Philip Williams of Aston

Photo
Sir Philip at Calafia-Gyldenholt Friendship, 03/05/2016
Information
Preferred title: Sir Their Pronouns: he/him Resides: Darach Status: Active Awards: Visit the Caid Order of Precedence
Heraldry
GU, a saltire Or, surmounted by a rose; on a chief AR, 3 crosses flory vert
Help with this sidebar

Baron Sir Philip Williams of Aston, also known as Philip of the Ex-Isles and Philip de Will o'Aston, was elevated to the Order of the Chivalry on January 10, 2004 by Direk III and Levana, King and Queen of Caid. He is known for his chivalry on the field, as well as his artistic and scholarly pursuits of Medieval Past-times, including indoor/outdoor medieval games, dancing, and all things related to 15th century Tournament/Pas d'Armes Culture. He is married to Baroness Master Rebecca Mary Robynson, and is the head of Aston Hall.

Philip is currently the Event Steward for Pentathlon 2025, Deputy Kingdom Seneschal (stepping up in January 2025), Deputy A&S Minister of Historical Combat Studies, and Territorial Marshal for the shire of Darach.

Recognizing the growing HEMA community at large, and a missed opportunity for the SCA to attract members interested in a more historically accurate armored combat system, Philip reached out to the Society Earl Marshall Arabella da Siena at Great Western War in 2023 and pitched her the idea of bringing Harnischfechten to the SCA, providing her with documentation of external HEMA groups, their Accords, and examples of Harnischfechten in play. Thanks to his initiative, the SCA Harnischfechten Experiment was born in 2024. As of August 2024, the Society Earl Marshall has documentation of people joining or returning to the SCA specifically due to the addition of Harnischfechten.

In addition to his other duties, Philip now serves as the Kingdom of Caid's Marshal for Harnisfechten. The first Harnischfechten demo/Deed of Arms in Caid will take place at Great Western War 2024.

Persona

Philip is a minor noble hailing from 14th century York, England. Titled but penniless, he married the daughter of a wealthy royal herald-painter residing in London. When not competing on the Tournament circuit, he enjoys scholarly pursuits as well as all manner of courtly past-times such as games and dancing. He strives to live by the chivalric virtues, and is fiercely devoted to his wife and the members of his household. Philip currently has one squire, Lord Rees an Chairn.

Associations

• Baron, Aston Hall
• Member, Order of the Chivalry
• Member, the Company of Saint George
• Member, the Company of Saint Leonard
• Member, Darach/Altavia Equestrian Guild
• Member, the Company of Saint Luke's Standard (Painter-Stainer Guild)

Offices & Positions

• Seneschal of the Shire of Isles, 1992-1994
• Chatelaine of the Shire of Isles, 1992-1994
• Territorial Marshal for the Shire of Darach, 7/2022 - current
• Deputy Kingdom Seneschal, 1/2024 - 1/2025
• Harnischfechten Marshal, 8/2024 - current

• Baronial Guard
  • Joseph and Caroline Baronage, Barony of Nordwache, 1994 to 11/01/1997
  • Mahmud and Portia, Barony of Nordwache, 1/01/1997 to 11/16/2002

• Royal Court/Guard
  • Gar and Ristil, 6/04/1994-11/19/1994
  • John II and Ceinwen II, 11/04/1995-05/18/1996
  • Edric and Albra, 05/18/1996-11/02/1996
  • Rørik and Karina, 11/01/1997-06/06/1998
  • Tomüki II and Luciana, 11/21/1998-06/12/1999
  • Francesc and Seanach, 06/12/1999-11/20/1999

• Royal Co-Chamberlain (with Rebecca Mary Robynson)
  • Joseph I and Caroline I, 06/07/1997-11/01/1997
  • Ivan V and Ciar Lasse, 11/18/2000-06/02/2001
  • Alaric II and Carynsa, 05/31/2003-11/15/2003

Event Staff

• Pentathlon
  • IT Steward (database designer), 2001
  • IT Steward (database designer), 2003
  • Judge, woodworking, 2003
  • IT Staff, 2017
  • Event Steward, 2019
  • Event Steward, 2025

• Darach
  • Event Steward, Anniversary, 5/4/2019
  • Event Marshal, Pirate Tourney, 8/6/2022
  • Event Marshal, Anniversary, 5/6/2023
  • Staff and Site Liaison, LibCon SCA demo at Thousand Oaks Library, 7/22 - 7/23/2023
  • Event Marshal, Pirate Tourney, 8/26/2023
  • Event Marshal, Anniversary, 5/4/2024
  • Event Marshal, Pirate Tourney, 8/3/2024
  • Event Steward, LibCon SCA demo at Thousand Oaks Library, 8/10 - 8/11/2023

• Marshalling Support
  • Lyondemere Anniversary, 6/3/2023
  • Crown Tourney, 9/9/2023
  • Angels Anniversary & Investiture, 9/16/2023
  • Gyldenholt Unbelted, 1/27/2024
  • Crown Tourney, 3/2/2024
  • Altavia Anniversary, 5/11/2024
  • Angels St. Jude Tourney, 6/1/2024

• Feasts
  • Isles Anniversary, feast staff, 04/30/1994
  • Nordwache, Caid Crown Tourney, Royal Lunch staff, 04/26/1997
  • Darach, Coronation for Brad and Nuala, feast staff, 06/05/2004
  • Twelfth Night, feast Staff 01/08/2011
  • Calafia, Winter Weekend, feast staff 2002
  • Calafia, Winter Weekend, Sunday night feast staff, 2003
  • Calafia, Winter Weekend, Saturday night feast staff, 2004
  • Red Star Rapier War Feb 18, 2023 - Steel Chef competition - part of the Gold team, which won this first Steel Chef. The team consisted of Sir Jamal Damien Marcus, Baroness Alesone Gray of Cranlegh, Sir Philip Williams of Aston, Master Rebecca Mary Robynson, Duchess Tahira al-Fahida, TH Lady Courtney of the White Meadow, TH Lady Guene Annwyll, Lady Kora Aelfbairn
  • [Gyldenholt]], Collegium, lunch staff, 6/8/2024
  • Cooking and Serving Staff, Caid Coronation, Sven and Iseabail, Lyondemere, 7/13/2024

• Great Western War
  • Arts & Sciences encampment staff, 2001
  • Arts & Sciences encampment staff, 2002
  • Arts & Sciences encampment staff, 2003
  • St.George Pas d'Armes Event steward, 2019
  • St. George Pas d'Armes Event steward, 2022

• Collegium
  • Costuming regent, 2001 - 2004

Arts & Sciences

• Classes Taught
  • Costuming Mistakes - Collegium, 2001
  • Basic Patterning - Collegium, 2001
  • 14th/15th century clothing - Nordwache Academia, 2004
  • Monsters of Dance (Playford dances) - Nordwache Academia, 2004
  • Coin Striking 101 - Great Western War, 2022
  • Medieval Board Games - Collegium, 2023
  • Pentathlon Roundtable (with Maria Theresa Ipeñarrieta and Catarina della Zimarra) - Great Western War, 2023
  • Intro into the SCA for Newcomers - Darach, 8/2024
  • Silk Flag Painting (with Rebecca Mary Robynson)
    • Carreg Wen Academia
    • Starkhafn Academia, 2003
    • Nordwache Academia, 8/2010

• Workshops Held

(Although these workshops are often held in Darach they are publicized and open to anyone, space permitting.)

• • Building a Medieval Market Stall - Darach, 9/2022
  • Sewing for GWW, - Darach, 9/2022
  • Sewing Cotes and Gothic Gowns - Darach, 11/2023
  • Patterning Cotes and Gothic Gowns - Darach, 1/2024
  • Cotes and Gothic Gowns Patterning workshop, 6/2024
  • Silk Flag Making Workshops (with Rebecca Mary Robynson)
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 4/2012
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 5/2012
    • Angels, 7/2012
    • Altavia, 8/2012
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 9/2012
    • Nordwache - 5/2014
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 6/2014
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 8/2014
    • Goarhausen Household, 9/2014
    • Lyondemere, 9/2014 (2 workshops)
    • Valdimontone Contrada, 2/2015
    • Isles, 3/2015
    • Gyldenholt, 5/2015
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 12/2023
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 4/2024
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 5/2024
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 6/2024
    • Darach - Open to all (space permitting), 7/2024

Projects & Publications

• Created and was Dance Master of the dance troupe "Monsters of Dance" in Isles, teaching English Country Dancing (Playford) throughout the Known World from 1992 - 1995.
• Designed and built a period lean-to pavilion as a stepping down gift for Gar and Ristil, 11/1994.
• Patterned and sewed an Italian dress for HRM Luciana Maria Novella Di Carlo, 1999

Photos