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BBC NEWS, UK, Saturday, July 26, 2003
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KIEV, Ukraine........The French fortress of Orleans is standing firm in
the face of an English onslaught. But the defenders are on their last legs
and
desperately need a hero.
Fires in the English camp are burning all night, as foreign mercenaries
mingle with monks and noble damsels in the queue for freshly baked pancakes,
one gold coin a piece.
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Over 700 people took part in the re-enactment of the Siege of
Orleans
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The Hundred Years War is raging on - not far from the Ukrainian capital
Kiev.
Ukrainian television showed some of over 700 weekend warriors from Ukraine,
Russia, Hungary and Romania taking part earlier this month in a week-long
re-enactment of a medieval battle between England and France.
Ukraine itself has had its fair share of battles in its long history. But
the epic Hundred Years War appears to hold particular sway over people's
imagination even on the other side of the continent.
"It took us all two days to build the fortress," chain mail-clad Anton
Tetzhenov, known here as Jean Dunois, Count of Orleans, told Ukrainian TV.
"We didn't sleep at night, putting up the fortifications and digging the
moat. I know the guys would fight for Orleans to the last."
It is not just hack-and-slash that attracts the participants, the organisers
say. A lot of historical research went into the six-month preparation of the
campaign.
Each would-be knight, priest or noble damsel had to pass a history test and
demonstrate a detailed knowledge of their hero's biography.
The campaign starts in true historical settings, but whether the English
will seize Orleans or be banished from the regions of France they ruled in
the 13th Century depends on each team's skills.
Weapons and armour were recreated with meticulous attention to detail,
mostly by the participants themselves. A decent set of equipment costs
between $70 and $100, an average monthly wage in Ukraine.
But good armour is essential for a swordsman if he wants to survive his very
first fight, says Stanislav Bulatnikov, who had the sense to become Scottish
bowman Warwick Stewart instead.
Olena Yasynska, who became Italian mercenary Lia Conori for the week,
says many girls like her are taking part in the war game.
"But most of them want to be princesses or damsels in distress. Few become
lady-warriors like me. But we do our job, I think."
Safety first
The organisers of the campaign, which evolved from the Soviet war game
Zarnitsa, say they want it to be recognised as a proper sport some day.
They say that despite the violent plot, the game is actually quite safe,
provided that the equipment is kept in good working order.
And if sanitary conditions are not up to scratch, the game masters can
declare a whole medieval town in the state of an epidemic.
That would mean game over for its hapless residents. And the loss of Orleans
to the English.
HUNDRED YEARS WAR
Timespan: A series of wars between England and France in 1337-1453
Causes: Trade and territory disputes; English kings' claim to French throne
Course: The French lost much of the country before a turnaround in 1429,
partly triggered by young visionary Joan of Arc
Results: France emerged as a single nation; England lost most of its
continental territories and started relying more on naval power
BBC NEWS, UK, Saturday, July 26, 2003
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3093277.stm
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