Rhydderch Derwen

Photo
(Center) At Friendship LVII
Information
Preferred title: Maestro Their Pronouns: He/Him Resides: Barony of Gyldenholt Status: Active Awards: Visit the Caid Order of Precedence
Heraldry
Argent, a fox sejant gardant gules and a base engrailed sable
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Persona/Interests

Maestro Rhydderch Derwen started in the SCA in 2010 in the Barony of Gyldenholt where he picked up a rapier and has only looked back once. His first major event was GWW in 2010 Rhydderch Continues his training of historical technique with Master Lot Ramirez and is the Weapons master for the crew "The Sea Beggars" of The Beggars Inn.

He was elevated to the Order of Defense by TRM Agrippa and Dawid on October 7th, 2018 at Great Western War.

Maestro Rhydderch enjoys researching, fighting in, and teaching historic combat as well as acting as a Furbisher (one who makes hilts for swords.)

Associates

• Weapons master of the Sea Beggars
• Studies historical Italian fencing with Master Lot Ramirez
• Studied historical Spanish fencing with THL Marcos de la Cruz
• Professor-level pupil at the 'Vineyard of Swords' School of Fence

Awards

• Award of Arms 1/21/12
• Companion in the Order of the Duellist 5/27/12
• THL Rhydderch Derwen became the first of the five premiers of the new Order of the Argent Blade On 10/10/2015
• Corde de Guerre 5/29/16
• Vanguard of Honor 10/8/16
• Escutcheon d’Or 1/28/17
• Serpent's Fang Rhydderch was presented with His Excellency's Guy Rand Gallandon's award favour 3/11/17
• Rhydderch was invited to Join the Order of Defense on 3/24/18 Vigil and Elevation Was held at Great Western War 21 (2018)
• Signum Regni 1/5/19
• Legion of Courtesy 1/5/19
• Gemme d'Or (formally known as the Citrine) 1/26/19
• Dolphin 6/20/20
• Harp Argent (Historic Combat) 10/7/23
• Furison of Caid 3/23/24

Offices, Positions, and accomplishments

• Lyondemere Rapier Champion 2012
• Holder of the Iron Crescent With the sea Beggars
• Lyondemere Rapier Champion 2014
• Longsword/Greatsword Rapier Champion 2014
• Dreiburgen Rapier Champion 2016
• Acting Calafia Rapier Champion 2017 Standing in for Julien de la Fontaine
• Starkhafn Rapier Champion 2017
• Dreiburgen Rapier Champion 2019
• Calafia Rapier Champion 2019
• Gyldenholt Rapier Champion 2022
• RAPIERMANIA! Champion 2023
• Defender of the Gyldenholt Knight x9

• Gyldenholt Baronial Guard 2011-2018
• Gyldenholt Baronial Rapier Marshal 2014-2018
• Rapier Senior Marshal 2015-present
• Chief Lord in waiting Agrippa III and Dawid 2018
• Deputy to Kingdom Rapier Marshal 2018-2019
• Kingdom Rapier Marshal 2019-2022

1. Wrote and got royal approval for Rapier Archery Experiment 2020 with Sigbiorn Sigmundarson and Cellach of the Mists (on hold do to society rule change)
2. Updated Kingdom Rules January 2020 with Cassandre Nicole Loustaunau, Alesone Gray of Cranlegh, and Mora Ottavia Spadera
3. Finalized a complete kingdom rule rewrite to comply with new society rules April 2020 with Cassandre Nicole Loustaunau, Alesone Gray of Cranlegh, and Mora Ottavia Spadera
4. Assisted with kingdom/Society approval and running the Kingdom Rapier experiments for reduced rapier armor and the implementation of synthetic weapons in C&T
5. Developed a process and worked with society for approval to make rapier more accessible to those fencers who are differently-abled

• Held weekly virtual "Practices"/meetups during the SCA shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 52 weekly practices were held during this time
• Drop Dead Deputy to Kingdom Rapier Marshal 2022-present

Tournaments

• Most energetic fight Kings Hunt 4/2/11
• Rapier Tourney Winner Pirate Tourney 7/30/11
• Rapier Tourney Winner Leodamus of Thebes Tourney 8/27/11
• Rapier Tourney Winner Lyondemere Anniversary 7/21/2012
• Angels Melee Tourney winner (with The Sea Beggars) 1/12/13
• Un-scarfed Tourney Winner Kings Hunt 4/6/2013
• Rapier Tourney Winner Lyondemere Anniversary 7/12/14
• Rapier Tourney Winner Longsword/Greatsword Tournament 8/22/14
• Most chivalrous fighter Kings hunt 4/4/15
• Rapier Tourney Winner Summergate Anniversary 4/26/15
• WhiteScarf Tourney Winner Great Western War with Jerrik van Den Helder (sponsored by Master Lot Ramirez)10/10/15
• Rapier Tourney Winner Mons Draconis Anniversary 5/1/16
• Rapier Tourney Winner Leif Erikson tournament 10/15/16
• Rapier Tourney Winner Dreiburgen Anniversary 10/30/16
• Rapier Tourney winner Starkhafn Anniversary 4/8/17
• Rapier Tourney Winner Leif Erikson tournament 10/14/17
• Rapier Tourney Winner Isles Anniversary tournament 11/18/17
• Rapier Tourney Winner Summergate Anniversary 4/28/18
• Rapier Tourney Winner Calafia Gyldenholt Friendship 3/9/19
• Rapier Tourney Winner Dreiburgen Anniversary 10/30/19
• Rapier Tourney Winner Calafia Anniversary 11/2/19
• Rapier Tourney winner with Folkvi of Altavia Gyldenholt Calafia Friendship 3/19/22
• Rapier Tourney Winner Gyldenholt Anniversary 6/4/22
• Rapier Tourney Winner Potrero War Rapier Mania torchlight tourney 5/25/23

• Ninetime Defender of the Gyldenholt Knight

Articles written

• Intro into Rapier Lesson plan
• News and the closing of the White Scarf

Classes

Rhydderch enjoys teaching classes on basic rapier techniques as well as variety of historical sword forms. All of the below are documented to the SCA time period unless noted.

• Intro SCA rapier
• SCA rapier 101
• Italian rapier (Nicoletto Giganti)Beginner to Advanced
• Italian rapier (Ridolfo Capo Ferro)Beginner to Advanced
• Cut&Thrust Rapier Beginner to Advanced

1. Sidesword (Achille Marozzo)
2. Broadsword (Charles Roworth)
3. Saber (Polish and Charles Roworth)
4. Longsword (Joachim Meyer)

• Body mechanics
• Understanding of time and measure
• Singlestick (Palcaty, Highland, and various tavern games)

Formal classes taught, outside of weekly practices:

• Beginning Cut&Thrust - Duellist practice 2014
• Rapier 101 - Collegium Caidis 2015
• Rapier 101 - Practicum Martiale and Isles Anniversary 2015
• Beginning Italian Rapier - Practicum Martiale and Isles Anniversary 2015
• Italian Rapier - Collegium Caidis 2016
• Beginning Italian Rapier - Practicum Martiale and Isles Anniversary 2016
• Coached Sparring - Practicum Martiale and Isles Anniversary 2016
• Rapier 101 - Collegium Caidis 2017
• German longsword (covered for Master Lot) - Collegium Caidis 2017
• Coached Sparring - Collegium Caidis 2017
• Fundamentals of Italian rapier Altavia anniversary 2019
• Giganti's artfull guards- Collegium Caidis 2019
• Rapier Marshaling - Collegium Caidis 2019
• Rapier Marshaling - Horseman practice 2019
• Rapier Martial Roundtable - Collegium Caidis 2020
• Rapier Marshaling - Red Star Rapier war 2022
• Body mechanics for fencers - Collegium Caidis 2022
• Saber for Cut and Thrust - Collegium Caidis 2022
• Cutting with sharp swords - Collegium Caidis 2023
• Saber for Cut and Thrust - Collegium Caidis 2023
• Cutting mechanics with swords - Great Western War 2023
• Demystifying the blade - Accademia Draconis 2024
• Cutting with sharp swords mechanics training- Collegium Caidis 2024
• Historic stick games presentation and application- Collegium Caidis 2024

Event Staff

• Rapier Steward, Gyldenholt Anniversary 2014
• Rapier Steward, Potrero War 2015
• Rapier Steward, Gyldenholt Anniversary 2015
• Rapier Steward, Friendship 2015
• Rapier Steward, Gyldenholt Anniversary 2016
• Rapier Steward, Medieval Marketplace 2016
• Rapier Steward, Gyldenholt Anniversary 2017
• Rapier Steward, Friendship 2017
• Rapier Steward, Queens Champion winter and summer 2019
• Rapier Steward, Queens Champion winter 2020
• Rapier Steward, Potrero Pas De' Arms tournament 2023
• Rapier Steward, Potrero Impromptu tournament 2023
• Rapier Steward, Gyldenholt Anniversary 2023

Hiltmaking and Sword Furbishing

Image Preview	Project	Recipient	Year	Reference
	Longsword (Oakshott type XIVa blade, Type R Pommel, and style 3 guard.) Guard, Pommel, and handle made by Rhydderch	---	2024	The Wallace collection ref A464 [1] Oakeshott Typology [2]
	Longsword (Oakshott type XIVa blade, Type I Pommel, and style 6 guard.) Guard, Pommel, and handle made by Rhydderch	---	2024	The Wallace collection ref A459 [3] Oakeshott Typology [4]
	Arming sword (Oakshott type XIV blade, Type I Pommel, and style 6 guard.) Guard, Pommel, and handle made by Rhydderch	Paulo de Vincenzi	2024	The Wallace collection ref A459 [5]
	German Rapier or Rappier. Based off of the rapiers in Joachim Meyers's 1570 treatise "the Art of Combat. Featuring forged hexagonal twisted quillion/guard, mosaic inlay in the walnut grip, and peened construction. (Norman type 5 hilt) Guard, handle, and peen cap made by Rhydderch	Alesone Gray of Cranlegh	2024	The Wallace collection Photo credit to Chris Fields of Sterling Armory used with permission [6] Reference A476 [7]
	Ring dagger for rapier fencing Guard and handle made by Rhydderch	Isabel de Carvalhal	2022	Parrying Dagger with Scabbard Dresden 1590-1600 Art Institute Chicago ref 1982.2159a-b [8]
	Eating knife 16th century inspired by the painting The Beaneater	Magdalene van den Velde	2018	Italian 1580-1590 [9]
	Early Schiavona based off of sword in private collection made around 1570 Guard, handle, and pommel made by Rhydderch Entered into Crescent Artisan 2018	Angus le Todde Mac Donnell	2018	proto schiavona Private collection [10]
	Two ring rapier for loaner gear (Norman type 29 and 41 hilt) Guard handle and pommel made by Rhydderch	---	2017	A.V.B Norman, "The Rapier and Small Sword 1460-1820," Ken Trotman Publishing, 2019, Page 92,96,107 [11] Wallace collection A547 [12]
	Simple rapier with knucklebow (Norman type 21 hilt) Guard handle and pommel made by Rhydderch	Isabel de Carvalhal	2017	A.V.B Norman, "The Rapier and Small Sword 1460-1820," Ken Trotman Publishing, 2019, Page 84 [13] Wallace collection A544 [14]
	Robe sword for loaner gear. Design requested by marshal.(Norman type 4 hilt) Guard handle and pommel made by Rhydderch	---	2017	A.V.B Norman, "The Rapier and Small Sword 1460-1820," Ken Trotman Publishing, 2019, Page 67 [15]
	Left handed rapier (inspired by Norman type 52 hilt) Guard handle and pommel made by Rhydderch, Owner later added leather covering to the port	Magdalena Girolama Mancini	2015	Rapier of mixed origin 1590-1600 Wallace collection A571 [16]
	Companion ring dagger Guard and handle made by Rhydderch	Magdalena Girolama Mancini	2015	Parrying Dagger with Scabbard Dresden 1590-1600 Art Institute Chicago ref 1982.2159a-b [17]
	Crab Claw dagger Guard handle and pommel made by Rhydderch	Mora Ottavia Spadera	2014	Parrying dagger Italy, Wallace collection A807 [18]
	Two loaner daggers for Isles Guard handle and pommel made by Rhydderch	Isles	2014	Parrying dagger Art Institute Chicago ref 2014.1063.2 [19] and 1982.2132 [20]
	Two port and Cross rapier (Norman type 43 hilt) Guard and handle by Rhydderch Based off of the measurements given in Gérard Thibault's text "Academie de l'Espée"	Jacob de Groot	2014	A.V.B Norman, "The Rapier and Small Sword 1460-1820," Ken Trotman Publishing, 2019, Page 111 [21] See sword #6 in unknown German museum, Photo credit to Chris Fields of Sterling Armory used with permission [22]
	Espada Ropera (Norman type 16 hilt) with forge twisted risers, quillions, and guard Guard made by Rhydderch	Self-Owned Project	2013	A.V.B Norman, "The Rapier and Small Sword 1460-1820," Ken Trotman Publishing, 2019, Page 83 [23]