vonBurlsdorp - Another living history story

vonBurlsdorp - Today's borough of Buschdorf, on the northern border of the federal city of Bonn, was first documented in 1217. Even during Roman times, Buschdorf was used for farming purposes. In the medieval times Buschdorf got a castle - first a living and defense tower, later the building was extended to a castle complex, which was built to protect the trade route between Bonn and Aachen. Today Buschdorf is mentioned for the first time in a document of the archbishop Engelbert I of Cöln. This document deals with a tax payment to the monastery Schillingskapelle, in which a man named "Winricus von Burlsdorp" (Winrich) is listed as a witness (source: Landesarchiv NRW). Winricus von Burlsdorp is only mentioned in this one document and no other details of his life seem to be known, I only took the name for my presentation.

Learn more about my journey into the hobby...

I am Maximilian - How I joined the hobby?
I got my start in 2008/2009, with a random meeting at a church festival. Shortly after, I was in Cologne at the medieval Christmas market as a showman. After that I quickly found my way into a permanent group and after a few purchases I was able to do my first event in a tent for a whole weekend. As time went on, more clothes and the desire for the individual came up, so I started customising my clothes and changing things here and there.
This is also the keystone of my presentationhow my show is today, because with the individualisation of the clothes, the desire for an authentic show also grew, but how and above all where do you start?
This is also the keystone of my representation today, because with the individualisation of the clothes also grew the desire for an authentic representation, but how and above all where do you start? The mass of information overwhelmed me and instead of less, I suddenly had even more questions without really finding answers.
In autumn 2018, at an event of religious actors, I finally met those two people who could give me answers to my questions and take me by the hand. Just three months later I started with a pile of fabric bales: the first cuts and seams followed. I was on fire and then the time had finally come for my first authentic representation, a sariant of the Teutonic Order. Full of euphoria, I went to work on my former "noble representation", bought fabrics and started sewing. Bit by bit, I changed more of my items, from cutlery to tents, for authentic equivalents.
With the corona pandemic, the first authentic event was unfortunately a bit delayed, but in the summer of 2020, the time finally came and during a cosy get-together in the evening, the idea for my current Instagram account,"vonBurlsdorp", finally came about. Through this account, I met many new people and made new friends, which brought me to Sweden for the Battle of Visby in the summer of 2022.

What is Living History?

Presentation of life that is as realistic as possible in the material and style of clothing, equipment and objects of daily use at a defined time. - My personal definition.
In my representations I focus on different areas of life from the end of the 13th to the middle of the 14th century. At the moment I have a nobility representation, in which it is primarily about the representative external representation of the clothing and fighting. In the religious representation I am dealing not only with the history of the Teutonic Order, but also with liturgy and writing. The representation of a craftsman or a kitchen help / servant deals with crafts, including carving, sewing, netting and cooking.

Nobility

The status of the lower nobility or knightly nobility developed in the 13th century from the ministerials and was concerned with administrative, court and military services. In this, the new noble class did not show any significant differences to rich citizens. In clothing, for example, the lower nobility differed only in the higher quality or exclusivity of the fabrics and their colour for belts, jewellery or shoes.

Representation

Period: early 14th century
For me, the representation of the nobility has a representative character and is mainly used for special events. A part of the representation that is used more often is writing and the use of the sword. The training and the teaching of fighting with sword and buckler according to the manuscript I.33 are in the foreground.

Sariant of the Teutonic Order

… is a serving brother who is a full member of the Teutonic Order and can be recognised by his grey coat with a black cross. The field of activity includes military service, in which sariant can be flexibly deployed on horseback and as foot troops. Furthermore, sariant were also at the disposal of the knights of the order as riding servants, men-at-arms and/or squires. In addition to military service, sariant also assume lower official functions within the Order.

Representation

Period: 13th century
In my representation, I concentrate on the non-military aspect, supporting my performing brothers in their activities. In addition, I am involved in liturgy, prayers of the hours and calligraphy.

Servant

The tasks of the servant are similar to those of an unskilled worker who offered his services for a small wage. The field of application is complex and ranges from heavy labour on building sites or in the quarry to domestic services as a water carrier or kitchen help.

Representation

Period: middle 14th century
In my representation of the common people I deal with different topics: the two main aspects are cooking and cooking as well as carving. Since I like to try out new things, my portrayal is always supplemented by new crafts - such as tailoring and especially sewing. But embroidering cushions or alms bags, painting boxes and nesting are not neglected either.