Classes Jadwiga Can Teach (With Descriptions!) Updated for 2016

A While back I got on a conversation about what I could teach. I began to rattle a few things off, and that got me thinking 'you know, there is an awful lot I could teach...' I then decided to make a list of classes that I am either familiar enough with or have already compiled the notes/written the paper to teach.
Note: For those of You in An Tir, I am happy to teach any of these classes at an event or Ithra if I am going.

Please feel free to contact me at jadwiga.sca@gmail.com or on facebook at Jadwiga Radomyskowa

Scribal- Creation

These are classes focused on creating supplies used for Medieval Scribal Arts. 

Making earth pigments I This class focuses on the basics of Earth Pigment creation. Students can use prepared ingredients to make their own gouache paint. This class can be a lecture, demo or hands-on. There is the option for students to take home with them a small set of period paints.
Making earth pigments II In this class students will take raw materials and create their own pigments. We will cover what makes a good pigment, how to assess if something will work for a pigment. In this class we can also cover some of the more exotic ingredients such as bone and lead.  This class can be a lecture, demo or hands-on. There is the option for students to take home with them a small set of period paints.
Making Oak Gall Ink Learn to make Oak Gall ink! Students will watch as a batch of ink is made in class, and have an opportunity to work with it. I can teach this class as a lecture, demo, or again a hands-on class where students will take home supplies to make their own ink.
The Scribes Toolbox: An overview of the tools of the trade, a good resource on such things as the type of brushes to use, and which paints to get and avoid. Also a resource list on where to actually buy these things!

Scribal-Painting

These classes focus on painting and creation of charters for the SCA. 

Charter Painting 101-104: The basics of Charter Painting. Covers materials and how to use them. Techniques that make your charters look great! Covers base painting, shading, blending, highlighting and some freehand. Can be taught as a single class or spread out into two to four.
Whitework and Diapering basics: One of the best tools in any painters arsenal, whitework takes a charter from good looking to amazing. This class covers how to correctly do white work. Can be taught as a lecture, but is best presented as a hands on class where students take home two different white paints and a sheet of white work and diapering designs to reference later.
Color Theory for charting painting: In this class I teach basic color theory and how it applies to charter painting. Ever wonder why sometimes when you mix red and blue you don't get purple, but rather a nasty brownish color? Want to know how to make something "look medieval"? This is the class for you. Can be taught as a lecture with handouts, or as a hands-on class where students take home samples to reference later.
Charter Creation: Creating Charters for a royal reign is an amazing experience. This class covers how to find reference materials, how to adapt images for a charter, the DOs and DONTs, as well as a step-by-step example of an actual charter created and used.

Polish History

This set of classes covers my passion, Polish History. While definitely a specific and narrow focus, this is a part of the Known World that few know much about. 

Polish History 101 An overview of Polish History as it pertains to the SCA time line. Covers the different eras in history, and major movers and shakers, as well as how Poland interacts and relates with the more well known lands of the Middle Ages. Do you know the surprising reason Polish Knights wouldn't go on Crusade? How did Poland avoid the Black Death when the rest of Europe was falling to it? What was the specific rule pertaining to Ottoman tents on a War field? Find out this and much more!
Polish Hussar Wings My focus. My Passion. Learn about the most well-known item of Polish Military! Learn how they were made, what they were used for, and dispel some myths around the Winged hussar!
16th C Polish Women's Clothing Come learn about women's clothing in the 16th century. We will cover extant pieces, how to research it, and how it was similar and different to both Western European fashions as well as Slavic, Italian, and German styles.
The surprising religious views of 16c Poland: That's a pretty specific title for a class, right? Well, 16th Century Poland was doing some crazy things, well worth looking in to. Come explore why Poland was called "asilum haereticorum" or the heretics asylum! It is said that a Polish town could not be called a city unless it held both a Catholic and Protestant Church, a Synagogue and a Mosque! Join me as we explore some of the most fascinating things in this little covered part of the Known Worlde, and I'll tell you about the time 1200 Noblemen stormed a church trying to burn a cobbler at the stake for heresy! The middle ages as it should have been? Seems like some folks had it right all along...

Misc

The rest of the classes. They don't quite fit anywhere else...

Medieval Pets: Owning pets is not a new or modern invention. This class covers pet ownership in the Middle Ages. Learn about not only cats and dogs that were kept, but squirrels, monkeys and even a pair of royal badgers! We will cover rules and laws around pets, the difference between an animal as a pet and one as a tool. Students can take home a handout with period pet names, as well as a collection of eulogies for a 14 century Italian dog.
Bayeux Tapestry Stitch: One of the most famous pieces of embroidery in the world, the Bayeux Tapestry is an impressive thing. Learn a little bit about this famous textile, and then learn the stitches used to create it, and how it can be used to create your own items. Students should bring a hoop. Needles, thread, and fabric with a design on it will be supplied.
The Medieval Horse: Learn about the use of the horse in the middle ages. We will cover different breeds and riding styles, go over the various types of tack used, as well as images and writings of the horse in the medieval era.
Largess 101: What is largess? Who is allowed to make it? What sort of things make good largess? What sorts of things make bad largess? What should never be largess? Learn the answers to all these questions in this class. As well, there will be a small hands-on largess project to make as we cover the ins and outs of Largess.
Manesse Codex: There are good odds that you have seen images from this 14c German songbook even if you don't know what it is. Here we will discuss what the Manesse codex is, who it was made for, and what its use was. We will cover some of the most famous images out of it, and talk about some of the stories attached to this book. Students will have an opportunity to take home black and white image from the book to color or use as inspiration as they would like.
The Book of Kells: This class will cover what is arguably the most famous book from medieval Ireland. We will discuss its construction, the various authors and illustrators as well as its tragic history. We will also look into some of the most interesting images to be found on it's pages. For instance, did you know that hidden in the Book are sharing the Holy Sacrament with cats?
Persona 101: This class will cover the basics of developing a persona for the SCA. How to figure out who you might want to be. Where to research for more information about your persona. What it means to have a persona and what you can do with it.
Persona 102: In this second persona class we focus on how to be in Persona once you have found one. We will talk about ways to be in persona even with the modern world around you. How to incorporate events from your mundane life into your persona. At the end of this class there is an opportunity to have an in-persona conversation or tea.
Social Media Webministration in the SCA: This class covers the practical aspects of Social Media and Webministration for your local SCA group. We will cover the rules that have been set down by society, but the main focus will be on what makes a good Web Presence for a group, and how to attract people to your site/page. It should be advised that this class is for people familiar with the internet.

The Surprising Religious Views of 16th century Poland

Asilum Haereticorum

the heretics asylum

The Surprising Religious Views of 16^th century Poland

Original act of the Warsaw Confederation

"Whereas in our Common Wealth [sic] there is no small disagreement in the matter of the Christian faith, and in order to prevent that any harmful contention should arise from this, as we see clearly taking place in other kingdoms, we swear to each other... that albeit we are dissidents in religion, we will keep the peace between ourselves, and that we will not, for the sake of our various faith and difference of church, either shed blood or confiscate property, deny favor, imprison or banish, and that furthermore we will not aid or abet any power or office which strives to this in any way whatsoever..."

Article of the Warsaw Confederation

by Pani Jadwiga Radomykowa

Originally Presented at the String Theory Ithra in the Canton of Bearwood October 2014

Section One: A brief overview of Polish History

This is not a exhaustive list of everything that happened in Poland, but rather major events, especially ones that shaped religious feelings in the country.

5^th - 9^th Century

The first Slavic tribes settle in the lands that will one day be Poland. Beyond archeological evidence, there is little known about this time, save that the people called themselves the Polane “People of the Land.”

10^th Century

Baptism of Poland. King Mieszko I, the creator of the polish state marries Dobrawa, the daughter of the Bohemian ruler, a devout catholic. The king converts as does the rest of the state over the next centuries. Poland is recognized as a sovereign nation by Otto III in 1000.

11^th - 14^th Century:

Poland begins to form as a country. During this time it is much like it's neighbors the Holy Roman Empire (Germany) and other more “Western” European states.

1030: there is a pagan uprising.

1182: the first meeting of the Sejm (lower house of parliament).

1264: Statute of Kalisz Giving Jews much freedom.

1308: the Teutonic Knights capture Gdańsk (Danzig), this begins the long history of tension between the Order and the Polish State.

1333: Formation of the Szlachta a legally privileged noble class.

1347: The Wiślica Statutes are drafted. This is the first time that customary law is codified.

1384: Jadwiga of Anjou is crowned King of Poland

1385: Jadwiga Marries Lithuanian duke Jagiello this binds Poland and Lithuania together, part of the agreement is Jagiello converts to Christianity along with all of Lithuania.

15^th Century:

Poland and the Teutonic Order begin almost 200 years of on again off again warfare called the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War or simply the Great War.

1410: Battle of Grunwald, first major battle of the Great War, and the beginning of the decline of the Teutonic Knights.

1432: Union of Grodno, the beginnings of the Polish Lithuanian alliances being formalized.

1454: Nieszawa Statutes are signed which state that the king must get permission from the Szlachta before making new laws, raising armies or levying new taxes.

16^th Century:

1505: Nihli Novi (“Nothing New”) Act signed, limiting Polish kings from making any new laws with out the blessing of the nobility.

1569: Union of Lublin, the creation of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth.

1573: Warsaw Confederation signed, guaranteeing religious freedom for all freedmen of Poland

Section Two: Foundations of Religious Tolerance

In the early 16^th century Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius called Poland the asylum of heretics.

This name was not unearned. During a time when reading the wrong book could get a man killed, and worshiping “incorrectly” could damn one to hell, not to mention be tortured before meeting that fate, Poland had opened her borders to men of all faiths, and took a rather lackadaisical view on upholding the religious “rights” of the church.

The Jagiellon Dynasty 1386-1572 was considered the height of Polish Culture. As it began to wain the Sejm (senate) sought to protect the unified Poland and prevent separatists from undermining hundreds of years of work. To that end, there had to be a unified voice, and a key point of contention was the different views of religion. Therefore the defacto culture of religious tolerance was codified in the Warsaw Confederation.

This fell in line with the Sarmation ideology espoused by the szlatcha who believed that no one man should have the ability to rules over the life and death of another, this included bishops and the king. Moreover this became imperative after the St. Bartholomew's day massacre in France where 20,000 Protestants were killed by rioting Catholics. They set up rules that a king had to sign before being given the grown, called the Henrician Articles, these were 16 unchangeable rules, one of which is that they must observe the edicts of the Warsaw Confederation. This ties in with the Golden Liberty, an article of the szlatcha that stated all nobles are equal regardless of rank, class or religion.

Sitting between the Orthodox Grand Duchy of Moscow to the East, Muslim Empire to the South, and the rest of Europe torn between reformation and counter reformation to the west Poland welcomed Catholics, Protestants, Jews and even Muslims to settle it's lands. Every time there would be a religious purge in a neighboring land, Poland’s' population would grow. This led to more skilled laborers and a better economy.

By the mid 16^th century records put about 3/4^th of all Jewish people live in Poland. In 1503 a Chief Rabbi was appointed, and by 1551 Jews could elect their own Chief Rabbi. He was allowed to make rules, and laws for the Polish Jews and collect taxes, however only about 30% of funds raised were used for the Jewish people, the rest went to the kingdom for protection. 1567 a Talmudic academy was found in Lublin. During this time the Statute of Kalisz was written, 26 rules for the treatment of Jewish people. Of note:

         1. ...Should a Jew be taken to court, not only a Christian must testify against him,            but also a Jew, in order for the case to be considered valid.

17. ...Any Jew may freely and securely walk or ride without any let or hindrance in our realm. They shall pay customary tolls just as other Christians do, and nothing else

Section Three: Religious Freedom Made Manifest.

The szlatcha were the noble class in Poland. Unlike most kingdoms of this time, the szlatcha could come from any rank or class. During this time most szlatcha were Catholic or Orthodox with a small number of Muslims.

In 1569 the city of Rakow was founded as the seat of the Polish Brethren With was a minor branch of the Reformed Church of Poland a Nontrinitarian Protestant church that existed in Poland from 1565 to 1658. This later changed into the Unitarian belief.

The Church in Poland had an unusual relationship with the Vatican, rather than being appointed by Rome, the kingdoms bishops were chosen by the King who submitted his candidates. However, if the Church did not agree with a choice this had little effect, for it was ignored, and bishops were invested anyways. Even attempts to excommunicate bishops and kings fell upon deaf ears.

Summed up by a deputy of the Sejm in 1550:

“The gentlemen of the clergy summon us, citing their titles and invoking some foreign, Romish law, contrary to the laws and freedoms of our realm, attempting to extend their jurisdiction and that of their mater the Roman Pope, which jurisdiction we, not finding it in our statutes neither can nor will bear; for we know no other jurisdiction than the supremacy of his majesty the King our master.”

Various religions were worshiped during this time. Luther's declaration was popular in northern and western parts of Poland. Those who held the faith were called lax Catholics. Many priests had common-in-law wives, recognized their offspring and gave them positions due to their rank. As such, protestant demands weren't shocking. Calvinism was quite popular as well throughout the land, both because putting men as equals echoed feelings of the szlatcha and as well as the fact that there was little rite and ceremony making it a cheap religion to be a part of. Moreover, during this time Bishop Drohojowski of Kujavia allowed Catholics and Lutherans to share churches in his diocese.

By mid 16^th century Poland had almost 100 mosques.

In 1554 Bishop Czarnkowski sentenced 3 merchants to be burned at the stake. They were saved by the Szlachta who were mostly Catholic. He later sentenced a cobbler and over 100 nobles came to his rescue, this time laying siege to the episcopal estate and freeing the man. The bishop was then banished from the town. Later when a man was killed for supposedly stealing a host from the local church and selling it to Jews for apparent occult rites, there was an outcry and again the szlatcha raised arms against the church, and managed to save three Jews that were going to be burned the next day. As Jan Tarnowski a noble of the time points out, “It is not a question of religion, it is a question of liberty.”

Shortly after this the Sejm came to unanimous agreement that there would be no liberty while a force independent of the parliamentary system was able to judge people. Therefore the ecclesiastical tribunal was annulled in 1562. There was an outcry from the church, how could the laws of the bible and the will of God be upheld? The poet Mikołaj Rej gave the church the Szlatcha's reply when he wrote that if God was offended, God would punish.

Further Reading:

Chorzempa, Rosemary A. Polish Roots : Korzenie Polskie. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub., 1993. Print.

Davies, Norman. God's Playground: A History of Poland: In Two Volumes. New York: Columbia UP, 2005. Print.

Hewett, Phillip. Racovia: An Early Liberal Religious Community. Providence, RI: Blackstone Editions, 2004. Print.

Zamoyski, Adam. Poland: A History. New York: Hippocrene, 2012. Print.

Wandycz, Piotr Stefan. The Price of Freedom: A History of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to the Present. London: Routledge, 2001. Print.

Zamoyski, Adam. The Polish Way: A Thousand-year History of the Poles and Their Culture. New York: Hippocrene, 1994. Print.