Wuffa Viking and Saxon Reenactment Society
Wuffa Viking and Saxon Re-enactment Society is a group of like minded individuals from all walks of life, dedicated to learning and living the ways of the early medieval period. We feature in shows and events up and down the country, specialising in the dark age period that was dominated by the ferocious 'Vikings' and brutal Saxons. Our members range in experience from those just starting out to thirty year veterans. We re-enact all parts of the dark age lifestyle including combat, but also day to day life, such as cooking, blacksmithing, tailoring, music and much more.
What Does Wuffa Do?
The warriors that form the ranks of Wuffa train every week in the style of dark age combat. We use weapons that are historically supported from the period, from swords and spears to terrifying weapons like the Two-handed War Axe. You'll learn how to safely use these tools of war under guidance from our experienced officers and even learn to use ranged weapons such as the bow with our qualified instructors. We also train in formation for larger scale battles, using manoeuvres like the Shield Wall, Eagle's Wings and the famous Boar's Snout. Training like this helps build up not only physical fitness but is also a major boost to personal confidence.
Once you have progressed enough in training, you'll be invited to take part in our performance shows that happen throughout the year.
Living History
While the fighting could be considered the major draw to this hobby, we feel that the biggest part of re-enactment is to experience what life was like a thousand years ago, in times certainly much more brutal then ours. You will have the opportunity to learn new skills with us such as blacksmithing, tailoring and carpentry or even how to play ancient instruments, such as the Talharpa or Lyre.
You'll set up camp with us, and work together in recreating how it would have been to work and live in a warband on the move from the 9th-10th century, without the aid of modern technology.
A brief history of the real Wuffa
The evidence for the ancestral name Wuffings/Wuffingas is vague. What there is, stems from two primary source texts - the first being the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the second being The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written by the father of English history the Venerable Bede in 713AD. These sources tell of a king of East Anglia called Wuffa. Sadly, no date for his birth, death and reign is given. The sources tell of his son, Tyttla - again no dates are given. Tyttla was the father of Eni of which nothing more is known. However, his other son Rædwald (died c.625) has a certifiable historical charter. Rædwald ruled the Kingdom of East Anglia in the early 7th century. From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, we learn that Rædwald was wedded to a queen whose name is sadly lost to us. However, her sage like advice to Rædwald to not forget his past alliances and the old gods is recorded. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Raedwald and his queen had at least two sons, Rægenhere (killed c.617) and Eorpwald (killed c.627). Eorpwald’s bane and possible successor was Ricberht. Around the year 630, Rædwald’s probable step-son Sigeberht seems to have reigned over some of the region of East Anglia before giving up his leadership to his kinsman Æthelric or Ecgric. However, there is some confusion as the leadership of the Wuffings passed quickly through the hands of Æthelric. From 655, the leadership past to Æthelwald, whose reign signalled a less troubled, peaceful phase of the Wuffings’ history. The Wuffings vanished from the historical record with death of his grandson who died in 749AD.
Bede states in The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, the word Wuffa comes from the dynasty of kings of East Anglia are called the Wuffings. Also, there is genealogical evidence held by the British Library with denotes of genealogy that dates back fourteen generations of the Wuffings to the Norse god Wodin/Odin.
Finally, the according to the linguistic research of Rebecca Pinner, writing in St Edmund King and Martyr, ‘Etymologically, the name Wuffa appears to be a diminutive form of Wulf (wolf) and should be translated as little wolf.’ As, Pinner suggests, the positive totemic images of the wolf are common from carvings and jewels stemming in the region of East Anglia from the period of the Wuffings onwards, for example on the finds from the Sutton Hoo burial ship, in which Rædwald was believed to buried.
