Home » History » Historical Re-Enactment » Creating a Persona

Creating a Persona

© Megan McConnell

In most Re-Enactment groups, you will be required to create a persona to participate fully in the group. Most groups have the same basic guidelines:

1. No actual historical people 2. No known fictional people.

So - using these, you could not say that you were Richard the Lionheart, or Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Persona creation is something that is a bugbear to many new re-enactors, however it is very simple and is a lot of fun.

Your persona can be as little as a name that is suitable to your period of re-enactment, or can include a full family history. I tend to lean towards the latter.

You must also remember the rules and guidelines of your group when creating your persona. Some groups allow females to take part in martial activities as a female: others require that all females take a male persona for martial activities.

Rank is also something that is earned in most groups, so you cannot join an American Civil War group and decide that your persona is a Colonel.

You should also ensure that all parts of your persona make sense: doctors, lawyers and most people of the upper classes could read. Most peasants could not. People also tended not to marry outside their "class" so it is unlikely that you would be the legitimate child of a Nobleman and a kitchen maid.

Remember also that people tended not to travel much unless they were wealthy. Until the 20th century, most people did not travel more than 10 miles from their birthplace - so unless you lived right on the boarder of 2 countries, you would not know much about that country. Let alone know the language or have a name from that country.

OK: now some basic guidelines to help you create your persona:

1. What is your name?

2. How old are you?

3. Where were you born?

4. What is your nationality?

5. Who is the head of state in the country you are living in?

6. What year is it?

7. Of what class are you: lower or upper class? Merchant? Artisan? Professional (doctor, etc), or Military - rank?

8. Your gender

9. If you are military: is it career military or a conscript of some sort?

10. Your level of education?

11. Your hobbies?

12. Any siblings?

13. What world events were happening at the time you were alive?

What is your Name?

Try not to use "What to name your baby" books when choosing a name. You will find plenty of references for names all over history by reading about history.

For those re-enacting Vikings, you will find that Scandinavian names have not changed much, and you will often find that the same names are used now as were used then.

The copyright of the article Creating a Persona in Historical Re-Enactment is owned by Megan McConnell. Permission to republish Creating a Persona in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.