Here is my persona. I am Conrad the Mad, I am a Dutch land owner, born to a noble family. I have left my homeland in search of adventure, and have become adlded of wits and find myself wandering europe currently residing in Italy. Current time early 1400s lets say 1420.

Now to my delema, where can I find resources on dutch history and Italian day to day history. I dont even know if I should be portraying a catholic! Or who the pope was during this time. Please help! I want to portray Conrad as best I can. (the insanity I can handle)

What style sword should I be carrying? (pic if possible) Dagger?

[ 01-15-2002: Message edited by: Conrad the Mad ]

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A good book for finding out political activities in Holand suring the time you are portraying would be Richard Vaughan's "John the Fearless" (Longmans, London 1970(?)). Another good book is Wims Martin's "The Promised Lands" (1999?), which deals with the Low Countries under the Valois dukes of Burgundy.

As for the Pope - mine in Sixtus IV in the 1470's, but I haven't the foggiest in the 1420's. You have three simultaniously I believe, to confuse matters further.

Italy isn't my "bag", but there are others here who can provide some insight. I would say this - don't play yourself too mad, or you would end up in a nuthouse, which weren't too pleasant in aspect in the 15th century. The assumption would be you were possesed by the Devil. Amnesia is one thing,stark-raving looney means you wouldn't be playing in the outside world.

Most daggers in the era you are portraying, for a genmtleman and a soldier are rondel daggers - ballocks coming into fashion right about when you are, but rondels would be I believe a little more common at the tims. A Baselaird would be a little too low in social status. Swords used by the upper classes were generaly bastard swords, very long and straight, with a cross hilt and scent-stopper pommel about then.

I hope this helps.

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Though I'm not sure what it has to do with persona, lobotomy as we know it, try here:

History of Lobotomy

I'm thinking that depending on the nature of your mental instability, those around you would either lock you up, burn you, regard you as in a religious figure, or take you for a member of the French Aristocracy. Most of which would preclude access to anything more than a staff. Not that there's anything wrong with a staff, mind you. It's a great weapon.

Were I to portray a madman, (Chaucer's term for insane is "Wood"), I'd think "Pilgrim". There's another thread on how to dress for that, I recall. Pilgrimage also very convieniently explains how you wound up in Italy in the first place.

You would, in all likelyhood, be Catholic. The less common alternative religions (usually Jewish) would probably be counter to your being a landowner.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Jeff Johnson ]

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Thanks for the great help!

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if however, you are rich enough, you can be eccentric as hell and get away with it .

--AM, who has been known to be eccentric from time to time

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