Since I decided to give my FUNNY LITTLE WARS/PORTABLE WARGAME armies proper names, I’ve had several suggestions for names that I can use.
Three such suggestions stand out; Dick Bryant’s Marshal Armand Maladroit as the ruler of Burgundy and Archduke Piccolo's Jean-Andre Vicomte d’Avidhomme and General Igor Grigorevitch Provgorat. The latter came about as a result of me mentioning that my Masonic rank in Hertfordshire is Provincial Grand Orator, which on documents is abbreviated to be ProvGOrat.
It was whilst I was thinking about the latter that I recalled that many years ago some of the alumni of St Albans School had formed a Masonic Lodge called the Old Albanians Lodge No.4999. When I discovered the existence of this Lodge, I had visions of a Lodge full of men wearing sheepskin or goatskin jerkins and bandoliers of bullets. The reality was a group of mainly old or middle-aged men wearing sheepskin aprons.
The memory of my initial idea has stayed with me, and when I began to think about possible names for small Balkan-like imagi-nations, I thought about the Old Albanians … and conflated the name of the school so that it became Stalbania (St + Albans).
All I have to do now is to find some suitable figures for my Stalbanian Army!
The city of St Albans (and therefore the name of the school) comes from the name of the first British saint, Alban.
The shield that forms the centre of the Arms of the city of St Albans.
Alban converted to Christianity after sheltering a persecuted Christian priest (who was named Amphibalus) in his house. He was impressed with the priest's piety and when the Roman authorities searched Alban's house, Alban took the priest's place. As a result, Alban was asked to renounce Christianity or suffer the punishment intended for the priest. Alban refused and was executed, thus becoming Britain's first saint.
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Laughed out loud at the “Lodge full of men wearing sheepskin or goatskin jerkins” 😆
ReplyDeleteNundanket,
DeleteIt’s what my wargame/history-distorted brain imagined … and the reality was - to be truthful - a bit of a disappointment!
All the best,
Bob
I liked that joke too! And it's interesting, because the St Albans / Albania conjunction made me think about the possibility of 'Hertsogovina' - get it?
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteI’m pleased that you enjoyed my observation regarding the ‘old’ Albanians!
Thanks for the great idea! ‘Hertsogovina’ is too good a suggestion not to use!
All the best,
Bob
Oh that is just too good to ignore too David. I wish I’d said it!
DeleteNundanket,
DeleteIt certainly is a clever idea … and one that I shall shamelessly use!
All the best,
Bob
As long as you don't mention any of this to your shrink (he/she may up your medication) you should be OK
ReplyDeleteBrilliant stuff ;)
Geordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteMy shrink is very understanding!
All the best,
Bob
I am very pleased that you are using my name suggestion for your imagi-nation. Just wanted to point out that its "Dick".not "David". I appreciate that you are trying to keep your blog PC, but I have come to accept that my name has become a swear word. My wife says that I deserve it! I just supplement it with "That's my name, not my personality".
ReplyDeleteAll the best of the new year
Dick Bryant
Dick Bryant,
DeleteMy profuse apologies! I have corrected my mistake … which I put down to old age and decrepitude … or possibly overindulgence over Christmas!
(I have not yet achieved the state reached by one of my wife’s ancestors who was discharged from active service in the British Army at the age of ninety as being ‘too old and decrepit for further service ’ … and sent to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where he became an in pensioner.)
All the best,
Bob
Your ancestor story is amazing! I hope to die in bed, shot by a jealous husband!
DeleteDick Bryant,
DeleteHe served under successive Dukes of Argyll (the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Dukes, who all raised or commanded infantry regiments in the British Army) before becoming an Invalid. He then became Master Gunner of Landguard Fort, Felixstowe, Suffolk … a post he held until he went into Chelsea.
His sons all served in the Royal Artillery. One died at Port Royal from Yellow Fever, but the other became the regiment’s Fife Major, one of the senior NCOs of the regiment. His job included administering corporal punishment to the Gentleman Cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. When he retired, he owned three tailor’s shops and three bookmaker’s shops … one of each outside the main entrances of the Royal Artillery barracks, the Royal Marine barracks, and the Royal Dockyard, Woolwich.
Good luck with achieving your ambition!
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeleteNot sure whether you noticed - readers might not - but apart from the pretence to nobility and the apostrophic garnish, one of the names I suggested was simply a Frenchified version of my own. Glad you liked it. Just thought it would be a cool thing to have my name associated, even in an oblique way, with the Elevenst Infantry Regiment in the service of the Army of Burgundy. (I see you have corrected it. Shame.)
Cheers and a bumper,
Ion Andrew Dowman
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI did wonder how you had come up with the name … but now it makes complete sense! I have used the French version of my surname (Coeur de Roi) for characters in the past and will be extremely pleased to use yours!
I will be giving the Vicomte the rank of at least Brigadier … and making him honorary colonel of the Eleventh Infantry Regiment.
All the best,
Bob
Bob-
DeleteWonderful! I hope perhaps in one of my campaigns to find a command with a certain Robert Coeur-du-Roi who does seem to bear a close familial relationship with a Gallic monarch - or Rupprecht von Koenighertz, or Robyert Tsarserdtsye ... There's plenty of openings available!
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI would be honoured to get a mention!
I rather like the sound of Rupprecht von Koenighertz! Very Zender-ish ... and likely to appear in one of my tales at some point!
All the best,
Bob
One must take inspiration where you find it!
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteVery true … and it can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
All the best,
Bob
Love the names! I've used some of the same methods my self, for example General Cordone MTL, 13th guards tank army in our world war three campaign from many years ago. I love coming up with interesting names its part of the fun of wargames.
ReplyDeleteMark Cardone,
DeleteI picked up the idea of interesting, imaginative names for characters and places from Eric Knowles and his Madasahatta Campaign. I think that they always add that extra bit of enjoyment.
All the best,
Bob