Trude Lacklandia
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 Trude in 1975 | ||||||||||
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 Sable, a domestic cat couchant guardant chased argent. | ||||||||||
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Countess Trude Lacklandia, KSCA, OL, OP, was the first female authorized to fight in the SCA and the first female Knight of the SCA. Knighted by the Kingdom of Atenveldt, April 1976 Preferred Chivalry Title: Sir
Memories
Women were not allowed to fight on the field of honor at first. Of course at first, not that many wanted to fight. That all changed when Trude Lacklandia became proficient enough to challenge seasoned fighters at sword practice and beat them. She demanded to be allowed to enter the lists. It took almost two years for the collective thumb to come out and let her fight, which she did very well. That opened the door for Viscountess Hilary of Serendip, and Viscountess Maythen Gervaise, and all the rest, and eventually to a woman winning the crown in her own right." ~ Tarysa of Rivendell (via Sir Waldt von Markheim)
Sir Trude depicted in the Bomticc Tapestry
The SCA was very different back then. It was still styled after a romantic, lyrical, mythical 19th century/Hollywood version of the Middle Ages where men were brave and women were fair damsels, "girls worth fighting for." We had men who refused to fight on the field against women because it was "against the spirit of chivalry." I suppose today that would be considered "misogynist." But at the time, it was simply the romantic ideal. Times change - sometimes at the point of a lady's sword. Cheers for Sir Trude. ~Eadwynne
