Tribe Woden Thor was established in June of 1995 initially to provide an outlet for medieval reenactment and live action fantasy role playing with an emphasis on creating a family friendly environment where children would be included and not simply dealt with.

As time has passed the group’s mission has matured. We still emphasize the family friendly environment but have refined our focus to what was truly desired all along, Historical Reenactment. The Tribe represents the political structure and life styles of the Germanic and Norse peoples of Northern Europe during the times of 800 to 1200 AD. We are based in and around the area of Westphalia on the river Ems in what is now Northwestern Germany. The structure of the Tribe is based on the old Germanic Tribal traditions of the early middle ages where an extended family would group together to form a “Kindred” or a “Clan” The goal was to help each other survive and offer mutual support through greater numbers. They existed under a clan leader or “chieftain” who speaks for the clan as a whole. Under the chieftain would stand the council of elders, consisting of the individual leaders of households within the clan.

These clans were communal, made of people known as FREEMEN or FREELANDERS, men and women who were free land owners and were not subject to the rule of any given member of the ruling class, but were not considered nobility. However the “clan” political structure offered little in the way of stability. Clans would often feud with one another, over land and resources, over insults and disputes, over women and love. For all the same reasons man has always gone to war. The feud was a social device as much as anything in these times creating acceptable means of righting alleged wrongs, disseminating disputes, and focusing the energy of a society which values individual valor as a primary character trait and creating a stronger bond or sense of community within the clan or kindred.

Tribes were an expansion of the communal ideal that worked so well in the clans. Several clans would come to unite under a strong leader to further the mutual benefits of trade and defense. This leader would often be referred to as the “High Chieftain” whose responsibility was to protect the interests of the tribe and settle disputes between clans. The High Chieftain represented the tribe in dealings with other tribes, clans and peoples. During times of conflict he maintained absolute authority over all aspects of the tribe. Standing behind the High Chieftain was the Tribal Council which consisted of the leaders or chieftains of each respective clan within the tribe as well as two non-voting positions (Tribal First Sword and Tribal First Defender). For more information read The Tribal and Clan Hierarchy and Laws. By the time period we represent Tribes were much more of a rarity, they still existed in a small subversive fashion to the growing changes around them.

At its essence, the early Tribe Woden Thor (800 – 1000) represents a group of people who are struggling with the changes going on around them. The massive influence of Christianity (and the often unfortunate conversion by threat and sword) and the conquering and long aftermath of the rule of Charlemagne brought many too long for the older days and the more traditional ways of life. The later reenactments of the Tribe (1000 – 1200) depict a band of people; some still clinging desperately to the “old ways,” who are carving out a place for themselves in a time of constant warfare, with numerous skirmishes between lords and kings early in that period, to the Crusades that soon arose. German mercenaries have been prized fighting units throughout history and the Tribe filled those boots where ever the bill was sure to be paid. Especially into the Middle East with the Crusades and the influences we brought home from that.

It must be understood though that even as a member of the tribe, each clan is responsible for all matters within its own lands that do not directly affect the tribe as a whole. Each member of the Tribe is held to a basic set of rules and guidelines for their actions within their clan and tribe. For more information read Tribal Code Of Conduct

The Tribes and Clans of the time were made up mainly of people of Germanic origin, however they also commonly included the Norse (North Men) or Vikings and people of the British Isles which includes the Welsh, Scotts, Pictish peoples. There also were slaves or thrulls who have earned their freedom and found home within a Clan or Tribe.

Tribe Woden Thor currently consists of two clans:

The Raven Clan whom represents the Northern Germanic peoples who populated this area for generations. And The Wolf Clan whom represents the Nordic influence or Vikings who found their way into northern Europe in search of new land and conquest. The wonderful thing about the area of the world we’ve chosen to reenact is that the population was in a constant state of flux and flow, allowing for a variety of peoples form numerous ancestral backgrounds to come together. There’s definitely room for several more clans within the Tribe, provided the new clans members are strong, mighty, and proud people.

Learn more about the Raven Clan

Learn more about the Wolf Clan

Learn more about Joining the Tribe