Battle of Wisby 2013

This year I’ve sort of forgot to bring my camera, yes I know, that’s really, really bad.
(Note to self, make a small bag for carrying camera and/ or mobile phone)
And then there was the thing with me actually participating in the battles as an archer 😀

Anyhow, I manage to take a few photos, so here goes nothing.


Started our trip to the fair island a bit early


We have arrived!


Some sewing with lovely Anna before the week started.


And some coffe and sewing on my project that never got finished


Beautiful rainbow over Carnis tent


Lovely Stina before MĂ€sterby


Teutonic order


Olof and Rasmus preparing for battle in their own special way


Gutnish archers


Jörgen preparing for battle


Martin preparing for battle


More archers


Stina preparing for battle


note our war squirrel


Krigskotte


Me in a really big helmet


Gutnish archers


Rickard, or as he wrote on facebook, the Return of the flesh eating flower hippies!

Well unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and so did this week.
Wisby, BoW, lovely friends new and old, I miss you already.

There is more photos from the event in 2011 Battle of Wisby – outside the city walls and Battle of Wisby – MĂ€sterby.

The Facebook group for Battle of Wisby you can find here.
For more information, Battle of Wisby

In search of the past, part 1

After Battle of Wisby  we spent some days roaming the countryside of Gotland, looking at churches from the 11-12th century, exploring the remnants of farmhouses from both prehistoric  as well as medieval times, following historic trails and seeing breathtaking landscape.

Grogarnsberget
On this mountain there is a hill fort, which is the second largest one on Gotland. It is believed it was built at the later part of the Iron Age
Grogarnsberget

Grogarnsberget

Grogarnsberget

Grogarnsberget

Grogarnsberget

Grogarnsberget

But when I saw this in a distant, it didn’t quite add up to be from the Iron Age 😉
Grogarnsberget

Grogarnsberget

It turned out to be something completely different, but then again it’s still history, right…

Battle of Wisby – outside the city walls

It’s been written in some annals that more than 1800 peasants died outside the ring wall tying to fight of the Danish king and his army.
To honour all the brave souls that lost their life here at this very spot and in an attempt to illustrate how the battle could have look like, reenactors from all of Europe have gathered this year to show their interpretation of this battle.

For more info of the event, Battle of Wisby
Battle_of_Wisby_1361_1

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_2

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_3

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_4

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_5

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_6

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_7

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_8

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_9

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_10

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_11

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_12

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_13

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_14

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_15

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_16

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_17

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_18

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_19

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_20

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_21

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_22

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_23

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_24

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_25

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_27

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_29

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_30

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_31

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_32

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_33

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_34

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_35

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_36

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_37

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_38

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_39

Battle_of_Wisby_1361_40

Battle of Wisby – MĂ€sterby

In the year of our lord 1361 the Danish king Valdemar Atterdag, with his army consisting of knights and professional soldiers invaded Gotland and the brave peasants of the island tried to resist but in the end they failed, resulting in thousands of lives lost.

The project Battle of Wisby aims to honour all those who lost their life by reenacting the battles, one at MĂ€sterby and the other that took place outside the city wall all those years ago.

MĂ€sterby1

MĂ€sterby4

MĂ€sterby6

MĂ€sterby7

MĂ€sterby9

MĂ€sterby11

MĂ€sterby14

MĂ€sterby16

MĂ€sterby18

MĂ€sterby21

MĂ€sterby22

MĂ€sterby23

MĂ€sterby27

MĂ€sterby28

For more information about this event:
The battle of MĂ€sterby

Wisby

Wisby

I’ve been visiting this beautiful city for years now, but I still remember the first time.

First day, arrived late from the mainland, the sun was setting, down by the promenade, in the shadow of the old ring wall, met a bunch of new friends, girls were dancing on the beach, someone playing an instrument in the far distant, and just a hint of late summer hanging in the air. It was then I realised I was suppose to meet up a friend at KapitelhusgÄrden and I had no idea how to get there in the dark. But meet a nice knight who escorted me trough all those narrow and winding medieval streets, that seemed at the time, always end up in the opposite direction to were you was supposed to go. It was one of those moments that always will stay with you. And from Wisby there are pleny of moments and fond memories like this.

I’ve always loved old places, even as a child I’d love to see old churches and walk around the cemetery reading on tombstone (and yes, it started that early in life : )
Wisby is just one of those places were you can feel, almost touch the past. Maybe that is why I’m returning year after year, the feeling of being so close to a different time. And of course when you wearing historical clothing it is almost like you were there, almost. In the end isn’t that what we all (reenactors and history nerds) strive for, the feeling of being there and then.

Or maybe it’s just all about having fun, you decide…

Best of friends

And so a new adventure starts

It was a beautiful day in the beginning of august that we bright and early started our journey taking us from beautiful Gothenburg and the year 2011 all the way back to the year 1361 and to the island of the roses.

After a long trip over land and over the sea, we finally realised that we have arrived.
Blogg

No rest for the wicked, time to set up camp.
Blogg2

Battle_of_Wisby4

Blogg1

It was a bit windy
Battle_of_Wisby10

Oh, humm, well…
Battle_of_Wisby9

Not to bad in the end 🙂
Battle_of_Wisby17

Battle_of_Wisby18

Battle_of_Wisby19

Battle_of_Wisby22

Battle_of_Wisby23

Battle_of_Wisby24

Battle_of_Wisby25

Battle_of_Wisby27

Battle_of_Wisby26