For over a dozen re-enactors who camped at the Ukrainian Homestead in Lehighton over the Friday, May 11 – Sunday May 13 weekend, it was the late 1520s in Southern Germany.
The re-enactors have created tents, furniture, weaponry costumes and kitchens representative of both the period and of a portable design that could be easily transported with the army by ox cart.
They dress and act as landsknechts, sixteenth century German-Russian mercenary foot soldiers. They were typically armed with a 12-foot long spear called a pike, or an ax-like head at the end of a long shaft, called a halberd.
The re-enactment group, Kuriere des Todes Fahnlein – German for Death's Messengers Regiment, is led by its captain, Paul Zona of Lansford. “The time period for what we study runs from 1524 to 1529, from the beginning of the German Peasants’ Rebellion during the Reformation of the Church, up to the Italian Peninsula Wars ending with the sacking of Rome,” he explained.
His unit was founded 2-1/2 years ago. Zona, a long-time enthusiast about re-creations of the Middle Ages, gleaned the idea from a group on Maryland, the Das Teu Felsalpdrucken Fahnlein—the Devil’s Nightmare. Drew Jones of Baltimore represented that group.
“We are a landsknecht re-enactment group that started 15 years ago. These gentlemen saw us doing some of our living history demonstrations at an event in Maryland and took an interest. They asked for our assistance in helping to form their own living history unit.”
Asked why he started a group in Carbon County, Zona replied, “It’s tough to make the drive to Maryland every time these guys have something going.”
“We are trying to depict life on campaign during the 1520s,” explained Zona. “Camp life for a mercenary unit, as compared to other military units of the period, tended to be more self-sustaining. Therefore, you will see more families involved.” Around the camp there was a group of women chatting around a tabled brimming with food, and in the fields children were playing.
“The 1520s represented a significant change in the way warfare was fought in Europe,” said Jones. “It is the last high age of armored combat and mounted knights, as the age shifted to the use of gunpowder and mix use of troops on the battlefield.”
“For the first time you are having modern warfare: infantry, artillery, cavalry, and musketeers,” he continued. “It is the formula for the modern army.”
Jones walked passed replicas of canons made by their members. “They had canon made of brass, bronze and cast iron,” Jones noted. “Primitive canons made an appearance in the 13th century, and by the 16th century, full foundries, like in Augsburg, were mass producing cast artillery pieces.”
The re-enactors wore period costumes. “We dress in multiple layers,” explained Jones who was speaking with his coat of armor removed. “Being an officer, my outer garment is a wafenrock – a weapons coat. This is a wool skirt with a vest attached to it – like an apron, that protects my nicer clothing underneath from my steel armor.” His wafenrock is designed with a square front yoke with single and decoration trim.
Around his neck, Jones wore multiple linked chains. They represent gold chains. “Gold is gold, no matter where you went,” said Jones. “Being a mobile mercenary army, coinage changed from city to city, country to country. Soldiers paid in gold coins, melted them into chain links that they wore as jewelry.”
Both Jones and Zona wore a pair of pants. In those days, a man dressed placing a pant leg over each leg. The legs were not connected. The pants were similar in function to chaps in the American west. The top garment was worn like a dress, covering the privates. Later, when the top garment was shortened to shirt length, a codpiece was worn. For cavalrymen, the two pant legs were sewn together in the back, and sometimes in the front to create, what is known as a pair of pants.
“I love history,” said Zona. “I try to do encampments several times every summer. I like it a lot.”
And as nighttime settled around the Kuriere des Todes Fahnlein, the re-enactors gathered around the campfire to tell stories, sing songs and share food. Just like the camps when they grew up. Just like the camps over 500 years ago.
