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The Red Kaganate Association's Goals, Rules, and Procedures
This text is presented while in the process of development in order to facilitate comment and revision.
Comment is invited by posting in the public Forum or by E-mail to kaganate@yahoo.com.
This Association does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
The current paragraph is to be considered implicit in all of the following "Goal, rule, and procedure" statements.
Must, Shall, Does, Will -- These words imply that the behavior referenced is mandatory.
Must Not, Shall Not, Does Not, Will Not -- These words imply that the behavior referenced is forbidden.
Should -- This word implies that the referenced behaviour is not mandatory but is recomended in order to advance the goals of the organisation.
Should Not -- This word implies that the referenced behavior is not forbidden but is advised against in order to advance the goals of the organisation.
A Resource for East European, Central and West Asian History -- The Red Kaganate Web Site is intended as a Resource for all individuals interested in East European, Central and West Asian Medieval and Ancient History. While focusing on the practical reenactment of the period of the Red Kaganate, the Web site is not to be limited this period or to practical reenactment.
A Focused Sub-Group within other Reenactment Clubs -- The Red Kaganate Association functions as a sub-group within those Reenactment clubs that permit this (as, for example, a Household in the SCA). Those participating in events held by other reenactment clubs, may identify as subjects of the Red Kaganate if they are united in the shared interests espoused by "The Red Kaganate" and are following the rules and goals of "The Red Kaganate" - as further illucidated below.
An Independent Reenactment Club -- The Red Kaganate Association intends to hold its own events, according to its own rules and regulations - as further illucidated below.
The time period covered by The Red Kaganate is from 560 CE (the aproximate date of the begining of the Great Turk Kaganate) to 1530 CE (the death of Babur - the last Timurid and first Moghul ruler).
It has proven a daunting task to define a single set of geographic boundaries that would capture the purposes of this Association without being readable in ways to undercut that purpose. The aproximate Geographic Scope follows, and is to be read together with the Personna regulations that appear below.
The core areas of the Kaganate correspond aproximately to the holdings of the Golden Horde, the Siberian Kaganate, the core of the Timurid Empire, as well as the holdings of the Ottoman Turks (excluding Byzantium). It is bounded in the East by the Altai mountains, and in the West, generally, by the Carpathian mountains - but extending into Hungary (as qualified at Personna below). Its outer edges include part of India, Russia, and the more North-Easterly part of the Ilkhanid kingdom (stopping short of the "Middle Eastern" Arabicised world).
Personnas taken by Red Kaganate members must fit into the Scope and Purpose of The Red Kaganate as established by these rules as a whole -- which is the reenactment of Turko-Mongol culture.
It is impossible to outline all of the personnas apropriate and inapropriate for recreation, but it is hoped that the herein guidelines will be found satisfactory and not abused.
While it is acknowledged that the Turko-Mongol world especially was extremely cosmopolitan, likely incorporating individuals from most anywhere, it has been found that certain personnas must be forbidden as inapropriate else their disproportionate presence will destroy the focus of the recreation.
The temporal Scope delineated above is implied in all below examples.
Core personnas are members of the various Turkic cultures (for example the Turks, the Khazars, the earlier Magyars, the earlier Bulgars, the Volga Bulgars, the Crimean Tatars, Kipchaks, Golden Horde Turko-Mongols, Timurid Turko-Mongols, Sabirs ... etc.)
Wholly inappropriate (forbidden) personnas -- Western Europeans (ie: French, German, Italian), Japanese, Chinese, African, Middle Eastern, American. An explicit exception to this rule are those "foreigners" who were an important historical part of core scope societies -- like, for example, the Chinese craftsmen present and instrumental in Golden Horde sieges of East European cities, and the Italian trading colonies within the Golden Horde. These exceptional personae are permitted, but limitations on use of the same may be implemented if found necessary for the preservation of the stated goals of this association.
A difficulty arises with groups that started as Turkic cultures but slowly became Westernised. The most famous example being the Magyars, whose culture, after they settled in Hungary, became more and more influenced by the Germanic and less and less the Turkish. The rule of thumb therefore for whether a personna is acceptible is whether the culture, clothing, armour, and other artifacts proper for this personna are closer to those of the core Turkic groups or Western European groups - like the Germans or Italians (or, for that matter, the Chinese, Africans, or Middle Eastern tribes).
Permissible non-Turkic personnas -- Certain groups were so substantially influenced by Turkic culture, and were so much a part of Turko-Mongol history that, while not properly Turkic, they must form a part of Turkic reenactment. These include the Russians (originally created as a merging of Slavic, Scandinavian, and Turkic tribes), Persia, the tribes of the Caucas, as well as some part of India. Again, the rule of thumb where one is not certain is to determine whether the personna's "material culture" matches or does not match Turkic style.
Outlandish Travelers are forbidden -- While it is possible that some individual in the middle ages was born and raised in the Highlands of Scottland, became a Samurai in Japan, and then came to live at the court of the Khan of the Golden Horde, it is so highly unlikely that this type of personna detracts from the "Medieval" (and more specifically "Turkic") atmosphere of the event. On the other hand, Scandinavians in a Turkic environment are quite likely -- but they are properly classed with the Russians.
Events or Reenactment Events are gatherings for the purpose of evoking the period of the organisation through costuming, games, and role playing. Reenactment events may be demonstrations or private events.
All those attending a private event must effect a personna (as more fully desribed below). A demonstration is an event presented by organisation members for the public at large. In effect, there is an audience and participants. All demonstration participants must effect a personna.
Meetings are gatherings for the purpose of discussion of technical and organisational issues. Where an individual is engaged in a non reenactment activity - as for example at a business meeting - the individual must not effect a personna.
A Red Kaganate reenactment event, or a Red Kaganate area at the event of another group must be set up so as to provide a Period area and a Wrap Up area (a "period light" area may also be provided).
Within the Period Area participants must be dressed in period garments and accessories (more on this below), artifacts present must provide a period atmosphere (there must not be any "obviously" modern artifacts - like coolers, soft-drink bottles, etc.), and participants must as much as possible strive to act "in personna".
The Wrap Up Area must be provided where participants may discuss non-personna issues, and where non-period objects are kept.
A Period Light Area may include modern tents and allow out-of personna conversation, while still maintaining an event atmosphere in that participants must be dressed in period garments and accessories and the smaller modern objects (like coolers, soft-drink bottles, etc.) are still kept out of sight.
A Personna is a fictional character that is adopted by the participant of a reenactment event. In the Red Kaganate, as in most reenactment groups, a given individual adapts a stable personna, which he uses in all reenactment situations.
The cheapest and easiest way of evoking the period one wants is through careful attention to keeping "in personna". At the same time, the easiest way to ruin the "period mood" is to break personna in an obvious way.
It is strongly recommended that participants stay "in personna" or "in character" while within the confines of any reenactment event. Some easy things to do is to avoid obvious modern topics of conversation (like cars, computers, politics, and the stock market) as well as "third person" discussions of historical events or events in the life of the participant's personna -- address the whole situation in character.
Participants and objects within event space (except the "wrap up area") must all further the goal of creating a period apearance. All clothing, armour, personal accessories, and any other objects must therefore minimally appear as their equivalents within the Scope of the Red Kaganate reenactment. This is further illucidated below.
To use a glaring example --
The reenactor will never be obligated to show that his underware is reenactment scope appropriate. By the same token, if the underware is not of a scope viable design, it is the reenactor's obligation that this underware is never seen within event space.
This rule applies to all objects that are not of a scope viable design.
Clothing must appear as clothing that would have been worn by the personna of the reenactor. While reasonable substitutes and construction short cuts are allowed, nothing may be worn that looks to be overtly outside the Scope of the Red Kaganate reenactment.
Glaringly modern personal objects that are perceived as necessary (such as watches, beepers, or cellular phones) are generally quite easily hidden away in a pouch. They are therefore strictly subject to the "Don't ask - Don't tell" rule.
It is recognised that glasses, or a wheel chair, or other similar instrumentalities, while they generally were not available during the scope of reenactment, are indispensible to persons using them. Users of such instrumentalities should nevertheless make every effort to minimise the glaring modernity of the instrumentality.
It is recognised that events will often be held in spaces where modern furnishings are impossible to avoid (like school Gyms or Cafeterias). All possible efforts must however be taken to disguise the modern environment.
Similarly, modern issues of health or hygene, sometimes modern financial needs, or the simple lack of sufficient historical evidence may at times make it necessary to utilise non-scope appropriate objects as part of an event's furnishings (the food cooler is the most obvious example of such perceived modern necessities). Where it is impossible to keep the "modern objects" outside the event space, as per the "Don't ask - Don't tell" rule, these modern objects must be covered (the, cooler, for example, can easily be completely covered with cloths and light rugs).
Martial Activities, like Combat Games, Archery Contests, and Equestrian Events are an integral part of the Historical Reenactment. Often, the Martial Activity is the central event around which the rest of the event is aranged. For some individuals the Martial Activity is the only reason for the event. It is certainly often the most spectacular and audience drawing part of the event.
Therefore, personna and apearance rules must not be relaxed when it comes to Martial Activities.
Armour must appear as armour that would have existed within the culture of the personna of the reenactor.
Where personna culture apropriate historical armour is found insufficient for the safety needs of the reenactor, the solution is to be found by asking -- "what would a person from said culture have done if faced with the particular safety requirements now faced?"
Aluminum and Plastic are expressly recognised as glaringly modern materials and will not be utilised in the construction of armour. This rule expressly excludes the "Sports Cup" and equivalent female protection -- but see the "Don't ask - Don't tell" provision.
Unless required by the host reenactment club, Duct Tape, or any similar object may not be used (except as qualified below).
In the interests of safety, while members are strongly encouraged to explore period scope viable padding materials, the use of foam is addressed by the "Don't ask - Don't tell" provision. However, the provision is to be read strictly. The modern material may not be seen within event space whether on the reenactor or lying on the ground in any position.
Where Rattan combat battons are used at an event hosted by another club -- Where the practice of this club is to wrap the batton in duct tape or other tape - Kaganate members are permitted to follow this practice. However, it is more apropriate, and Kaganate members should, where allowed by the host reenactment club, either substitute or cover any necessary tape or foam with a scope viable material (ie: leather).
At Red Kaganate events scope viable material shall be used -- either instead of, or covering the tape and foam -- as apropriate.
Due to special safety concerns, where Epees and related weapons are used, the use of commercial rubber tips and electrical tape to highlight these is excepted from restrictions on visible modern materials.
Bows and Archery Equipment must appear as equipment that would have existed within the Scope of the Red Kaganate. Bows that use modern scopes, wheels, and similar devices are prohibited. Recognising the expense of fully accurate archery equipment, fiberglass bows are permitted, but they must not be glaringly modern (usually a matter of color and fashion).
This separate document addresses issues of safety and techicalities necessary to conducting Martial Activities. It includes such specifics as varieties of contests, types of weapons to be used in Combat Games, safety requirements for armour, targeting and blow calibration, and further related information.
The issues discussed therein will not effect participation in Martial Activities hosted by other organisations, but are specific to games and practices conducted by The Red Kaganate as an independant group.
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Contact us at normlaw@yahoo.com Where Author is specified, Copyright is retained by Author with express permission for use by "The Red Kaganate" organisation. Where Author is unspecified, Copyright is retained by Norman J. Finkelshteyn. |