Meet the Company
The Company of the Black Spear does not portray a specific historical retinue or individual. Instead, we present the roles, occupations, and personalities that would have been found within an English military retinue of the early 15th century. Our impressions are presented in third person, allowing members to portray historically appropriate roles and experiences without claiming to represent a specific historical person. This approach also gives the Company the flexibility to adjust our impressions, camp themes, and presentations to fit different events and periods within our represented timeline. A major source for this, is the Soldier Rolls of the Agincourt Campaign, which provide an extensive record of the men who served in Henry V's army. These records serve as a foundation for developing our roles and ensuring that our presentations remain grounded in the people and experiences of the period.
The Gentry
Aiden serves as our Knight. He represents a young and eager Man-at-Arms looking to improve his family's status as part of the Landed Gentry. He is the primary retainer of all the Soldiers within the retinue.
Ian recreates an Esquire in service as a Man-at-Arms to the Company. Esquires are non-dubbed or not Knighted. Some of Esquires actually avoided being knighted, preventing further required military service.
Nathan serves a Man-at Arms for Aiden. Recreating a foreigner in service to an English employer, his harness shows off other styles of medieval armor from central Europe.
Fighting Men
Todd serves as the Company Serjeant. His impression is of a professional soldier within the Knightly Houshold.
Ryan is currently a jack of a many trades. When he isn't armored up as an Armati, he also serves as an Archer. He is currently having a harness commissioned.
Matt joins the retinue as an Armati. serving as a household Soldier for the Knightly lord, you will see him armed with his Bill.
Sam is not only an Armati, but recreates a wealthy guildsman in the Mail makers guild of England. In the rolls of 1415, many mail smiths traveled with Henry V to France.
Archers
Patrick serves as a Vintenar Archer, or leader of 20 men. He is the senior amongst the Archers of the Company.
Matt recreates a skilled tradesman, in this case a woodworker, taking up arms as an Archer to possibly advance his family's fortunes. You can see his carpentry skills throughout the camp.
Connor is the son of the Company Serjeant. Taking up military service to support his father in the field.
Camp Followers
Liz (in Blue) is the wife of Patrick the Archer. She assists with the various camp chores as well as to attending to her children.
Kathryn (Green) is the wife of Ryan. New to living history, she gave it a go to support her husband and now is a solid member of the Company.
Juliana is our newest member along with her Husband Matt (Archer Matt). She serves as the Household cook, so fortunately for her, she travels with the Knightly lord to prepare food for the retinue. She is also an accomplished seamstress.
Laine is the daughter of the Company Serjeant. She has been tasked to serve under Juliana to learn the skills of the manor cook.
