From battles and skirmishes to sword fights, live music, falconry displays and historic re-enactments, the Mdina Medieval Festival will show you exciting times.

Anakron Living History

Anakron Living History brings together people with an active interest in medieval history to recreate and live medieval life as a pastime. Regular group sessions take members back to medieval times: dressed in typical clothing, they emulate their preferred role within the society. Cooking, socialising, playing medieval games or musical instruments, and dancing are some of the activities which take place during these sessions.

The group’s military members specialise in historical combat weapon training such as sword fighting, spear or halberd drills, and shooting ranged weapons including archery bows, crossbows and hand cannons. Field manoeuvres, unit drills, basic marching and cavalry exercises are amalgamated with informative presentations and discussions.

This provides the group’s members with a good interactive insight and knowledge of medieval life, culture, society and warfare.

Members who want to attain a higher level of proficiency and master the art of the weapons they wield do so by means of specialised instructive courses with qualified tutors. Musicians also have their own supplementary sessions to practise a repertoire of medieval and original tunes.

Anakron Living History organises several outdoor activities such as camping, trekking, horse riding and outdoor cooking, while indoor activities include meals and feasts. All is done in typical medieval style and setting, using only faithfully reproduced period clothing, equipment and accessories.

The group also participates in a variety of local and foreign public events and festivals organised by various entities. During such events the group performs several displays and demonstrations.

The group also boasts a huge variety of full-scale authentic and functional props, furniture, tents, equipment and attractions. This makes the group highly active in the education and entertainment sector, regularly participating in spectacles, photo shoots, documen­taries, animations and film projects, including a major contribution to the local masterpiece Adormidera.

Bibita

Bibita is a Maltese minstrel band inspired by medieval and early renaissance music. The group has evolved into a distinctive music journey of the past using reproduction musical instruments of the period. The band’s music arrangement of tunes and melodies like cantigas, saltarellos, estamplies and other traditions bring this period music to life.

Having debuted at the Medieval Mdina Festival in 2013, Bibita also reaches its audience through fund-raising events, local festive events, private functions and as a supporting band.

Brian Role

Brian Role and Lourdes Palmer have performed as a duo in various events, both locally and abroad. Adapting their magic act to a medieval theme, the duo will enchant the audiences with their performance at the children’s area and on the main stage.

Compagnia San Michele

Established in January, the re-enactment Group San Michele-Malta, also known as Compagnia San Michele, is a Maltese historical interpretation group whose intent is to stage educational displays and events that are as historically accurate as possible. Although the group is very young, most of its members have years of experience in historical re-enactment.

Compagnia San Michele is also a research and study group that is inspired by a group of people’s passion for local history and how these islands and their inhabitants have been shaped through historical events both locally and abroad.

The group focuses on re-enacting historical scenes from the late medieval to the early modern period. Attention to detail is key. No effort is spared in researching and discussing minute details such as mater­ials used. This is all done so as to be able to deliver a professional product that benefits the public in general. This is possible through the knowledge and dedication of the group’s members, most of whom are histor­ians, licenced tour guides and archaeologists.

Compagnia San Michele has adopted the following mission statement: to organise and stage, alone or in partnership with other organisations, in particular museums and other historical sites, high-quality, historically accurate re-enactment and educational activities.

Some may wonder why a Maltese group has chosen an Italian name. This is all part of the historical aspect that is central to San Michele. During the periods represented, the Italian language was the lingua franca, that is, the common language used in official documents and correspondence. This is in no way playing down the importance of the local language, the group says, but rather opening a window on the official language of the period.

The choice of St Michael is also no coincidence. The Archangel is a defender of the Catholic faith which was an integral part of society in the periods being represented. It is also known that a cult of St Michael existed in Malta at least since the middle ages. The chapel of San Mikiel is-Sancirin Rabat – said to be one of, if not the oldest medieval chapel on the island – is testament to this devotion.

In addition to the ecclesiastic aspect of the saint one can find a number of references in the military aspect of the islands. In the Cottonera area alone there are two forts named after the saint: Fort St Michael in Senglea and Fort St Angelo in Vittoriosa.

Compagnia San Michele prides itself in the research that goes into its re-enactments. Living history is not a phrase to be taken lightly and the group believes that historical interpreters are duty bound to deliver a researched product. Only this can ensure that as true a picture as possible is given to the spectators, thus educating while entertaining.

Fratres In Armis

Formed in May 2014, Fratres In Armis is a medieval re-enactment group that covers the central European medieval era from the 11th to the 15th century. Fratres In Armis is a dedicated group that has a passion for history and recreates it in an accurate manner with props, weapons and outfits.

Fratres In Armis has a full functional medieval kitchen with authentic recipes. All the food is prepared during the event by a dedicated and certified medieval cook. The group also has an executioner stand with some authentic props used in the medieval era as well as a full medical section with all the tools of the trade on display.

The group will be displaying the daily medieval village life with other arts and crafts items. Horses and other animals will also be displayed, including an owl. Animals are also considered as members of Fratres In Armis and are in no way are they harmed or mistreated. Fratres In Armis also has a fully-equipped armoury stand with a huge variety of weapons used in the era.

Historical Re-enactment Group of Malta

Established in 1998, the Historical Re-enactment Group of Malta is the oldest and largest re- enactment society on the island. It depicts the cacciatori di Malta, the Napoleonic era and medieval times. In recent years, regency dancing was also included as part of the activities organised by this society.

This year they are participating in Medieval Mdina Festival for a noble cause, to raise money for the children of Guatemala in collaboration with GOOD 2014.

With their participation, children will experience different games that were popular in the medieval era. These games include gluckhouse (lucky pig), queek, horseshoes, blind man’s bluff, marbles, quoits and hammer throwing. Prizes may also be won.

Sean Briffa

This group of artists devise entertaining shows for all ages. Their puppets have featured in kids’ shows all over Malta and abroad as part of international children’s festivals. They have also played roles in adult shows and theatrical performances and perform fire poi as part of concerts and festivals.

Sbandieratori di Vignanello

Founded in 1969, the Sbandieratori di Vignanello participate in various medieval re-enactments with a colourful and playful flag throwing display that characterised most of the noble festivities in the past.

The flag throwers are accompanied by the sound of the trumpeters and drummers. The Sbandieratori di Vignanello are sure to entertain the crowds with their spectacular performance that will evoke Mdina’s medieval character.

Malta Herpetological Society

The Malta Herpetological Society was founded to promote the conservation of local wild reptiles, educate the public on these wonderful creatures, and show them that there is no need to fear them. The society also helps in rehoming abused or unwanted exotic pets. Another aim of the society is to help local inexperienced reptile keepers by educating them on the importance of proper reptile care such as the type of housing, proper feeding, how to recognise if a pet reptile is sick or injured, and where you can find a reptile vet.

Fridericus Rex Malta Falconers

Established in 2008, the Fridericus Rex Malta Falconers aim to raise awareness and educate the public about the magnificence of birds of prey. In order to form the club, help was given by the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey. The IAF sent Anthony Crosswell as their representative and he was instrumental in the club’s early stages. Crosswell’s visit was sponsored by the government.

In the seven years since the club has been formed, the achievements have been significant. The Fridericus Rex Malta Falconers were the first established falconry club in Malta who revived falconry after the Knights of the Order of St John. Currently, the group includes 13 members with great potential of increasing the number. Among these members are novice members, more experienced falconers, and a female falconer who most probably is the only woman who has ever flown a peregrine falcon in a very good manner locally.

The Fridericus Rex Malta Falconers participated in many events, most of them educational by visiting several schools and by being in public with birds, such as charity funds and awareness events. Fridericus Rex will also be helping with their expertise in a bird of prey reintroduction programme in Malta. The first event of this kind was the Vulture Awareness Day, more recently Falconry Day and the latest the Mongolian School Link Programme.

As members of the IAF, Fridericus Rex were invited to represent Malta twice in an international falconry festival in the Middle East in 2011 and in 2014. The Fridericus Rex Malta Falconers were also present in an international vet conference in the Middle East in 2013.

Unlike other countries which continued with the tradition of falconry, Fridericus Rex had to start everything from scratch. Through events, the group gained lot of experience from the world’s top falconers, breeders, rehabilitators and vets. The aim of the club is to maintain falconry at the highest possible standard.

Show of Arms

Show of Arms is a Maltese re-enactment group and fighting school dedicated to the accurate portrayal of medieval and early modern influences prevalent in Malta between 1380 and 1450 and the early 17th century.

The group includes about 30, 21 of them trained in the arts of the medieval sword and other period weapons, from the arming sword to the baroque rapier and the classical small sword, through inspiration from real fight books and combat manuals penned by renowned sword masters such as Fiore dei Liberi, Hans Talhoffer, Achille Marozzo and Ridolfo Capoferro.

The instruction of this martial art is conducted by Daniel Sammut, the only fully registered and qualified maestro d’armi on the island. Sammut received his instruction from various fencing schools throughout Europe and has over 50 years of experience. He forms part of a committee that guides the progress and development of the group.

All the research is done by most of the group’s members. Great attention to detail is invested, even down to the stitching methods of fabrics and jewelry. This is not only to accurately portray a snapshot of history, but also so that when the fighters are in harness, the proper era is presented holistically.

The group’s members come from diverse backgrounds and occupations, but with their dedication and perseverance, all have contributed in making Show of Arms what it is today. Most specialise in specific crafting skills such as the making of ink and quills, leather-working, cookery, medical practice, carpentry, fletching, sewing and weaving. This range of crafts prevalent to the period gives the group as a whole a more eclectic and holistic approach to preserving the now obsolete ways of our ancestors.

The events that Show of Arms takes part in range from fund- raising activities and medieval banquets to whole medieval festivals, both locally and abroad such as Daugmales in Latvia, Canelli in Italy, and Youghal in Ireland, in which arms and armour displays, lectures, games, archery and combat demonstrations are offered to the public with the intention of educating and entertaining the public. Show of Arms also works hand in hand with various organisations that work to protect the cultural heritage of Malta and keep the knowledge of such times alive.

During the Medieval Mdina Festival, Show of Arms will setting camp at Bastion Square, where a display of arms, armour, clothes and food will be held, alongside pavilions, tents, stalls, a small archery range and a combat arena. The group will also be manning the only medieval guard room left in Mdina situated at Greek’s Gate.

Associazione Gruppo Tamburi Citta’ di Giarratana

Founded in 2010, the Associazione Gruppo Tamburi Città di Giarratana is one of the few organisations of this type found in the region of Ragusa, Sicily. The group takes part in various medieval festivals all over Italy and was also chosen as the opening number for the Palio Equestre at Calatabiano, Catania, in 2013, winning the admiration of all those present for the show.

Mdina Local Council, Corte Capitanale, Misraħ il-Kunsill, Mdina. Tel: 2145 0707 E-mail: mdina.lc@gov.mt Website: ww.medievalmdina.eu