Sofya la Rus
13th-14th Century Medieval Russian Life

As you can see below, I've been slightly obsessed with the Russian Middle Ages since I started in the SCA in A.S. XXXII (1997), in the Shire of Shadowdale in the great Kingdom of Calontir. I hope you find the information here helpful. Unless otherwise noted, the articles and illustrations are my own creation, so please give credit where credit is due. All of them are also "works in progress" (although some haven't been worked on in a while). Please feel free to enlighten me. General Persona and Culture Notes: Developing a Medieval Russian Persona Further Notes On Being Rus Misc. SIG Culture Notes History: History according to Sofya Russian History Timeline Foreign Interaction with Rus7/08 Medieval Russian Rulers The Origin of the Romanov Dynasty 13th Century Princely Cities Other Russian History Links Names and Language Quick and Dirty Russian Names Speaking with a Russian Accent Spelling Period Russian in Period English Medieval Russian Titles and Ranks - includes Alternate Titles Revision Proposal 7/08 Russian Names Research 9/08 Medieval Slavic Names from the Medieval Names Archive. Paul Wickenden's Russian Archive - much more info about Russian names (among other things). Official Alternate SCA Titles List. On-line Manuscripts and Period Sources. Garb Easy, Breezy Russian Garb - class taught at Gulf Wars XVI Fancy, Schmancy Russian Garb - class taught at Gulf Wars XVI Sofya's Wardrobe - what she actually wears Some Patterns Russian Clothing in Period Art Traditional Russian Headdresses by Region Merchant of 15th Century Novgorod - my translation of a Russian website. Merchant's Wife of 15th Century Novgorod - my translation of a Russian website. Misc. SIG Garb Notes - collars, poneva debate, buttons, fabrics, dyes, threads, stolas, purses, underwear. Misc. SIG Gem Notes - buttons, gems and lots of pearls, including pearl embroidery Misc. SIG Headdress Notes - includes info on temple rings vs. kolty Notes on Clothing in Early Rus Class Distinctions Regional Distinctions Social Functions Fabrics and Furs Color and Dyes Garment Construction and Care Decoration and Ornament Jewelry Collars, Cuffs, Voshvy, Borders Belts, Purses, Gloves, Mittens Footwear Notes on Women's Clothing in Early Rus. Layer 1 - chemise/rubakha/sorochitsa Layer 2 - short overgarments Layer 3 - wide-sleeved long overgarments Layer 4 - narrow-sleeved overgarments Layer 5 - cloak-like garments Hair and Headdresses Examples from Stamerov Examples from Kolchin Women's Clothing Reconstruction from Kolchin Notes on Men's Clothing in Early Rus Layer 1 - shirt and trousers Layer 2 - light overgarments Layer 3 - heavy overgarments Layer 4 - cloaks and cloak-like garments Hair and Accessories Men's Clothing Reconstructions per Kolchin Glossary of Russian Clothing Men's Shirts of 16th-17th Cent. - my translation. 11/08 Gold Embroidery of pre-Mongol Rus'. - my translation. Pskov Fabric Treasure. - my translation of article about 10th cent. archeology find. Rabinovich "Ancient Russian Clothing of IX-XIII Cent." - my translation. Rabinovich Part 1 "Clothing of Russians of 13th-17th cent." - my translation. Rabinovich Part 2 "Clothing of Russians of 13th-17th cent." - my translation. "Textiles of Novgorod" - my notes/translation from Nahlik's analysis of archeological samples. Kolchin's "Ancient Russian Costume" - my translation of Ch 4 of Drevnaya Rus Byt i Kultura. Pushkareva's "Exceptional clothing they created..." translated from "Zhenshiny Drevnej Rusi". Mordak's Garb Packet Russian clothing and its international context: 1600-1725 by Richard Hellie (The University of Chicago).10/08 External Clothing Links - 1903 Ball, related cultures, other costumers' info Weapons and Armor 13th & 14th Century Medieval Russian Arms and Armour Russian Armor in the Time of Ivan the Terrible - by Master Mordak.1/08 Silk Road Designs Armoury by Norman Finkelshteyn. Medieval Russian Armor - by John Sloan. [Re-rediscovered 3/10/02.] Byzantine Lamellar Armor: Conjectural Reconstruction by Peter Beatson. Food! Medieval Russian Food - includes my recipes, such as they are.7/08 16th Century Cloister Meal - my own crude translation. The Russian Stove7/08 Jadwiga Zajaczkowa's Handout on Russian and Polish Food Online Russian Grocery Store - lots of recipes, some of which I've tried. RusCuisine.com - more recipes. Misc. SIG Food Notes The Fasting Rule of the Orthodox Church - something we often neglect in the SCA. The Russian Orthodox Church Russian Churches - now links to illustrations! The Iconography of the Russian Iconostasis The Icon of the Virgin Orans Great Panagia External Icon/Orthodox Links Calligraphy, Illumination, & Scrolls Period Scroll Wording7/08 Scroll Introductions Praise & Justification for Awards Honors, Grants, Gifts and Privileges Responsibilities/Consequences/Instructions Oaths Scroll Closure/Seals Miscellaneous Phrases and Texts Sample A&S Scroll7/08 Period Texts used for the above On-line Manuscripts and Period Sources. Russian Music and Dance - not necessarily "period" Russian Znamenny Chant - a very interesting site about Old Russian religious music. Songs of the Russian People - a large, old (1872) scholarly discussion Song of the Balalaika - folksongs with music, audio, and background info (the transliterations have some mistakes) Russian Folk Songs in Real Audio Russian Folk Songs with English Translations Khoomei Throat Singing - I don't know if medieval Russian music used this, but it is very interesting. Russian, German and other Folk Songs Three Russian Folk Dances - step-by-step instructions Russian Folk Dances - lots of video clips The Middlebury Russian Choir - put out a lovely CD. Miscellaneous Articles about Material Culture Misc. SIG Craft Notes Medieval Russian Medicine Gorodki - a plausibly period Russian game11/07 Courtyards and homes: 13th-15th cent. by Rabinovich, my translation The Russian Stove7/08 Traditional Village Structures Traditional Village Tools and Activities References: On-line Manuscripts and Period Sources. Bibliography - Books I've found useful. Books - that I've heard are good. Other sites with accumulations of useful info Novgorod Archeology - wonderful (large!) photos by Prof. Michael Fuller aka Lord Michael of Saffita. The Russian Knowledge Page - part of the Slavic Interest Group. (under re-construction) Medieval and Early Modern Russia and Ukraine. at the University of Washington (Seattle) Life in 13th Century Novgorod by Gregory William Frux Birka Traders Viking, Byzantine and Rus goods from Australia. Miklagard - an impressive group of reeneactors from the New Varangian Guard. Christobel's and Peter's page. Some great articles by members of the New Varangian Guard. The Red Kaganate - a site dedicated to the medieval Turco-Mongol world that strongly influenced Rus. COPYRIGHT (c) 1997-2008 by Lisa Kies. You may make copies for personal use and to distribute for educational purposes but only if articles remain complete and entire with original authorship clearly noted. Send comments and questions to lkies@jumpgate.net Return to Home Page.