Calontir Legends 5 - Pavel Iosefovich
Post 5 - His Excellency Master Pavel Iosefovich
No list of Calontir Legends would be complete without including His Excellency Master Pavel Iosefovich. Pavel came to the SCA and the Shire-March of Grimfells during the days when Calontir was a Principality of the Middle Kingdom. Pavel took up fighting early in his SCA career, and he would later be one of the driving forces in organizing the Calontir Army. Pavel travelled with Crag Duggin Goodleach to Pennsic XI. On the way home to Grimfells from Pennsic, Pavel described how he thought the Calontir Army should operate, and Crag took notes of the discussion. What began as a discussion on tactics for the Calontir Army would soon become the Calontir War College. In January of AS XVI. Prince Brummbar asked Pavel, along with Lars the Fierce (now Sir Lars Vilhelmsson) and Juan Macias de Alarcon to head up the War College. Pavel served as the first Dean of the War College and was Calontir's first chief strategist. In recognition of this service, Pavel received his Award of Arms from Prince Brummbar and Princess Valmai on March 20, AS XVI. He would be made a Companion to the Order of the Iren-Fyrd a week later. Pavel reputation for fighting and for service grew. He was awarded the Order of the Torse on Ju;y 27, AS XVII by Prince Humpk and Princess Mammara. Prince Humpk and Princess Mammara would also award Pavel the Leather Mallet on September 4, AS XVII.
In Calontir's days as a Principality, the Princess' Champion was chosen by tournament some time before investiture as Coronet. When Tanista Elisabeth called her Champion's Tournament, Pavel won the day. He would serve as her Champion when she donned the Princess' Coronet. On November 5, AS XVIII, the day that Cire and Elisabeth took up the Coronets of the Prince and Princess of Calontir, Princess Elisabeth called her Champion into Court and made Pavel the Premier of the Order of the Archaic Fewmet, the OAF. The Princess spoke of Pavel's skill at calligraphy (hatchet-hand), his brewing of combat mead, his courtly behavior (the serving of mashed potatoes), and his service (Pavel's hand of justice). She presented Pavel with a hatchet hand scroll that she had scribed on brown paper grocery bag. That scrolled was mounted on the bathroom at Pavel's house for the rest of his life, so that all who came there would know that he was premier OAF. <Perhaps later OAFS can tell us if it the custom that all OAF scrolls be mounted on the bathroom door?>
When the Seneschal of Calontir, Lady Alarba Bronwen Caradoc, and the Prince and Princess of Calontir were called to attend the Middle Kingdom Crown at an event in the Barony of the Flame, Pavel made the journey as Princess Elisabeth's Champion. At the time there was a fabric store in the Barony, that was five stories tall. The Middle Queen, the Princess of Calontir, and their attendants went to this fabric store for an afternoon of shopping. Pavel patiently carried bolts of fabric to the cutting table for the ladies of the Court and dutifully lugged their purchases all over this huge fabric store. That evening at feast, Pavel asked Prince Cire for one indiscretion, and it was granted.
The details of this indiscretion are not suitable for this forum. Basically, Pavel shocked the Midrealm Queen with a decidedly off-color joke. While the words Pavel spoke to the Queen were inappropriate, they would inspire several bards to contribute to a song called "The Hamster Song," subtitled "The Fighting Hamster of Calontir."
Pennsic War XIII would see the work of Lord Pavel and the War College come to fruition at the Bridge Battle that year. The Bridge Battle at Pennsic had a reputation as being a fast battle that quickly over. The Calontir Army under Pavel's leadership would change the Bridge Battle forever. For the first time, the Calontir Shieldwall, built with Roman style scutum shields backed by spearmen, made its appearance. The Shieldwall held against all comers and the battle lasted far longer than any had before. Under the Calontir War College, the entire Kingdom fights as a unit. Unlike other Kingdoms, the Calontir Army is not structured around households or local groups. It is one army. under the Crown and the generals. This is arguably the most important contribution Pavel Iosefovich made to Calontir.
For his efforts in organizing and leading the Calontir Army, Pavel was awarded the Sword of Calontir on September 2, AS XIX. Pavel was only the fourth person to receive this recognition. On the same day, Pavel was elevated to the Order of the Iren-Hirth by King Chepe and Queen Arwyn. The Order of Precedence also shows that on September 2, AS XIX, Pavel was appointed as the Crown's Thegn, a position he would hold would for three later Crowns.
Pavel Iosefovich's second turn as Thegn would come under King Shadan I and Queen Erzebet. Shadan and Erzebet would also recognize as a Companion to the Order of Saethwyr (now Boga)-Fryd on March 9, AS XIX.
August 31, AS XX would see the Prince and Princess Pavel had served as Champion come to the Falcon Crown as King Edward and Queen Elisabeth, the fourth Calontir Crown. On the very next day, Pavel would enter Their service as Thegn. King Edward and Queen Elisabeth called Pavel before Them on November 9, AS XX to induct him into the Order of the Cross of Calontir for his work with the Calontir War College. This service was also the reason that Pavel was created a Court Baron on March 19, AS XXI.
While Baron Pavel was well known as a fighter and for his service to the War College, Pavel was also well-known for his storytelling. On most evenings at camping events or post-revels, Pavel could be found leading a bardic circle. He would encourage others to participate by calling on them by name as telling them to "entertain us or be a pell!" For this reason, King William II and Queen Mammara II awarded the Golden Calon Swan to Baron Pavel.
Baron Pavel was elevated to the Peerage and to the Order of the Pelican by King Thorvald and Queen Branwynn on August 20, AS XXIII. His service to the Calontir Army and to the Calontir War College had brought this recognition to Pavel. At the Lilies War in AS, XXVII, King Roric and Queen Morgana would recognize Pavel's fighting skill as invite Master Pavel into the Order the Chivalry. When given the option of becoming a Knight or a Master at Arms, Pavel chose the baldric of a Master. Fealty was an important and complicated subject for Master Pavel, and it is for this reason he did not choose to become a Knight.
Pavel's career in the SCA was long and he was a much honored and respected member of the Kingdom. King Valens and Queen Elspeth augmented Pavel's arms with the Ensign of Calontir in AS XXX. King Joe Angus and Queen Phaedra would select Pavel to serve as Thegn for the fourth time. King Fernando would select His Excellency Master Pavel to receive the King's Favor. Pavel's woodworking skills would bring him recognition as a Companion to the Order of the Silver Hammer by King Valens V and Queen Susannuh III.
Pavel Iosefovich touched many lives and had a major impact on the Kingdom. Conte Fernando recounts telling Master Pavel that every time the Calontir marched to battle and every time the Shieldwall formed, that he (Pavel) was there. Master Pavel passed away on June 21 AS XLVIII. His influence on Calontir will last for generations to come.
His Excellency Master Pavel Iosefovich is one of Calontir's truly legendary individuals.