In the Middle Ages, guilds were the backbone of the economic structure of society, providing skilled craftsmen or services that enhanced the live of those who benefited from their presence. Not everyone knew how to do or make everything needed for day to day life. That is where a skilled craftsmen would step in and it was most often a member of a guild.

A guild was a group of skilled craftsmen or merchants who would join together and benefit from each other to improve their craft. They would share knowledge, techniques, and would apply standards for quality within their guild. These skills were well guarded within the guild and was only passed from master to apprentice after they pledged to keep the knowledge within the guild.

The idea of trades is a very ancient one. We find accounts of skilled craftsmen all throughout scripture. Cain son of Adam was a farmer. His brother Able was a shepherd that raised livestock. (Genesis 4:3-4). Two descendants of Cain, Jubal and Tubal-Cain became skilled in other areas. Jubal was called the “father of those who play the flute and pipe”, a musician, and Tubal-Cain was “a forger of all instruments of bronze and iron” a blacksmith (Genesis 4: 21-22). Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) a carpenter (Genesis 6:14) and a farmer (Genesis 9:20). Pharaoh had a baker (Genesis 40:5). There are so many different trades that are mentioned in scripture they cannot all be listed here. From these trades, a collection of craftsmen would assemble to form a guild.

The word guild comes from an Anglo-Saxon word “geld”. Groups of skilled workers paid a geld or tax to the Anglo-Saxon and Norman kings from the profits of their operation. From the name of this tax, each craftsman’s group would eventually become known as a “guild”.

Men of Iron recognizes three different types of guilds that a member can become a Guildmaster of the Trade Guilds, the Fine Arts Guilds and the Professional Guilds.

The Guilds of Men of Iron

The Agrarian Guild (Professional)

The agrarian guild focuses on the historical gardening, farming, animal husbandry and food production and distribution of the medieval period, and how it survives today.  Practices, tools and methods of the agricultural past and present will be a large part of the guild.

The Armorers Guild (Trades)

The Armorers Guild is a collection of armor makers that create protective armor for combat from leather, steel plate and mail.  These craftsmen produce items for Men of Iron members to wear that are functional, historically correct and stylish for the individual.  Helms, coifs, hauberks, pauldrons, gorgets, bracers and many other pieces are built by these craftsmen.  Items specific to Men of Iron combat such as EVA foam combat swords and shields are made by this guild.

The Artisans Guild (Fine Arts)

The Artisans Guild covers a broad range of arts that were found in the Middle Ages and covers a number of disciplines. Painting, sculpture, jewelry, engraving, bright smithing, embroidery, stained glass, illumination of manuscripts, and many other detail arts.  Members of the guild will select one of the disciplines to focus on and learn the history of the art, how it factored into medieval life and how it can be reproduced for modern knights today.  

The Bakers and Chefs Guild (Trades)

The Bakers and Chefs Guild focuses on the culinary arts of the Middle Ages and how it applies today.  Following and creating recipes, cooking, baking, and preparing feasts are all key parts of this guild.  It is from this guild that the Master of the Feasts for households and Barons Feasts are selected.  Both period and modern methods of cooking  and serving are developed as well within the guild.

The Blacksmiths Guild (Trades)

The Blacksmiths Guild is where fire and metal are used to create works of art.  Swords, daggers and other items used by knights are shaped by hammer and anvil.  This guild explores the history of metal work, the medieval blacksmith, his tools and technique and materials and the modern blacksmith and the skills needed to produce quality items for use by Men of Iron members.

The Bowyer Guild (Trades)

The Bowyer Guild is a collection of craftsmen who create the finest archery equipment in the realm.  They build longbows, arrows, crossbows and bolts, and all of the accoutrements that are needed for archery.  This guild explores the history of archery and how to build the items needed for archery.  Members of this guild will be called upon to serve as range officers for archery and crossbow events at tournaments and how to set up, run and score an archery tournament/event.  They will also be the group that is called upon to teach archery safety to households for the Tournament Card requirements.    Guild Requirements

The Builders Guild (Professional)

The Builders Guild are those who are interested or working in the construction field.  Medieval building techniques for houses, walls, castles, and any other structure built in the middle ages are learned in this guild.  Those who are interested in or are currently involved in the construction industry whether as builders or trade contractors are welcome to join this guild.

The Carpenters Guild (Trades)

Carpenters were a vital part of medieval life.  The Carpenters Guild continues that tradition by developing those with an interest in working with wood.  Turning logs to lumber and  lumber into useful items like furniture, shield stands, arming racks and many other items.  Merging the use of modern technology with medieval know how, the men of the carpenters guild are not just mere woodworkers but they become artists.

The Clergy Guild (Professional)

The King himself gave us the Great Commission to take the Gospel to all nations and tell the world what he had done for all mankind.  The members of the Clergy Guild not only do that, but are also the men who have devoted their lives to the calling of Christ to shepherd flocks of Christ followers.  Guild members are those who have answered that call to serve and have taken the next step to seek out education and credentials to preach the Word.

The Drama Guild (Fine Arts)

Acting, props, scripts and staging, the Drama Guild produced entertainment of all types for medieval peoples.  The Men of Iron Drama Guild draws upon the medieval history of drama and stagecraft to entertain the crowds.  Members of the guild are encouraged to develop their craft to honor the King with excellence and professionalism in all forms of theater.

The Finance Guild (Professional)

The Finance Guild explores the medieval origins of finance and banking and encourages those in that industry to follow Christ centered principals of economics in all their dealings.  Those who are employed in the banking industry or any type of finance or investment business are encouraged to become members of this guild.

The Heralds Guild (Fine Arts)

The heralds of Men of Iron have a very important task for members of our brotherhood.  There is a great deal of information that needs to be mastered to be an effective herald.  The Heralds Guild will guide those who serve in these role, assisting them in developing a mastery of Men of Iron Heraldry.

The Hospitaller Guild (Professional)

The Hospitaller Guild focuses on the education and advancement of the medical sciences.  Examining the medieval origins of modern medical practices, the hospitallers focus on making Christ the center of modern medicine and spreading His love through healing the body.  Nurses, physicians, dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians,  physical therapists and many others involved in the health care industry are all candidates to become members of the Hospitaller Guild.

The Law Guild (Professional)

The Law Guild promotes Christian values among those who work with the law and law enforcement.  The history and medieval origins of those who enforces the law and how it was done, the application of laws in medieval society, and the beginning of our modern code of laws will be studied.  Member of Men of Iron who serve as security, police, attorneys, judges, or law makers are all welcome to seek membership in the Law Guild. 

The Merchants Guild (Professional)

Like many other trades that are found within the guilds, the Merchants Guild exists to promote honesty and integrity in business professionals.  The history of business in the Middle Ages, the Biblical blueprint for business and trade and how both apply to the Christian businessman will all be explored by those in the Merchants Guild.  Those in business who have earned business degrees, business owners, and entrepreneurs are all encouraged to become members of the Merchants Guild. 

The Musicians and Bards Guild (Fine Arts)

Music has been used to capture the hearts of people for millennia.  Bards, also called poets or story tellers have the ability to draw others in with the crafted word.  These two talents combined can be used to reach people for the King.  The Musicians and Bards Guild is to advance and develop music and story telling in Men of Iron for the glory of the King.  This guild studies the biblical history, medieval history and modern use of these mediums for the purpose of reaching wanders for the King.

The Professors Guild  (Professional)

The Professors Guild is a group of Christian educators who encourage everyone around them to become lifelong learners.  The guild explores the history of teachers, the biblical examples that we have to live by and the modern application to those who seek to become teachers by trade.  School teachers, college professors, instructors, and any other field that a man may present information in an organized way will find like minded brothers within this guild.

The Sciences Guild (Professional)

The Sciences Guild joins those who always ask the question why.  This guild promotes the education and profession of modern sciences.  The Sciences Guild explores the formation of the ideas that would once be considered outlandish and beyond understanding in the pages of history and the biblical application to the sciences of then and now.  All types of natural sciences are classed within this guild, earth, natural, biological, astronomical and many others are collectively considered part of the Sciences Guild.

The Tailors Guild (Trades)

Since Adam and Eve left Eden, we have had a need for clothing.    The Tailors Guild are a collection of those who are skilled in creating garments that are worn by the members of Men of Iron.  They sew garments, create patterns, do embroidery, create banners, flags and other types of cloth items needed for Men of Iron.  They explore the history of clothing of the Middle Ages, the modern applications and the biblical instructions for clothes.  The Tailors Guild can advise members on garments to be worn and will help all members to be outfitted in the garb of the modern knight.

The Warriors Guild (Fine Arts)

The Warriors Guild is the guild for those who compete in Men of Iron tournaments.  Members of this guild have distinguished themselves in the martial events of our tournaments.  These warriors have mastered each of the martial events, learned the history of medieval warfare, traced the biblical warrior in scripture and have excelled in sportsmanship and safety in all areas of tournament. The members of this guild will be the pool that Men of Iron will draw its Marshals from for tournaments and the combat sword events.

The Writers Guild (Fine Arts)

The written word has always been a vital part of our history.  From the cuneiform text in clay tablets to vellum page books bound in leather, knowledge has been recorded by those who could write throughout time.   The Writers Guild not only encourages Christ centered creative writing and journalism but also creation of the historical implements that are needed to record those words. The history of the written word is studied as is the biblical importance of writing. Writers, scribes, journalists, book binders, those skilled in producing paper, vellum, ink and quills, are all welcome in this guild.