Creating a Persona
may be that the country that you are re-enacting did not have a standing army in that particular time, and all members were volunteers or conscripts.
Your level of education?
This will determine how your persona will interact with others.
Remember, that until the late 19th century, women were often not educated at all, or had only a basic education. And remember: education means different things to different peoples in different times. To a Viking, an education was different to a doctor in WWII.
Your hobbies?
What does your persona do to relax? Again look at history. Books were uncommon and quite expensive until the 18th century. And in the frontiers of America, Australia and New Zealand were rare.
Any siblings?
Most families were large - however there was a lot of infant mortality so you may only have 1 or 2 living siblings, but a few dead ones as well.
What world events were happening at the time you were alive?
Another general knowledge one that will assist you with conversation and placing your persona. Remember too that your rank will decide what you do and do not know - but whatever your rank, world events will have an effect on how you live.
Some people give their persona a completely different personality than theirs - and it is completely up to you as to whether you do so or not.
Example Persona
To help you, I would like to introduce you to my persona. I re-enact medieval history - and when I started was re-enacting the 12th century (I have since moved onto Renaissance and Elizabethan and am working on bringing her further up the timeline.
I am known as Madilayn - however my persona's full and proper name is Madelina sor le Mer. She is a Norman lady living in approximately 1185 in Carlisle with her maternal grandfather and her cousins.
Her mother is dead, and her father in on Crusade. She has no surviving siblings, and so is the heiress of her father's estates in France, as well as the portion her mother would have received from her grandfather.
The King is Richard the Lionheart, and there is currently considerable acrimony going on in the world - with the Crusades, and also familial fighting in the ruling family.
Madilayn is unmarried and has no children. For relaxation, she is a keen needleworker. She has learned to read and right (as was common in most ladies) and can also follow mass in Latin
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