The Bard's Tale of Bordermarch
For an incredible, complete History of Bordermarch prepared by Countess Tessa in an Excel Spreadsheet format (you won't need Excel to view!), CLICK HERE You will be amazed at the details of this gigantic project!
Also, be sure to visit our Kingdom Historian Page at the Kingdom Historian's Information Site at the Kingdom website.
Barony Bordermarch is the fourth oldest barony in the Kingdom of Ansteorra, after Stargate, Steppes and Bjornsborg. The story of Bordermarch cannot be told apart from the story of Ansteorra: Invested as a barony in the Principality of Ansteorra in (Common Era 1977) Anno Sociatus XI, Sir Simonn of Amber Isle (Knighted while Ansteorra was a region of the larger Kingdom of Atenveldt), and Mistress Tessa of the Gardens (elevated to Administrative Peerage, the Pelican, while Ansteorra was a "Region" of Atenveldt), led the small landholding to greatness, led its people to the wonderment of Camelot!
While Ansteorra grew from "Regional" status to "Principality" status in the Kingdom of Atenveldt, a full slate of officers and participants led the barony. Tessa served Texas and Oklahoma as Ansteorra's Seneschal (executive officer) and Simonn as Knights Marshall. The barony moved through the local leadership of Lord Throin the Thrice-Blessed (who became a 21st century civic mayor), the creative examples of Lady Therese d'Ivorie and Lady Robin of the Elm; and armoured fighters varying from Vikings to courtly squires to the formidable Cyrstal Skull.
Together the populace conducted many events of greatness and maintained a wholesome, safe, family, educational, atmosphere. The first Crown Tournament of Atenveldt (then Arizona to Florida) held beyond Phoenix or Albequerque was hosted in Bordermarch. The Anvil War began here, which evolved into the Bordermarch Melees and the construction of Ansteorra's first castle, the BorderKeep at Claiborne West in Vidor.
Meanwhile, our founders Simonn and Tessa twice served on the thrones of Ansteorra. Tessa is always gracious to credit the populace as their right hands and enterouge. They became the third (and last) set of Prince and Princess of Ansteorra, and were directed by the Atenveldt King, His Majesty Theo of Mightrinwood (pictured above), to petition their Liege for the independence of of Ansteorra from the Kingdom of Atenveldt. Ansteorra was to become a kingdom in its own right! In the process of time, Simonn and Tessa were the Ninth King and Queen of Ansteorra who took our hometown essence of Camelot to every citadel or small hold in Ansteorra. During that crown reign, Bordermarch was given to the capable care of Vicar and Vicaress, Lord Jeffery the Barbarian and Lady Therese d'Ivoire. There are wondrous stories for telling by a fireside, and can be coaxed from Sir Simonn himself or gently recalled with Mistress Tessa's smile welcoming you into their camp or couch.
In 1977 while Bordermarch was a shire, then 1978 through 1989, during their time as founding Baron and Baroness Bordermarch ("Bordermarch" is forevermore affixed to Their Excellencies' names) the barony established a reputation for fighting, feasting, fun, and friends, and caravans afar, as well as excellence in the Arts & Sciences and Service to the Kingdom.
As Founding Baron and Baroness Bordermarch, Their Excellencies Simonn and Tessa were our leaders for about 12 years, and it was a milestone for Bordermarch when they announced their retirement. They chose to prioritize time with their growing male heirs, (Lord) Amber-Gate Zane ap Simonn, and the elder, (Lord) Aarion Kyrkwood Mountain-Gate, now gone into eternity, as Tessa says, "to the King of Kings."
Upon their retirement, suitable successors were
found in Lord (since then, Sir)Henri le Hibou du Bois and Lady
(since then, Mistress)Charla Noel du Lac, 1989-93; then Lord
Dafydd de Mortemer and Lady Dena Legh de Mortemer, 1993-96; then
Don Ericus the Silverhand and Lady AmberLea Fairchild, 1996-98.
In obedience to the Crown, Simonn and Tessa led the people of
Bordermarch from 1998 through 1999 as Vicar and Vicaress, then
retired again. Bordermarch continued to thrive as a Crown's
Barony, under the watchful eye of the Crowns of Ansteorra, whose reign changes
every six months. In the passage of time, the Populace's council and petition
for its own local figureheads were granted by the Crown, November, 2001. With
great rejoicing, the 5th Baron and Baroness of Bordermarch were invested: Their
Excellencies Lord (since then, Don) Armand de Lacy and Lady Caitrin de Lacy.
After their 6 year term, The De Lacys retired to watch new coronets placed on
the brows of the 6th Baron and Baroness of Bordermarch, Lord Santiago of Green
Mountain and Lady Elisabeth of Green Mountain, invested April, 2007.
It is not proper to record a tale of
Bordermarch in Ansteorra without the recall of some who made it
happen, now gone. Their lives and deaths impacted many of us. We
remember our near neighbor, the grand and colorful William of
Wallingsford; a close neighbor knight who grew with us and chose
to sit his knighting-vigil here, Sir John the Plain of Shearn,
and his young son; our primitive armourer, the giant, Hogan of
the Shifting Sands; our visitor, William Blackfox who preserved
liknesses by his sketching hand, who bag-piped us onto the field
of battle, at campsite, or in funeral durge; the Polite Viking,
Sir Anshelm Blackwing who spent so much time here we all thought
he lived here rather than across the river into Meridies;
Willhelm von Fingraws, our brother who was known to be a fine
cook and who was able to relax any of us with massage; the
respected Count Sir Theo, His Aten Majesty, who encouraged
Ansteorra to quickly seek kingdom status; our trusted and loved
frequent companion at battle or court, at feast or campfire, Sir
Riccardo de Pisa; the young fair-haired first born son of
Mountain-Gate, Aarion Kyrkwood, who inspired us to research and
truth; and the precious tiny babies whose very existence made us
stronger people, whether they first drew breath here or as
celestial souls. Bordermarch remembers.
For Those Who Travel to Bordermarch
Our fair Barony lies in the far southeast corner of the Kingdom of Ansteorra, which would be the Beaumont - Port Arthur - Orange area of Texas to those of strange tongue and stranger garb not of our land and time. Our eastern border is but minutes from the river that separates our mighty kingdom and that of Gleann Ahbann (Louisiana / Arkansas), and to our west lies the Barony of Stargate (Houston). Our famed castle, Bordermarch Keep, has been rebuilt at a second site, and now lies at our northern border, and the crescent seacoast along our southern border gives us trade with many lands.
Bordermarch Keep
Bordermarch Keep is our castle, residing in Jones Country Campground just outside of Colmesneil, Texas, north of Beaumont, and protects our Kingdom from marauders both from the sea, and from the northern and eastern lands across the river. Bordermarch was one of the first to build a permanent castle to use for events, and many have the battles been over the land there! The grinding crash of battering ram, the creaking of the greased wheels of siege towers rolling forward to the assault, the "hiss-thunk" of siege engines hurtling their missiles at the defenders as the cries of battle and the wounded sound... each of these and more has the Keep endured over the years. Follow this link and learn more about Bordermarch Keep!
Baron and Baroness - present and past