enter into the fray they will treat captured soldiers with caution but also with dignity and compassion. They will honor flags of truce, albeit with some healthy skepticism. As the news comes in of the less than honorable tactics used by some, our people will surely be tested. Their devotion to each other and our nation as a whole may at times seem to conflict with the code of chivalry as we know it. The passions of battle; fears for their own mortality and of those close to them; anger at the mistreatment of their fellows by those who seem to follow an entirely different set of rules; these feelings can oppose them and us just as strongly as the Iraqi soldiers.

We at home will not likely face a flesh and blood opponent. But we may yet be set upon by adversaries no less challenging and potentially destructive to our way of life. Our objective to achieve in this conflict is to live the life our soldiers left behind, to continue to set the example for the world to follow, and to hold dear to those concepts of equality and liberty for all. Let us not fall prey to lesser virtues. When our people return home they will wish only to see their home as they remember it; united under one banner, despite our differences. We are a nation of many beliefs, yet we all hold to a single truth. We shall not suffer a tyrant here or abroad.

Sixteen hundred years ago the dynamics of this current crisis began to take shape. Hordes of Huns swept down out of the Steppes. They brought with them a style of warfare unknown in the west. (See, I told you this would relate to a Medieval topic.) Moving fast on light mounts, they utilized hit and run tactics, gradually wearing down their opponents, and finding small weaknesses in the line and exploiting them. They seldom engaged in a mass slugfest with their larger and better armored foes. They were eventually pushed back. Later they moved south, becoming the ancestors of the Turks, Afghans, the peoples of the Persian Gulf and most Eurasian states.

Eight hundred years ago western soldiers campaigned against the descendants of Attila's horde. They answered a call to end oppression of a different sort. As they fought their way to Jerusalem, the Crusaders had to relearn what the Romans before them had learned. The enemy is mobile, fast and disinclined to stand and fight. They preferred to move across the desert at times when it was most difficult to observe their movements (Sand storm anyone?). An even less open form of warfare gains a bit of formal recognition at this point in time, as a cult of would-be ninjas known as Assassins was seeking employment opportunities in the Middle East. Their name becomes synonymous with a very old political tool.

March 2003 A.D. Western troops again face off with an old enemy. The stated reasons for this go-round may have changed, but the clash of two distinct philosophies, of how a war is to be waged and life to be lived happens once again. It has been a learning curve of over a millennia and a half. Have we been taking notes? Are we ready this time? I believe that a least a few of our troops go into this with both the tools for tomorrow and the lessons of the past to guide them. They will fight with honor and chivalry. And perhaps this time will be the last time.

Darius von Tannenberg has granted permission for all of his articles that were previously on the Dreiburgen web site to continue to appear on the site, 9 Oct 2006.

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