Hugo van Harlo

It is the early 1580s, and the rebellious northern provinces of the Low Countries fight for independence against Habsburg Spain. The realities of the war do not allow Jonkheer Hugo van Harlo, to peacefully remain only a dutiful member of the local Overijssel gentry. Instead, he has taken to authoring political tracts and raised a vendel of infantry in service to the nascent Dutch republic, of which he serves as its hopman.

Interests: Late Sixteenth Century Dutch History, Cartography, Print Culture, and Book Collecting

I am primarily a history buff, researching the history and culture of the late sixteenth century Dutch and Flemish-speaking Low Countries (i.e. the modern Netherlands and western parts of Belgium) in the decades before the artistic and economic flowering which would be later called its Golden Age.

This would be between the 1549 Pragmatic Sanction (which united the region under the Habsburg Crown) and the 1618-1619 Synod of Dort (a conference of the Dutch Reformed Church which would have wide-ranging, long-lasting effects on Dutch society).

I'm also interested in the golden age of cartography and the burgeoning print culture of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. While these areas that have inspired past A&S competition entries, my focus since c. 2019 has largely been purely focused on historical research.

• Classes & Projects: hugovanharlo.com
• Calontir Links: Order of Precedence and Kingdom Armorial

Rebels or Beggars (formerly known as Renaissance Netherlands with Will Phillips)

As an outgrowth of my historical research, I launched a history page on Facebook. Given that not all of that audience are SCA members (and some are professional historians and educators), I originally chose to brand it with my real name as Renaissance Netherlands with Will Phillips.

In early 2023, I rebranded it as Rebels or Beggars, an homage to some of the key (and slanderous) terms used for the pro-independence factions of the Dutch Revolt.

• Facebook Page: Facebook.com/RebelsOrBeggars
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelsorbeggars/

SCA History

I discovered the SCA as a senior in college and played for about two years. A cross-country move saw me step away from the organization for almost a decade. It was another move - this time to Kansas City in 2015 - that lead to my return... and the jumping in with both feet that's happened since then.

• Current Group: Three Rivers (St. Louis, 2019-Present)
• Previous Groups: Forgotten Sea (Kansas City, 2015-2019), Northkeep (Tulsa, 2005-2006), Mooneschadowe (Stillwater, OK, 2005)
• Apprenticed to Mistress Jorunn Eydisardottir (Kris Kinder 2017)
• Boon begged at Gryphon's Fest 2022
• Elevated to the Order of the Laurel at Clothiers' Seminar 2023