Olwen de Montgomery
Persona
Olwen de Montgomery was born in Montgomery, Wales in 1176 of mixed Welsh-Norman parentage, and is living in the court of King Richard the Lionheart and Queen Berengaria of England. As the youngest daughter of a minor noble, Olwen ended up in the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine and going on crusade with King Richard in 1190. Upon her return to England in 1192 she has kept mostly to her own manor house, studying the arts of herbalism, spinning, knitting, and embroidery. Through marriage, she rose to the rank of Baroness, holding the lands of Marinus for a time. She is a member of the Company of the Silver Spindle and the Company of the Clewe. She is associated with Sir Christian Thomas of York and Mistress Bessenyei Rozsa and their household, Yorkshire Manor. Baroness Olwen is married to Hlaford Vlfbeorn Aelfweardes sunu.
SCA History
While in high school in the mid '80s, there were rumors that one of the science teachers did this "Robin Hood thing" in the summers. In 1987, Olwen was invited to a meeting of the Canton of Vest Yorvik, Barony of Septentria and she was hooked. She stayed in Ealdormere from 1987 until 1993 when she moved to Atlantia and the Barony of Marinus. After a brief sojourn in the Kingdom of the West (the Palatine Barony of the Far West), she and her family returned to Atlantia, but this time to the Stronghold of Raven's Cove. Olwen holds a Bachelor's of SCA Studies and a Master's of SCA Studies from the University of Atlantia and is also a Fellow of the University.
Offices & Positions
Over the course of many years, Olwen has held many positions in both Ealdormere and Atlantia. At various times, she has been a Chronicler, Principality Chirurgeon, Dean of the Page's Academy, a Herald at Large, and the Minister of Arts and Sciences, as well as being a deputy for the offices of Seneschal and Exchequer. Additionally, she has autocratted a few events (showing a penchant for Unevent) and been the head cook for several events. She is also the head retainer for Their Excellencies of Raven's Cove, Baron Lochlainn and Baroness Edan.
Ealdormere
Deputy Chronicler, Canton of Vest Yorvik (Ealdormere) (September 1987)
Chronicler, Canton of Vest Yorvik (Ealdormere) (1988)
Deputy Principality Chirurgeon (Ealdormere) (1990)
Principality Chirurgeon (Ealdormere) (1991-1993)
Atlantia
Deputy Kingdom Chirurgeon (Atlantia) (1994)
Territorial Baroness of Marinus (Atlantia)
Deputy Exchequer, Stronghold of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia) (1996-1997)
Herald at Large (Atlantia) (2002-2003)
Pages Academy Registrar (Atlantia) (2002-2003)
Deputy Seneschal, Stronghold of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia) (2003)
Group Chirurgeon, Stronghold of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia) (2003-2004)
Dean of the Pages Academy (Atlantia) (2003-2004)
Deputy Minister of Arts and Sciences, Barony of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia) (2016-2017)
Minister of Arts and Sciences, Barony of Raven’s Cove (2018-present)
Minister of the Lists, Barony of Raven's Cove (2017-present)
Event Staff Positions
February 1991 – Feastocrat, Quest For Spring, Canton of Vest Yorvik (Ealdormere)
February 1992 – Feastocrat, Quest For Spring, Canton of Vest Yorvik (Ealdormere)
September 1996 – Feastocrat, Baronial Birthday, Barony of Marinus (Atlantia)
March 2002 – Guest Services Liaison, Raiders of the Lost Cove IV, Stronghold of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia)
March 2003 – Co-feastocrat, Raiders of the Lost Cove V, Stronghold of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia)
March 2003 – Guest Services Liaison, Raiders of the Lost Cove V, Stronghold of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia)
September 2003 – Guest Services Liaison, Academie d’Espee, Kingdom of Atlantia
February 2016 – Lunch coordinator, University Session 92, Kingdom of Atlantia
September 2016 – Deputy Autocrat, Baronial Birthday, Barony of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia)
December 2016 – Autocrat, Unevent, Kingdom of Atlantia
April 2017 – Head Cook, Coastal Raids II, Barony of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia)
October 2017 – Autocrat, Queen’s Rapier Tourney, Barony of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia)
April 2018 – Deputy Feastocrat, Coastal Raids III, Barony of Raven’s Cove (Atlantia) and Reservationist
December 2018 - Autocrat, Unevent, Kingdom of Atlantia
March 2019 - MoL, Baronial Unbirthday, Barony of Raven’s Cove
March 2020 - MoL, Battle of Brunaburh (Baronial Birthday), Barony of Raven’s Cove
Associations
Yorkshire Manor
Company of the Clewe (Knitting guild)
Company of the Silver Spindle (Spinning guild)
Projects & Publications
Olwen has written several articles for local newsletters, and has taught several classes at the University of Atlantia. She has received her Masters degree from the University of Atlantia and is also a Fellow of the University. Currently her focus is on fiber arts, and she is pursuing a very large project (with the potential for many rabbit trails) wherein she is designing and making a pair of 16th century stockings from processing the raw fleece, to spinning it, to knitting the stockings. Olwen is a member of both the Company of the Clewe and the Company of the Silver Spindle. She is also associated with Sir Christian Thomas's household, Yorkshire Manor.
Heraldry
Argent, a pale rayonny azure, overall a heraldic tyger passant gules. (Registered January 1991)
Awards and Achievements
May 13, 1989 –AoA from Palymar & Katherine (Middle)
August 17, 1989 – Award of the Bear’s Claw, Baronial Service Award from Aedan & Kaffa (Barony of Septentria, Ealdormere)
November 23, 1989 – Award of the Purple Fret, AoA level Service Award, from Comar & Lisa (Middle)
August 1991 –Prince’s Cypher, Principality award for Personal Service to the Coronet, from Osis & Heithr (Ealdormere)
August 1993 –Order of the Bee, Principality Service Award, from Killdare & Lella (Ealdormere)
January 13, 1996 – Grant of Arms and Territorial Baroness of Marinus from Cuán II & Brigit I (Atlantia)
September 6, 1997 –Court Barony from Cuán III & Bera I (Atlantia)
February 14, 2004 – King’s Award of Excellence from Ragnar II & Kyneburh II
April 9, 2016 –Award of the Black Gull, Baronial Service Award from Lochlainn & Edan (Barony of Raven’s Cove, Atlantia)
October 15, 2016 – Baroness’ Award of Courtesy, from Edan (Barony of Raven’s Cove, Atlantia)
April 22, 2017 – Order of the Opal, Kingdom AoA level Service Award, from Cuán VIII and Signy I (Atlantia)
October 21, 2017 – Award of the Black Compass Rose, Baronial A&S Award from Lochlainn & Edan (Barony of Raven’s Cove, Atlantia)
February 24, 2018 – Award of the Coral Branch, Kingdom AoA level A&S Award from Amos II & Kara II (Atlantia)