Medieval reenactment

Medieval reenactment is a form of historical reenactment that focuses on re-enacting European history of the Middle Ages, broadly the period from the Decline of the Roman Empire to about the end of the 15th century.

The first part of this period is sometimes called the Migration Period or Dark Ages by Western European historians, and as Völkerwanderung ("wandering of the peoples") by German historians. This term is usually reserved for the 5th and 6th centuries. Re-enactors who re-create the next period of history – 7th to 11th centuries – often refer to this as the Early Middle Ages. The 12th to 14th centuries fall under the term High medieval, while the 15th century is often termed Late medieval, though usage varies.

With such a wide range of eras most medieval reenactment groups focus on a smaller time period, sometimes restricting their interest to a particular century, or even a specific decade, series of battles, or monarch, depending on how authentic the reenactment and encampment is intended to be.