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Defending the Gate 2026

Come Defend the Gates of Sudentorre!

Please join the Canton of Sudentorre for our event, Defending the Gate XVII on March 28th, 2026 from 9am – 10pm!

The Battle of Marignano in 1515 was the end of the War of the League of Cambrai. The French army, led by the newly-crowned Francis I, fought against the Old Swiss Confederacy which had been expanding southward into the Italian peninsula. Supporting the French were German landsknecht and Venetian condottieri. Francis’ success in this battle ended the expansion of the Swiss confederacy, and marks the last time the Swiss ever officially fought in an offensive conflict. The mercenary support, especially that of the late-arriving Venetians, was crucial to France’s success. Come join us for day of fighting, arts & sciences and feasting celebrating helpful mercenaries and the variety of Swiss culture.

What do you want to know?

Activities

Martial Activities: There will be Armored Tournaments using the Gate of Sudentorre, Rapier Tournaments and more…

Rapier Tournament Details: We will start the day at 9:00 with authorizations and warmups, followed by a 30 minute bear pit tournament starting promptly at 10. At 10:45, armies of Swiss, German, and Spanish mercenaries will attack and defend the Pope in a battle based on the 1527 sack of Rome. Following that melee, we will fight a bridge battle based on the mercenary revolt put down by Hamilcar after the second Punic war. Moral of the story: pay your mercenaries! We will end the day with a Valhalla melee followed by pickups for those who still wish to fight. We have a full day of fighting planned, so I hope to see you all on the field!

Arts & Sciences Activities:  There will be an open arts & sciences display on the theme of mercenaries.

Court: Their Excellencies Dunstan and Cynthia will be looking for a member of the Baronial populace to be the new recipient of the Stierbach Dreamers Cup.

Princess Tea: There will be a Princess’ Tea from 12-2pm. More information forthcoming.

Food

A dayboard lunch of hearty soldiers’ fare will be served at no additional cost as long as supplies last.

Evening Feast

This will be a sumptuous 16th century themed around Swiss food, including the French, German and Italian influences. Feast will be limited to 64 so please pre-register to secure your seat for feast.  Copies of the menu with all ingredients will be provided at your table. If you have any dietary/allergy questions please contact the Head Cook (jasper.millar at gmail.com)

There will be a fundraiser for the University of Mary Washington Renaissance Club which partners with the Canton of Sudentorre. Students in the Ren Club will serve your feast to earn tips towards their club’s yearly expenses.

Feast Menu

Feast menu is in progress… watch this space for more information in a few weeks!

Registration

Pre-registration will be available for this event on SCORES. If registering by mail, send to the reservationist and make checks payable to SCA, Inc., Canton of Sudentorre.

 Day-tripFeastCamping
Adult Member Registration$20$15$0
Adult Non-member Registration$30$15$0
Youth (5-17)$8$15$0
Child (0-4)$0$0$0
Event Costs

Reservationist Information

Lord Edward Perry (mol@sudentorre.atlantia.sca.org)

Checks payable to: Canton of Sudentorre, SCA Inc.

Send checks to: John Patrick Brice JR, 1171 NC Highway 87 North, Pittsboro, NC 27312

Refund Policy: Refund requests must be made in person at a regularly scheduled Canton business meeting, or via email or in writing to the Event Steward or Reservationist. Refund requests must be received/postmarked via mail, email, electronic format (not verbal) prior to the end of the event in question. Honored refunds shall be posted within seven (7) business days of the end of the event in question. Feast refunds are only available if the feast space is oversold or the spot is resold to another attendee. All other refunds are made at the discretion of the Canton Emergency Financial Committee. All refunds not cashed within 120 days of date of issue will be returned to the general fund.

Event Staff

Event Steward: Helena Hrolfsdottir (Penelope Millar). Email penelilady at gmail.com.

Merchants are welcome – Please contact the event steward for more information.

Gate & Reservationist: Lord Edward Perry. MOL@sudentorre.atlantia.sca.org

Field Space Coordinator: contact the event steward

Marshallate: armored combat- Sir Ragnar Ribcracker; rapier – Lady Aylisia Olivieri; archery – TBD

Head Cook: Lord Jasper of Hartshorn-dale / Jasper Millar (jasper.millar at gmail.com)

Arts & Science Coordinator:  Lady Valla-Ragna in Spakka

Hall Steward: TBD

Schedule

The site opens at 9 am and closes 10:00 pm. Stragglers will be conscripted for clean-up.

  • 8:00 AM  – Event open for all Staff
  • 8:30 AM  – Gate Opens
  • 9:00 AM MoL and Field opens for authorizations and inspections
    • A&S Drop off begins (Main Hall)
    • Chatelaine/Gold Key Opens (Tent Near Gate)
    • Rapier Authorizations and Inspections begin
    • Archery inspections and practice range opens
    • Thrown Weapons range opens
  • 11:30 AM Day Board and Lunch (Main Hall)
  • 12:00 PM Princess Tea
  • 2:00 PM Troll gate closes: only pre-registered entrants after this point
    • Princess Tea ends
  • 3:30 – A & S Display and Competitions Close
    • All List Fields/Ranges close for the day
    • Tournaments conclude
    • Gate is broken down – All Hands Needed
    • A&S items should be picked up by this time
  • 4:00 PM Afternoon Court (Indoors)
  • 5:00 PM End Afternoon Court
  • 5:15 PM Dancing at the main hall
  • 6:00 PM Feast to begin
  • 8:30 PM Feast to end – All Hands Needed for Clean Up

Site Information

Site: Izaak Walton League, Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Chapter, 12400 Herndon Rd., Sotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22553

***PLEASE NOTE: This site has an active apiary, so if you have a bee allergy, please take precautions!

Accessibility: This site is not ADA compliant. There are parking spaces that will be designated as handicapped spaces in front of the Main Hall and in front of the building which will serve as the Royal Room; that building has an accessible ramp that leads to indoor, accessible single-occupant bathroom. There will also be outdoor restrooms, one of which will be accessible. The Main Hall is all on one floor, and there are no stairs, but is down the hill from the Gate. Martial activities are primarily on the grassy areas on the property, with some rapier possible in wooded areas, and archery is primarily in wooded areas. Please contact the Event Steward with specific concerns.

Site Restrictions: Limited Alcohol Permitted (Beer, Wine, Mead only): Alcohol is permitted in the feast hall only.

  • No one is allowed to become intoxicated at this event.
  • No one under the age of 21 can consume or possess any alcoholic beverages under any circumstances.
  • The VA ABC License must and will be posted in the public view where the alcohol will be permitted.
  • All open alcohol containers must stay on the premises.

Pets: Pets are welcome but must be on a leash and are not allowed indoors.

Directions

Traveling from the North: Via I-95 South, take exit 130B to VA-3 w/Plank Road, turn left onto Orange Plank Road, turn left onto Herndon Road, destination on the right.

Traveling from the South: Via I-95 North, take exit 130B to VA-3 w/Plank Road, turn left onto Orange Plank Road, turn left onto Herndon Road, destination on the right.

THE SCA Prohibits Harassment and Bullying of All Individuals and Groups

Participants engaging in this behaviour are subject to the appropriate sanctions.  If you are subjected to harassment, bullying, or retaliation, or if you became aware of anyone being harassed or bullied, contact a seneschal, President of the SCA, or your Kingdom Board Ombudsman.  In case of an emergency, official information will come exclusively from the site herald and deputies.

For corrections to this website, please contact webminister@sudentorre.atlantia.sca.org.