Magnus Kompanie is a Living History and re-enactment group with members in Ohio and Pennsylvania, USA.

We seek to recreate the experience of living life among an army on the march in 1471-1479, originating from the city Kassel, in the Land of Hesse, of the Holy Roman Empire. Today in modern times, this place is called Hesse-Cassel, Germany.

Our aim is to provide an exciting educational experience for both the public and ourselves. Intricate research is recorded on the specific time and place mentioned above and we recreate the experience by immersing ourselves in the mind-set and objects of back then.

For instance, instead of modern bifocals and eye-glasses, period spectacles and "scissor-specs" are worn. Instead of a purse or hand-bag, a period pouch or belt-bag is worn. Instead of a Tee-shirt and Jeans, a doublet and chosen are worn. Instead of a Motel 8, we sleep in period tents at night during events. All modern items are forgone and replaced with period correct hardware, equipment and objects, down to our underwear :)

However, we are not zealous crazies! We immerse ourselves into this lucrative hobby as just that, a HOBBY. We attend only a few events a year, spending one weekend at a time recreating this life-style; and solely for fun and education. This isn't a bet or a bribe, or some weird "reality show", its just plain enjoyment and entertainment.

Ok, so maybe we are a little strange. Actors do the same thing for millions of dollars, but we actually pay out (very much actually) to afford the period-correct items for our events; they are specialty items after all. We are a non-profit organization, with a Tax-ID#, so while we are tax deductable, we do not profit by our set-up.

Hire Us

As a non-profit organization with a Tax ID #, Magnus Kompanie does what we do for the sake of education.  We are available to a number of public and private functions as illustrated below.  Unless circumstances permit, we rarely ask for anything other than traveling expenses in return for the opportunity to bring history to life. All fees incurred are kept in the unit treasury and used for kompanie expenses only; such as food for the weekend, community equipment and supplies.  Hire Magnus Kompanie

• We're fun at parties
• We look cool
• We're house-trained (mostly)

Well, perhaps, but really......

Despite my doctrine of misadventures displayed here, we are all quite knowledgeable.  Our living history display is appropriate for...

1.    Public education.  Right around 5th or 6th grade seems to be when most students are learning of the medieval era, though all classes benefit from our display.  College students who are looking for higher-learning will no doubt benefit as well.  

What's better than a boring text book with one or two illustrations?  Why, we are, of coarse!  From a first-person perspective, we can immerse the students into a time of gallant knights, Fair Maidens, pageantry, and what's better?  THE TRUTH!  Indeed, in a short session with your students, the reality of the most darkened of eras in our worlds' history comes to light!

• Accurate displays of the armour and weapons of war.
• Accurate displays of the clothing for several social classes in peace-time and war.
• Accurate facts on day-to-day life.
• Appropriate representation from the perspective of lower, middle and upper class.
• In-depth information on the politics that caused the conflicts that sent the medieval era spiraling into the text books, which are usually only barely touch on. There is more than a plague and a fellow named "Robin Hood", after all.
• Little-known facts such as the invention of fairy tales; did they REALLY happen?! People DID bathe in the Medieval era! By the 15th century, wall clocks were available. Many more!

2.    Reenacting.  The pageantry of medieval combat comes alive with realistic and historically accurate combat demonstrations.  Tired of watching movies and TV and seeing everyone from Hercules to Shakespeare Kung-Fu fighting?  So are we.  Historic research into period instruction manuals such as the Fechtbuchs of Hans Talhoffer guide our martial style of combat.  

• Living History and Timeline events, as well as Re-enactments are ideal and greatly preferred.  All of our gear is period correct and we love to talk to the public on this era.  
• Town parades are a fabulous way to bring attention to the event and we are readily available for the route.  We love parades!
• Re-enactment battles are also preferred.  We stay to authentic field exercises and combat mechanics.  Though we do not perform choreographed, or stage-fighting, we are also respectful of idea behind re-enactment and safety precautions are paramount. Our combat is not a rehearsed show!
• Renaissance festivals.  We enjoy Renne-faires a great deal.  As a public display, our presence is in great demand.  As performers, our demonstrations are a unique experience giving well-rounded education and entertainment for folks of all ages, including the kiddies!
• We offer the use of our "Brute Squad" and its portable stocks to keep the locals in line at your event!
• A sword stunt show is just the thing to get the crowd wound up.  It just so happens we do this too!

3.    Filming.  Several of our members have been involved with filming productions.  We have experience both in front of and behind the camera, making us very director-friendly.  Our attention to historic detail will also ensure that any historic film we are involved with give the authenticity crew no trouble.

If interested in having us a part of your events' success, Hire Magnus Kompanie.  Just send me some information about the when and where and what type of event.  Please include any subsequent information, like if it is a Timeline Event, a Reenactment, a Living History set exclusively in the Medieval era, or a Medieval Recreation Societies' event; as well as if we are being hired for performance, display, parade, or combat.

Join Us

What is a "Living History and Reenactment Group"?  It is a group of like-minded people who have a love of history.  That love of history could be dates and events, to art or architecture, to appreciation of the weapons and armour, or even someone who is interested in learning about historically accurate combat.

I cannot stress enough the hard work and dedication all of our members put into their impressions.  New members will be expected to present the appropriate respect for the other members' hard work as can be.  To be completely honest, your kit (the items that replace your mundane, every-day existence with Period Correct equivalents) can be expensive.  A full suit of acceptable armour can easily run $6,000, if you are lucky enough to find such a cheap deal.  Of coarse, a full suit of armour is not required.  

Likewise, even a tavern wench has a lot of specialty clothes she must wear too, from the chemise, to the kirtle, to the over-dress, to the shoes.  Even the lowly peasants (as everyone typically starts out as in this group) have a certain, though minimal, amount of clothing required.

Hair-styles and facial hair must be kept suitable, as in no unnatural colors or styles like Mohawks.  Acceptable footwear is becoming more accessible in this hobby, so no modern footwear will be allowed, including moccasins.

Of coarse, things are much easier on new members, as pre-existing members have already done the hard work in beginning research.  We can help you get on your feet with your impression.  The group has chainmaille armourers for those interested in a soldiers life.  We have seamstresses and seams-masters willing to help you with correct clothing.  We have craftsmen of all kinds to help you learn something new or find something you will undoubtedly be interested in!

If you would rather just have something made and shipped to you by a merchant you found on-line, the number one precaution is to ASK BEFORE YOU BUY!!  Even if you spend $1,000 on something resembling a correct item, but is not accurate, you will not be allowed to use it!  We will aid you in going to someone that has the correct items and respect for their customers.  Don't pay $50 for something that seems correct, because that's $50 you have wasted that could have gone toward something that is no doubt more expensive, but correct!

When it comes down to it, this group is very family-oriented.  Everyone is welcome to participate so long as they stick to a correct portrayal.  Any social status, so long as portrayed correctly, is acceptable. All members of the family, of any creed, race, or color, at any age, so long as correctly utilizing the hobby, are welcome! That being said, new members must abide by the bi-laws and must be voted into the group by the existing group. The number one rule is to foster fun! Have fun yourself and help others to do so as well :) This means leave your troubles, politics and religions at home! We are a caring group of friends, a community who looks out for one another, but while at the event, remember to keep it professional and appropriate for public view.

I formed this group because it is hard to find groups that focus purely on the historic facts of medieval periods.  For 1700s and later, there are plenty of groups available.  I also portray the American Civil War, so I encourage all eras of reenacting.  But for this group, it has been a long and hard road that is no where near done being walked and for this to function smoothly, everyone is going to have to conform to the basic rules.

As re-enactors, you will have the ability to take part in battles.  Again, to keep everything historically accurate, this is done with steel swords and enough armour to keep moderately safe from accidental injury.  While every precaution is made to keep the battles as safe as possible and training among the combat group members is serious in its safety protocols, accidents are a possibility.  Anyone taking place in combat is required to sign a waiver and accepts full responsibility for their actions and participation is on your own free will.  "You Break it, You Bought it" includes breaking yourself or another person!

Contact the Magnus via e-mail