Kingdom of Hightower

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Imperial Coat of Arms of Ultima Thule with banner of oath "Honour Shall Guide Us"

1 Kingdom of Hightower
2 Society
3 Cantons, Shires, Principalities
4 Education
5 Activities
- 5.1 Guilds and Colleges
6 History
7 External Links
8 See Also

[edit] Kingdom of Hightower

This medieval recreation society portrays the period in history between 800-1600 AD, and follows the code of chivalry, honour and respect.

Hightower's home office is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, established in 2001, originally as Empire Ironthorn Canada (EIC), affiliated with Empire Ironthorn based out of Tennessee. In February 2003, EIC incorporated as non-for-profit, under the Canada Corporations Act, under the name of Lands of Ultima Thule Education Society (LUTES).

The Kingdom of Hightower and the Lutes Empire are living history societies and not associated with Live Action Role Playing (LARP) or fantasy games.

Their objective is education as well as hobby, with the commitment to portray the times specified, to learn from one another and to teach others certain aspects of the medieval-renaissance way of life throughout the known world, all countries, all cultures, not just European.

Unlike other living history and role playing societies, the Kingdom of Hightower welcomes allies from other medieval societies to join together in friendship and share their experiences and knowledge. The LUTES Medieval Empire has a forum in the Yahoo! Groups for this purpose. Members from other organisations with a wide range of historical interests such as Roman, Ancient Greece, Dark Ages, Viking, Samurai, and even LARP hobbyists can join in meaningful discussions on various topics.

[edit] Society

Hightower is based on feudalism with kingdoms and shires throughout the land, with Monarchy duly elected by the populace to serve a term from 1-2 years and can be re-elected to serve again if the populace is pleased with their leadership. Any person with the leadership qualities and skills to have the confidence to fill this office can act as monarch. This can be a full time job for anyone serious minded enough to do it.

CHAPTERS are maintained on a yearly contract and fall under the rules of the current society by-laws, and under the federal and local laws governing countries of which the chapter exists, as well as under Industry Canada for non-profit corporations. A chapter holder or any of its members may sit on the Board of Directors (BOD). Members are welcome world wide and do not need to take out a chapter unless they wish to create a principality with its own officers and nobility. Titles, awards and positions of nobility including knighthood are based on hard work and dedication to the society and its members. Kingdom status chapters are based on the number of members in a particular region and have filled their offices with active members.

[edit] Cantons, Shires, Principalities

Hightower: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Port Alexandros: Toronto West

Port of Varna: Toronto East

Adrianopol: Ottawa

Bay of the Blessed Martyrs: Midland, Ontario

Bjorns Peaks: British Columbia

Rattray Head: Nova Scotia

Isle of Mystes: Newfoundland

Sterlingshire: New York City

Heliopolis and The Queen's Quays: Florida

Land of a Thousand Lakes: Winter Haven, Tampa, Orlando, Florida

Dh'abainn: Kansas

Cathedral of Saint Anastasia of Sirmium: Olathe, Kansas

Chelona Potamos: Pennsylvania

[edit] Education

Hightower and it's holdings are about education and although new and relatively small, welcome serious minded individuals to come and play, learn and teach through real life meetings and/or online discussions.

Part of that educational aspect can involve going into schools to present a demonstration (demo) to young audiences with a hands-on tournament, using "safe swords", teaching how knights trained and how to play in fair combat. Hightower does not use "live steel" unless used in a carefully choreographed demonstration between properly trained fighters. These kinds of swords would be blunted. Other demos could take the form of art based activities including heraldry, interactive theatrical or musical performances, all of which compliment the Ontario Ministry of Education Grade 4 Curriculum [1] guidelines on Medieval Studies [2] and is a pleasure for educators and students alike.

[edit] Activities

Taking part in certain ways of medieval life can mean learning about cooking, brewing & winemaking, archery, performing and bardic arts, sewing, weaving, fencing, sword fighting, archery, theology, and of course the diverse arts and sciences of the Middle Ages.

The Age of Discovery or Exploration has attracted many history enthusiasts with wanting to learn more about seamanship, privateers and conquests in the New World. By taking part in the Royal Navy, learning the ropes and the code of the sea, discovering the past and learning about the lives of some of the greatest explorers in this time period, brings back to the group and young audiences more interesting information than ever imagined.

[edit] Guilds and Colleges

Masters, apprentices and scholars in various skills may include:

GUILD FOR THE PERFORMING & BARDIC ARTS:

..... Theatre

..... Music

..... Dance, Renaissance Dance

..... Folk dance, Middle East Dance or Belly Dance

..... Storytelling

COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY

COLLEGE OF HERALDRY

ROYAL NAVAL COMMAND/FLEET

CULINARY GUILD

..... Cooks

..... Bakers

BREWERS and VINTORS

HANDCRAFTERS GUILD

SEWING and NEEDLECRAFT

GAMING GUILD

As the group grows and develops, members with expertise may wish to start a guild of their own or become master over any of the above.

Aside from taking part in the guilds and colleges, Hightower members go into schools, community events and provide demos in their respective abilities, as well provide support and atmosphere to local fairs and festivals. Being active in the community in any way possible is part of the spirit that makes the medieval renaissance age come alive.

Members may take part in as much or as little of the activities in Hightower, as their time and life allows them. They may take part fully, in garb (dress costume) or not. They may wish to attend meetings and events solely for social purposes and learning more of the life and times without having to commit to full dress attire. The purpose is to participate within one's comfort zone. For the purpose of educational demonstrations (demos) and planned events, garb is required for active members to take part in and create a medieval atmosphere.

[edit] History

The Kingdom of Hightower is an outgrowth of the former Empire of Ironthorn, which in turn was previously associated with an alliance known as the United Empires of the Middle Ages (UEMA). Launched circa 1997, the four original members were: the Kingdom of Whispering Tor, the Kingdom of Wolf Haven, the Empire of Ironthorn, and the Kingdom of Forest Haven. For much of its early history, the membership of UEMA coexisted harmoniously with one another; however, it was not until the founding of the small and otherwise humbled Barony of Sterlingshire, based in New York City, that the UEMA's members began to truly come together.

Sterlingshire's original representative, one Derrick Huizinguin, first pledged his loyalty to Wolf Haven, and for several years was content to remain loyal to Wolf Haven's then-ruling Monarchy, King Fallon and Queen Gabrielle Wolfwalker. However, by early 2000, the Monarchy of Whispering Tor, King Luther and Queen Katrin Josephus, were not content to have Derrick's tenure as Historian of the Realm extended; fearing potential banishment, Huizinguin escaped into the Empire of Ironthorn, and accordingly was granted the protection of that land's rulers, King Alphonse and Queen Rhiannon. Shortly afterward, Huizinguin devoted the next several years to chronicle the history of the union of Alphonse and Rhiannon.

The Imperial CoA of Ironthorn

Inevitably, Ironthorn extended its banners into that area of the world Mundanely known as Toronto, Ontario, Canada --- where a bold warrior Princess, Anastasia the Innocent, took it upon herself to oversee the Canadian branches of Ironthorn. Hightower was given its name because of the majestic towers that reach upward across the beautiful skyline of this magnificent city, the greatest of these skyscrapers being that of the CN Tower. She gave the name, Ultima Thule, to the vast Northlands of the Empire. At the same time, the Barony of Sterlingshire passed from the reign of Derrick Huizinguin to that of a retired Viking warlord, Olen of the House of Forkbeard, who now chronicles the day-to-day operations of the present Realm as its Historian.

When Alphonse and Rhiannon amicably abdicated their Thrones, Anastasia secured the surviving remnants, and ultimately became an Imperial Queen. Renaming her lands and the surrounding territories as the Empire of Ultima Thule, she was granted the name of LUTES (Lands of Ultima Thule Educational Society) for mediaeval re-enactment by Industry Canada for Non-profit Corporations. Her Majesty continues to reign over Hightower's lands to this day, watching over her people with kindness and wisdom; and taking on every Royal Challenge that comes her way.

Thus, the lands of the Kingdom of Hightower endure; and it is to be hoped that the future will present events and situations that will prove both positive and beneficial for all the Kingdom's subjects.