Despite the fact that the relationship between Britain and Russia is at its lowest since the Cold War, the Russians just can't get enough of England's colourful and bloody history. They like nothing better than to re-enact bloody battles from English wars such as the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) and the English Civil War (1642-1651)....
Russians can't get enough English history
By Adrian Blomfield in Ivanovka
04/06/2007
The Telegraph
The Yorkist army was being cut to pieces. Vladimir had just been dispatched with a vicious blow from a fearsome pike. Moments later, armour-clad Andrei fell to the ground with a metallic clunk.
Only Dmitry, his sword raised heroically over his head, seemed to be withstanding the onslaught, fending off two Lancastrian opponents with some deft thrusting and parrying.
The “romantic” appeal of English history has helped to attract more than 10,000 young Russians who strive to ensure complete authenticity. Here they are re-enacting the Battle of Bosworth Field, part of the Wars of the Roses
It took a girl to stop the carnage. Just as Dmitry seemed about to succumb, Yelena's voice carried over the din: It was time for afternoon tea.
A ceasefire was declared, the dead came back to life and everyone trooped back to the camp for refreshments. Anglo-Russian relations are in worse shape than at any time since the Cold War.
State media urges Russians to be vigilant, warning that British spies stalk the land, plotting to steal Russia's military secrets, recruiting agents and funding traitors in the liberal opposition.
But, just as in Soviet times when Winnie the Pooh, Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes were embraced as English icons, the official suspicion has failed to dent the anglophile streak present in many Russians.
This time, however, the craze is being driven by Russian youngsters in love with English history. On summer weekends across the country, they swap their jeans for Regency breeches, their belts for Tudor codpieces and their shirts for medieval breastplates depending on the era that they have chosen to embrace.
It is serious stuff. At a recent meeting of the Hastings Club, which despite its name seeks to recreate the Wars of the Roses, not a sign of modernity was in evidence.
Their camp in the forest near the village of Ivanovka, 40 miles north of Moscow, prided itself on its authenticity. Followers drank mead from enormous clay mugs, the women prepared food according to period recipes and they all slept in cloth tents they had stitched together themselves.
The attraction for many adherents, explained Yelena Nosova, the secretary of the Alliance of Living History's medieval chapter, is partly the exoticism of Britain and western Europe's past.
"Of course we appreciate our own history but this is so much more romantic," she said.
"We girls aren't allowed to join in the fighting - women in the Middle Ages didn't think much about emancipation. But for me personally, I love the challenge of preparing exotic meals with primitive recipes."
The battle of Bosworth Field between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists, during the Wars of the Roses, 1485
Denied the right to study foreign history in Soviet times, the subject is still novel for many Russians - which is perhaps another reason why so-called "reconstructivist" clubs are attracting such a following.
Due in part to the power of the internet, the number of history role-players has grown from roughly 300 in 2000 to more than 10,000 today.
It is unclear what the Kremlin makes of the phenomenon, although some analysts believe suspicion is mounting.
Substantial resources have been dedicated to the creation of pro-Kremlin youth movements charged with countering the spread of western-style democracy.
In any autocratic regime, history can become a weapon of resistance, especially if it allows foreign notions to seep into the consciousness of the young.
Some of the Hastings Club youngsters have already exposed themselves to notions that pro-Kremlin commentators would find both dangerous and "unpatriotic" - a word that is increasingly becoming common in official parlance.
"The English parliamentary system that developed after the English Civil War made English society what it is now - a society of freedom and a society of democracy that is admired around the world," said Dmitry Loktyev, 25, the club's president.
Like other youth movements, it is possible the Kremlin could try to suborn the reconstructivists.
But with most of the history buffs avowedly liberal, resistance can be expected.
"We are completely apolitical," said Miss Nosova. "We totally disapprove of these political youth movements and the negative approach they have adopted."
The Hastings Club hopes to be allowed to get on with its own thing and the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Pictures: Russians re-enact the Battle of Bosworth Field, part of the War of the Roses:
Anglo-Russian relations may be in worse shape than at any time since the Cold War, but that has failed to dent the enthusiasm of thousands of young Russians who spend their weekends recreating British historical battles
------------
On summer weekends across the country, Russian youths swap their jeans for Regency breeches, their belts for Tudor codpieces and their shirts for medieval breastplates depending on the era they have chosen to embrace
------------
The number of history role players has grown from roughly 300 in 2000 to more than 10,000 today - a figure that does not take into account a far greater number of part timers
-----------
Interest is driven by the relative novelty of the subject - the study of foreign history was forbidden in Soviet times
-----------
These photos were taken from a recent meeting of the Hastings Club, which recreates major battles from the Wars of the Roses
-----------
Their camp in the forest near the village of Ivanovka, 40 miles north of Moscow, prided itself on its authenticity.
Followers drank mead from enormous clay mugs, the women prepared food according to period recipes and they all slept in cloth tents they had stitched together themselves
------------
Their fantasy games may seem harmless, but some analysts believe Kremlin suspicion is mounting
------------
The administration has other ideas of how youngsters should be spending their time.
Substantial resources have been dedicated to the creation of pro-Kremlin youth movements charged with countering the spread of western-style democracy
-------------
But the Hastings Club is resolutely apolitical and hopes to be allowed to get on with its own thing...
-----------
... namely the violent...
----------
... but enjoyable recreation of Yorkist-Lancastrian clashes
telegraph.co.uk
Russians can't get enough English history
By Adrian Blomfield in Ivanovka
04/06/2007
The Telegraph
The Yorkist army was being cut to pieces. Vladimir had just been dispatched with a vicious blow from a fearsome pike. Moments later, armour-clad Andrei fell to the ground with a metallic clunk.
Only Dmitry, his sword raised heroically over his head, seemed to be withstanding the onslaught, fending off two Lancastrian opponents with some deft thrusting and parrying.
The “romantic” appeal of English history has helped to attract more than 10,000 young Russians who strive to ensure complete authenticity. Here they are re-enacting the Battle of Bosworth Field, part of the Wars of the Roses
It took a girl to stop the carnage. Just as Dmitry seemed about to succumb, Yelena's voice carried over the din: It was time for afternoon tea.
A ceasefire was declared, the dead came back to life and everyone trooped back to the camp for refreshments. Anglo-Russian relations are in worse shape than at any time since the Cold War.
State media urges Russians to be vigilant, warning that British spies stalk the land, plotting to steal Russia's military secrets, recruiting agents and funding traitors in the liberal opposition.
But, just as in Soviet times when Winnie the Pooh, Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes were embraced as English icons, the official suspicion has failed to dent the anglophile streak present in many Russians.
This time, however, the craze is being driven by Russian youngsters in love with English history. On summer weekends across the country, they swap their jeans for Regency breeches, their belts for Tudor codpieces and their shirts for medieval breastplates depending on the era that they have chosen to embrace.
It is serious stuff. At a recent meeting of the Hastings Club, which despite its name seeks to recreate the Wars of the Roses, not a sign of modernity was in evidence.
Their camp in the forest near the village of Ivanovka, 40 miles north of Moscow, prided itself on its authenticity. Followers drank mead from enormous clay mugs, the women prepared food according to period recipes and they all slept in cloth tents they had stitched together themselves.
The attraction for many adherents, explained Yelena Nosova, the secretary of the Alliance of Living History's medieval chapter, is partly the exoticism of Britain and western Europe's past.
"Of course we appreciate our own history but this is so much more romantic," she said.
"We girls aren't allowed to join in the fighting - women in the Middle Ages didn't think much about emancipation. But for me personally, I love the challenge of preparing exotic meals with primitive recipes."
The battle of Bosworth Field between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists, during the Wars of the Roses, 1485
Denied the right to study foreign history in Soviet times, the subject is still novel for many Russians - which is perhaps another reason why so-called "reconstructivist" clubs are attracting such a following.
Due in part to the power of the internet, the number of history role-players has grown from roughly 300 in 2000 to more than 10,000 today.
It is unclear what the Kremlin makes of the phenomenon, although some analysts believe suspicion is mounting.
Substantial resources have been dedicated to the creation of pro-Kremlin youth movements charged with countering the spread of western-style democracy.
In any autocratic regime, history can become a weapon of resistance, especially if it allows foreign notions to seep into the consciousness of the young.
Some of the Hastings Club youngsters have already exposed themselves to notions that pro-Kremlin commentators would find both dangerous and "unpatriotic" - a word that is increasingly becoming common in official parlance.
"The English parliamentary system that developed after the English Civil War made English society what it is now - a society of freedom and a society of democracy that is admired around the world," said Dmitry Loktyev, 25, the club's president.
Like other youth movements, it is possible the Kremlin could try to suborn the reconstructivists.
But with most of the history buffs avowedly liberal, resistance can be expected.
"We are completely apolitical," said Miss Nosova. "We totally disapprove of these political youth movements and the negative approach they have adopted."
The Hastings Club hopes to be allowed to get on with its own thing and the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Pictures: Russians re-enact the Battle of Bosworth Field, part of the War of the Roses:
Anglo-Russian relations may be in worse shape than at any time since the Cold War, but that has failed to dent the enthusiasm of thousands of young Russians who spend their weekends recreating British historical battles
------------
On summer weekends across the country, Russian youths swap their jeans for Regency breeches, their belts for Tudor codpieces and their shirts for medieval breastplates depending on the era they have chosen to embrace
------------
The number of history role players has grown from roughly 300 in 2000 to more than 10,000 today - a figure that does not take into account a far greater number of part timers
-----------
Interest is driven by the relative novelty of the subject - the study of foreign history was forbidden in Soviet times
-----------
These photos were taken from a recent meeting of the Hastings Club, which recreates major battles from the Wars of the Roses
-----------
Their camp in the forest near the village of Ivanovka, 40 miles north of Moscow, prided itself on its authenticity.
Followers drank mead from enormous clay mugs, the women prepared food according to period recipes and they all slept in cloth tents they had stitched together themselves
------------
Their fantasy games may seem harmless, but some analysts believe Kremlin suspicion is mounting
------------
The administration has other ideas of how youngsters should be spending their time.
Substantial resources have been dedicated to the creation of pro-Kremlin youth movements charged with countering the spread of western-style democracy
-------------
But the Hastings Club is resolutely apolitical and hopes to be allowed to get on with its own thing...
-----------
... namely the violent...
----------
... but enjoyable recreation of Yorkist-Lancastrian clashes
telegraph.co.uk
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