| Estrella War | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1984 |
| Type | Historical reenactment society |
| Location | Arizona |
| Membership | about 4,500 |
| Website | Estrella War |
Estrella War is a week-long, annual event hosted by the Kingdom of Atenveldt, one of 19 Kingdoms (regional chapters) of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a not-for-profit educational organization that studies western European history by recreating the "best" pastimes and crafts of the Middle Ages. SCA participants devote their free time to tournaments, educational collegiums (classes), feasts, revels, the many forms of medieval warfare, and all sorts of arts and sciences dating from pre-17th century western Europe. Currently in its 26th year, the Estrella War brings together participants from SCA chapters around the world to conduct a medieval style two-sided war between SCA Kingdoms. The "Estrella War" takes its name from the Estrella Mountain Regional Park, southwest of Phoenix, where the event was originally held.
Each year, the Kingdom of Atenveldt asks one or more other SCA Kingdoms to participate as Principal Kingdoms at Estrella War. Some of those Kingdoms may ally with Atenveldt, and some may join together to oppose the Atenveldt forces. At the end of the week, the right for residents of a victorious Principal Kingdom to display victory pennants is awarded to the side that wins campaigns waged by heavy combat and rapier armies on the battlefield, to the side that wins scenarios in a target archery competition, and to the side with the most points in a competition of those skilled in Arts & Sciences of the Middle Ages. For Estrella War XXVI (Feb 2010), the Kingdom of Atenveldt and its allies will form one Allied Realm in the conflict, and the Kingdom of the Outlands and its allies will form the opposing Realm.
Estrella War offers participants a chance to spend a week camping and living with thousands of others as part of a medieval town with a robust Merchant’s Row. Held in February at Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence, Arizona, the event provides those who are interested in things Medieval with a diverse combination of the exciting activities offered by the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA).
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While Atenveldt is the primary host kingdom, the war is fought with the participation of one or more of the kingdoms of Caid, the Outlands, and/or Artemisia. There are also participants and fighting units in the war from other SCA kingdoms, who ally themselves to one or the other of the principal kingdoms.[1]