About the White Company



The White Company is a historical re-creation group focusing on the life and times of a foreign mercenary company during the years 1390-1410 in Northern Italy. We model our organization and martial arts after the original "White Company" which, under Sir John Hawkwood of England, fought in the area around Milan and Florence, Italy around the end of the Fourteenth Century.

Our group holds drills and practices in the martial arts of the times, and our members are encouraged to research the arts, customs, and social activities that would have been prevalent for such persons at the time we re-create. We hold feasts, perform demos of our skills at schools and churches, march in parades, and train those of our members who are interested in competing in Markland and SCA-style combats. Our camp followers are also encouraged to learn "defensive combat" as well as culinary and social skills.

Our "companions" represent persons from a variety of social and national backgrounds; including an English baron and his lieutenant, a Bavarian gypsy, a French noblewoman with her Catalan ward, and a Polish "prisoner-of war", as well as sons of blacksmiths, Scots men-at-arms and their women, etc. This wide variety and diversity allows us to add depth to our demos and other public events as we "play off" each other in accordance with the backgrounds of our chosen "personas". We encourage all of our members to research the backgrounds of their chosen "personas" and share what they learn of how these persons would have believed, worked, dressed, behaved, fought and played during our chosen time period, however, as in all things our company pursues, the amount of time spent in this activity is totally up to each member; for although we strive towards a level of authenticity in costume, behavior and activity, we accept that some of our members do not have the time, funds, or depth of interest to actively pursue historical research to the optimal level.

Our Company is open to all persons with an interest in the history, skills, and interests of a person who would have lived during the end of the Fourteenth Century. For more information on The White Company, please feel free to contact any of the persons listed in our
"Contact Information" section.