The Renaissance Coup

### Outcome

* Temporary overthrow of the Springfield government and establishment of a neo-Renaissance Republic
* Martial law declared in Illinois by both sides
* A lot of bad folk songs using lutes were made

Combatants| Renaissance Festival AttendeesSome passerby | * Springfield Police Force
* Illinois National Guard

Commanders| * Harold "Cesario" Jenkins
* Franklin "Pattycake" Lewis
* Mary "Mrs. Mary Mack-Mack-Mack" Mack
* Garlic "Jamestown" Head
* Brig. Gen. Samuel Christ

Casualties| 17 killed445 captured | * 31 Police Officers
* 13 National Guardsmen

The **1885 American Coup Attempt**, commonly referred to as the **Renaissance Coup**, was an attempt in 1885 by American Renaissance Festival cosplayers to overthrow the city government of Springfield, Illinois and establish a neo-Renaissance republic under the role of Harold "Cesario" Sherwood. The conflict is believed to have started over a drunken brawl between Sherwood and a man in a jester costume: this allegation is corroborated by multiple witnesses, and was cited as the inciting factor in the ensuing police report.

## Pretext

The Springfield Renaissance Festival was a tradition of the inhabitants of Illinois' capital, having taken place once every year since its founding in 1853. However, in its later years, the event developed a reputation for its unruly patrons and generally hostile atmosphere, with genuine renaissance weaponry being openly carried by often intoxicated festival-goers. Small clans of roleplayers - known as "Guilds" - had begun to dominate the scene, with Sherwood' *Sol Invictus* guild among them. The practice of guilds was generally a means for having fun at its inception, but it quickly into a tense feud after multiple provocations between guilds, the bulk of which were incited by *Sol Invictus*. For the 1885 festival, city officials ordered increased police presence at the event in order to prevent scenes of hostility between between the attendees.

## Brawl and Opening Stages

At 2:32 PM, 4 hours into the festival's opening, Harold Sherwood was spotted heavily intoxicated in the authentic Renaissance-style tavern at the east end of the lot. The official police report taken after the incident states that Sherwood was seen "engaging in various acts of belligerence." Among them were "yelling archaic slurs at other festivalgoers, among them 'cur' and 'knave'." He also "payed for drinks with Renaissance coin replicas." The report mentions that the tavernkeep was unable to do anything as Sherwood was accompanied by various armed guildmembers.

At 3:31 PM, after having downed six mugs of ale, four of which he did not pay for and two of which he stole directly from other patron's tables, Sherwood began to play a lute while singing in what numerous festivalgoers described as "something resembling middle-high German from the Rhineland region." At 3:45, a man in a jester costume entered the tavern while dancing and clapping. Witnesses claim the jester ordered a drink and made some "jolly remarks in pseudo-Shakespearean English, which prompted Sherwood to bash him in the head with a lute.

The jester fell into a candleholder and set fire to the tavern's wooden interior. Several patrons tried to escape, but Sherwood and other Sol Invictus members reportedly blocked the entrance and fired crossbows at the crowd. Several died before police arrived and apprehended Sherwood and his guild, taking them to the Festival square and placing them in the stocks as punishment. Later, members of the Knights Hospitalliar guild joined forces with Sol Invictus and attacked three police officers with a chair and empty wine bottle they had found in the tavern.