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.
The site has an active apiary – if you are allergic to bees please take precautions. We are asking for no open containers of anything sweet outside the main hall if possible. The beehives will be clearly marked and fenced in but of course bees do not respect fences.
What do you want to know?
- What does it cost? Registration
- How do I sign up? Registration
- Who is running it? Event Staff
- What is happening at this event? Activities
- What food is being served? Food
- When are things happening? Schedule
- Where is it? Site Information
- How do I get there? Directions
Activities
Martial Activities: There will be Armored Tournaments using the Gate of Sudentorre, Rapier Tournaments, Archery and Thrown Weapons!
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.
Arts & Sciences Activities: There will be an open arts & sciences display on the theme of mercenaries. There will also be dancing between court and feast. We are hoping to have a beekeeping demonstration from the site in the afternoon as well – details TBD.
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. There will also be a short Regency Court with their highnesses Wilhelm and Genevieve.
Princess Tea: There will be a Princess’ Tea from 12-2pm for the populace to come and meet her highness Genevieve before coronation the following week. Please join us in the tent near the Great Hall at that time.
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. We will compete to give the best tips for the glory of France Switzerland!
Feast Menu
The feast will consist of three courses celebrating Swiss, French, German and Italian food. There are no nuts in the feast. For any other dietary concerns, please contact the Head Cook. Menus at the table will contain full ingredients lists and explanation for each dish. Click here for the detailed feast menu.
- First Course: Alpine Macaroni with a variety of toppings, Mushrooms, Spring Salad
- Second Course: Vegetable Soup, Fine White Bread, Lamb Meatballs
- Third Course: Orange Chicken, Stewed Red Cabbage, Bread Cake
Registration
Pre-registration will be available for this event on SCORES: https://sca.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/sca/event.jsp?event=2320.
If registering by mail, send to the reservationist and make checks payable to SCA, Inc., Canton of Sudentorre.
| Day-trip | Feast | Camping | |
| 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 |
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: Magnifica Helena Hrolfsdottir (Penelope Millar). Email penelilady at gmail.com. Deputy: Mistress Signy Biarnarsdottir
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 – Lord Torin of Mildenhalle; thrown weapons – Master Fergus of Hanna
Head Cook: Lord Jasper of Hartshorn-dale / Jasper Millar (jasper.millar at gmail.com)
Arts & Science Coordinators: Lady Valla-Ragna in Spakka & Lady Arielle de Pointoise (moas@stierbach.atlantia.sca.org)
Hall Steward: Mistress Signy Biarnarsdottire, also contact the Event Steward
Chief Minister of Lists: Maestra Maddalena Salutati
Schedule
Set up will be on Friday from 12-7pm and final tear down on Sunday from 8am to Noon. We welcome all help for set up or tear down! In particular, we need help with building and taking down the infamous Gate we defend!
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
- Thrown Weapons range opens
- 10:00 AM Rapier bear pit & Archery inspections and practice range opens
- 10:45 AM Rapier mercenary battles start
- 11:30 AM Day Board and Lunch (Main Hall)
- 12:00 PM Princess Tea (tent)
- 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 at this time
- 4:00 PM Afternoon Court (Indoors)
- ~5:00 PM End Afternoon Court
- Dancing at the main hall
- Feast table set up
- 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! We are asking for no open containers of anything sweet outside the main hall if possible. The beehives will be clearly marked and fenced in but of course bees do not respect fences.
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.