to fully appreciate the native culture of the northern Europeans,
we must not overlook their system of direct democracy. The law making assembly of pagan Iceland was called the Althing. It first met in A.D. 930 and then met every midsummer. At first it consisted of 39 chieftains, presided over by an elected Law-Speaker. The Althing lasted for two weeks and was a great social event for all the folk. The Icelandic parliament today is still called the Althing. The parliament on the Isle of Man meets every summer on the site of the island's Viking Thing.
 
By the dawn of the tenth century the worst hardships faced by the Norse settlers in Iceland were behind them. Flocks had multiplied. Commerce with other nations was brisk. Many people desired to sever the frail ties that bound the colony to Norway. They wanted their own national government. A trusted, fair-minded man was chosen to go to Norway to study the best laws of the Norse countries. After three years he returned to Iceland, in 930, with a just, fair code of laws which the chieftains adopted. They then established a parliament, the Althing, on a great plain of land east of Reykjavik. The word "Thing" meant "a place to talk things over." There had been scattered local Things as courts of justice in the past, but now one governing body was to serve the entire island. Now Iceland was truly a republic.
 
Besides being the seat of the assembly in legal matters and the court of last appeal, the annual Althing provided an occasion for festivities. June marked a complete break in the weather, trails were thawed, travel eased. Horses that had been stable-bound during the long winter months became fattened with new grass and were able to make the long journey. Chieftains, often with their wives, daughters, and retainers, sang joyfully as they made their way through mountain passes or forded rushing streams on their sturdy little ponies. The countryside took on the holiday air of processions of knights and ladies in warmer countries. Large parties were accommodated overnight in the great farmhouses of friends, who joined the procession as it grew larger and longer until the plain was reached. Sea rovers planned to arrive back in Iceland in time to attend the Althing, where they were sure to see everyone of importance. These wanderers found ready listeners to their tales of bold adventure. Crowds of people jostled, each man anxious to see old friends again and hear gossip from faraway farmsteads.
 
The Althing booths were set in place on the plain. These were for temporary shelter, made of blocks of lava with one side open, the side facing the Law-mount where the Speaker stood. Chiefs had the same familiar places year after year. Common men took unclaimed spaces on the outer fringe. Swords and shields, necessary for safe travel, hung inside the booths of chieftains, and flashed brilliantly as they caught the sun's rays, though no arms could be worn at the sessions. Frequently the arms were elaborately decorated, an indication of the wealth and standing of their owners.
 
On the outskirts of the plain, beyond the quarters of the chieftains, traders erected their stalls for the sale of commodities not available elsewhere. Silks and velvets from foreign countries were sold to men of substance. It was the common custom for men to give expensive tokens of friendship to each other as evidence of their loyalty.
 
The old sagas tell us that Icelanders of the day were "strong of body, stout of heart." Most of them were fair with silky blond beards. Many dressed in simple homespun tunics and trousers. The chieftains were proud of their brooches, heavy belts, and buttons of gold and silver work, made by skilled Icelandic goldsmiths from precious metal brought from Norway.
 
The annual meeting of the Althing was one of cultural and social importance. Here young men met girls of marriageable age and sought them out for their beauty and poise but also with an eye to the wealth and standing of their fathers. It was by good marriages that property was consolidated and powerful chieftainships were attained. Frequently chieftains brought sons of ten or twelve years of age in order that friends might get to know them and invite them to become foster sons, although such arrangements were often made during the boys' infancy. In continental Europe, knights entrusted their sons to friends to serve as page boys and squires, and to learn the ways of warfare and the polished manners of castle life. In Iceland, fathers sent sons into the homes of friends so that a boy's education could be rounded by the relationship. This was known as "fostering" a boy and led to strong family ties in times when every man needed to count well his true and loyal friends.
 
Here and there among the booths at the Althing could be seen berserks, strong bold men who served as bodyguards to the more prosperous chiefs. Of unusual height and build, they sometimes entertained the onlookers with dangerous feats of strength. One of the sagas tells of two unusually daring berserks who were brothers. One fell in love with the beautiful daughter of his aged chieftain and demanded her hand in marriage. The old chief required that the brothers first prove their strength by cutting a road through the impassable lava rock of the nearby Mount of Biarnnarhof. To the amazement of everyone, the brothers succeeded in accomplishing the task. But the girl, who neither wanted to marry the berserk nor see her father break his promise, by a clever trick led the brothers to their death. She was now free to follow her heart's desire in marriage, but soon lava burst forth from the ground at the spot where the berserks met their fate. It subsided, leaving two giant black lava pillars to haunt her always. Icelanders still point out the berserk pillars at the Mount of Biarnnarhof. And Icelanders still say, "Never make a promise you cannot keep."
 
Before the business of the court began each day at the Althing, the entire assembly relaxed and amused themselves. Glima matches, then as now, held great interest for all Icelanders. Glima is a graceful sport of Icelandic origin; a very skillful form of wrestling that was developed to train men to protect themselves when they had been unarmed by an opponent.
 
When the Speaker stepped to the Law-mount high above the crowd, bells called the people away from their games. The valley became hushed with respect for the leader. The assembly was opened by the Speaker reciting the laws from memory.
 
Men usually acted as their own lawyers in presenting cases at the Althing. They were well versed in the code of laws and many were skilled orators. Some spent months in composing their arguments and consulting with kinsmen and followers. Excitement usually ran high toward the closing sessions, for everyone enjoyed hearing the long discussions and eagerly awaited the decisions of the Law Speaker.
 
At the end of June the exciting meeting of the Althing closed for another year. There were rough trails to travel homeward, but no darkness. Men and women could ride their ponies for long hours in order to get home to waiting hay fields. The harvesting of life-giving hay for animals was now the most important task that confronted them. Icelanders from the beginning have had to "make hay while the sun shines," for it shines so briefly in that far northern land. 

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Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries had its humble beginnings as an idea of a few artisans and craftsmen who enjoy performing with live steel fighting. As well as a patchwork quilt tent canvas. Most had prior military experience hence the name.

 

Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries.

 

Vendertainers that brought many things to a show and are know for helping out where ever they can.

As well as being a place where the older hand made items could be found made by them and enjoyed by all.

We expanded over the years to become well known at what we do. Now we represent over 100 artisans and craftsman that are well known in their venues and some just starting out. Some of their works have been premiered in TV, stage and movies on a regular basis.

Specializing in Medieval, Goth , Stage Film, BDFSM and Practitioner.

Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries a Dept of, Ask For IT was started by artists and former military veterans, and sword fighters, representing over 100 artisans, one who made his living traveling from fair to festival vending medieval wares. The majority of his customers are re-enactors, SCAdians and the like, looking to build their kit with period clothing, feast gear, adornments, etc.

Likewise, it is typical for these history-lovers to peruse the tent (aka mobile store front) and, upon finding something that pleases the eye, ask "Is this period?"

A deceitful query!! This is not a yes or no question. One must have a damn good understanding of European history (at least) from the fall of Rome to the mid-1600's to properly answer. Taking into account, also, the culture in which the querent is dressed is vitally important. You see, though it may be well within medieval period, it would be strange to see a Viking wearing a Caftan...or is it?

After a festival's time of answering weighty questions such as these, I'd sleep like a log! Only a mad man could possibly remember the place and time for each piece of kitchen ware, weaponry, cloth, and chain within a span of 1,000 years!! Surely there must be an easier way, a place where he could post all this knowledge...

Traveling Within The World is meant to be such a place. A place for all of these artists to keep in touch and directly interact with their fellow geeks and re-enactment hobbyists, their clientele.

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