Armand and Odin
Armand de Sevigny
SCA Biography
Armand de Sevigny joined the SCA in A.S.VI [ late 1971] in the newly founded Barony of Calafia [San Diego, Ca.] in the Kingdom of the West. He joined originally as a Franciscan friar called Armand-Sebastian de la foret de Savigny. He was soon drafted into more martial pursuits, but never forgot his humble and irritatingly pious beginnings.
He was knighted by King Paul of Belatrix of the West in A.S. XI (1976). In A.S.XII [1978] he became the first King of Caid [Southern California] and served again as King in A.S. XVI [1981]. Armand also has served as Kingdom Seneschal, was the founding baron of the Barony of Gyldenholt [Orange County, California], and later served for two years as the first Captain General of the Army of the Kingdom of Caid [1987-1989]. In A.S. XVII [1983] he was made a member of the Order of the Pelican.
For thirteen years Armand was active in the equestrian arts in the kingdom and in jousting outside the SCA. He received a Lux Caidis for equestrian arts in 1996. As part of his interests in historical knighthood, he has made and used several medieval saddles to better study how a knight rode in battle. The death of his beloved mount, Bayard, in July 1996, and increased mundane work and family commitments have prevented him from being as active recently as he would like. His other horse, Odin, was the one he rode at the SCA's Twenty-Fifth Year celebration in Ansterroa. Odin, Armand's old warhorse for a dozen years or more,
passed away in his sleep in the early morning hours of November 20th of natural causes. He had served us well, first in the medieval equestrian games, and later for many years as a calm and dependable mount for his young daughters. He will be missed, but the memory of him will be cherished.
HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
The fictionalized "historical" Armand de Sevigny was born in 1160 near the town of Argentan in Normandy. His family were hereditary viscounts and held fiefs in Normandy, England, and Wales. As a youth he was squired to William Marshal, a good friend of his father's, and was knighted on the Feast of All Saints in 1179. Thereafter he fought for Angevin kings of England, and went on the Third Crusade with King Richard the Lionheart. He fought in many engagements in the Holy Land and remained until after the truce was concluded. Returning home in 1193, he fought against the encroachments of the French crown until Normandy fell to France in 1204. Thereafter, he elected swear fealty to King Philip of France, and was forced concede his English and Welsh estates to his younger brother.
After the passing of his friend William Marshal, Armand went on a final crusade to Egypt in 1217. There he met and befriended Francis of Assisi.The effect of this relationship was so profound that when Armand returned home, he relinquished his worldly estates and founded a religious house where he lived until the end of his life.
Armand 'jousting' at TYC
