The Sealed Knot (reenactment)
Encyclopedia
The Sealed Knot is a British
historical
association and charity
, dedicated to costumed reenactment
of battle
s and events surrounding the English Civil War
.
, a secret association aimed at the restoration of the monarchy
, although the modern incarnation has none of the political affiliations of its namesake. Apart from reenactment, it is also involved in research into the history of the Civil War, and education (at the school or college level) about the same.
, who was a military historian and World War II
veteran
. The idea of the Sealed Knot re-enactment group started at a dinner party with a small group of friends on 28 February 1968 following the publication of "Edgehill 1642 - the Campaign and the Battle". Within a few months it had 200 members and today has a membership of several thousand, making it the largest re-enactment society in Europe
. The group is a registered charity
, and has its own coat of arms
.
With its large membership and high profile the Sealed Knot is the largest and most well known of all the many re-enactment and historical groups and societies in the UK
. Its official journal, Orders of the Daye, is published every two months and sent to all members. It contains information about forthcoming events. Copies of every issue are lodged with the British Library.
The Sealed Knot comprises of a number of Regiments split into Parliamentarian, Royalist and Scots armies.
The group were responsible for the first commemoration in 1971 of the Battle of Nantwitch (which originally took place in 1643) and in 1973 the Sealed Knot, stage the first re-enactment of the battle which has now become an annual event at the end of January and is known as 'Holly Holy Day'.
series of novels by Terry Pratchett
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
historical
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
association and charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, dedicated to costumed reenactment
Historical reenactment
Historical reenactment is an educational activity in which participants attempt torecreate some aspects of a historical event or period. This may be as narrow as a specific moment from a battle, such as the reenactment of Pickett's Charge at the Great Reunion of 1913, or as broad as an entire...
of battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
s and events surrounding the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
About
The Sealed Knot takes its name from the original Sealed KnotSealed Knot
The Sealed Knot was a secret Royalist association which plotted for the Restoration of the Monarchy during the English Interregnum.Its original founder members were:* John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse...
, a secret association aimed at the restoration of the monarchy
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, although the modern incarnation has none of the political affiliations of its namesake. Apart from reenactment, it is also involved in research into the history of the Civil War, and education (at the school or college level) about the same.
History
The Sealed Knot was founded by the late Brigadier Peter YoungPeter Young (historian)
Brigadier Peter Young, DSO, MC & 2 bars was a British Second World War soldier who served in the commandos, eventually commanding a brigade. Subsequently he went onto command a regiment of the Arab Legion before leaving the Army to become a lecturer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst...
, who was a military historian and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
. The idea of the Sealed Knot re-enactment group started at a dinner party with a small group of friends on 28 February 1968 following the publication of "Edgehill 1642 - the Campaign and the Battle". Within a few months it had 200 members and today has a membership of several thousand, making it the largest re-enactment society in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The group is a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, and has its own coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
.
With its large membership and high profile the Sealed Knot is the largest and most well known of all the many re-enactment and historical groups and societies in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its official journal, Orders of the Daye, is published every two months and sent to all members. It contains information about forthcoming events. Copies of every issue are lodged with the British Library.
The Sealed Knot comprises of a number of Regiments split into Parliamentarian, Royalist and Scots armies.
The group were responsible for the first commemoration in 1971 of the Battle of Nantwitch (which originally took place in 1643) and in 1973 the Sealed Knot, stage the first re-enactment of the battle which has now become an annual event at the end of January and is known as 'Holly Holy Day'.
Parody
The Sealed Knot is parodied as The Peeled Nuts in the DiscworldDiscworld
Discworld is a comic fantasy book series by English author Sir Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. The books frequently parody, or at least take inspiration from, J. R. R....
series of novels by Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
.
See also
- List of historical reenactment groups
- English Civil War reenactment
- English Civil War Society