The Great Dark Horde is an independent "household" (a type of social sub-group or fraternal club) within the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). Although one can also find members in other re-enactment groups, it may very well be the largest household in that organization. It covers all the Kingdoms, though in some Kingdoms members do not always advertise themselves as Hordesmen. The Society for Creative Anachronism (usually shortened to SCA) is a historical reenactment and living history group approximating mainly pre-17th century Western European history and culture. ...

The Dark Horde first appeared at an event of the SCA in the Middle Kingdom, on 8 May 1971 (A.S. V, in SCA notation). One of the more notable co-founders was well-known fantasy author Robert Asprin (who in the SCA was known as "Yang the Nauseating.") According to eyewitness accounts, some attendees wondered who let the bike gang in the event. According to Yang himself in a song he wrote describing the incident, he was hailed as the Khakhan of the Horde because while enroute to that event he and his friends stopped at a bike shop that was having a sale on sheepskin biker's vests. The others all bought vests that had dyed fleece, while the only one he found that would fit him was natural. Because his was different from the rest, he had to be the 'leader of the pack.' May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... The definition of a fantasy author is somewhat diffuse, and a matter of opinion - Jules Verne considered H. G. Wells to be a fantasy author - and there is considerable overlap with science fiction authors and horror fiction authors. ... Robert Lynn Asprin (born St. ...

Although the Dark Horde is particularly interested in the historical aspects of pre-1650 Mongol culture, some members have personae of Slavic, Middle Eastern, Viking, Celtic, Cherokee, German, Japanese and Chinese origins, among others. Thus, one cannot always identify a Hordesman by their garb. They may very well be dressed as a Cavalier ..... or a Crusader ..... or wearing a royal Crown. Year 1650 (MDCL) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... Distribution of Slavic people by language The Slavic peoples are a linguistic and ethnic branch of Indo-European peoples, living mainly in Europe, where they constitute roughly a third of the population. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-born Norsemen (literally, men from the north) warriors and traders of who originated in Scandinavia and raided the coasts of the British Isles and mainland Europe as far east as the Volga River in Russia from the late 8th–11th century. ... This article is about the European people. ... For other uses, see Cherokee (disambiguation). ... Prince Rupert of the Rhine Cavaliers was the name used by Parliamentarians for the Royalist supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642–1651). ... This article is about the medieval crusades. ... A crown is a symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a god, for whom the crown is traditionally one of the symbols of power and legitimacy (See Regalia for a broader treatment). ...

This diversity is an homage to the fact that the historical Mongol empire not only covered the greatest land-mass of any single country to date -- but that the Mongols were among the more benign conquerors in terms of tolerating the cultural and religious differences of those they absorbed. They did not impose their belief systems, customs or mores on subjugated peoples, nor even much care how they lived or whom they worshiped -- as long as they were prompt with required tributary payments, and did not try to rebel. Expansion of the Mongol Empire Another picture of Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire (Mongolian: Их Монгол Улс, literally meaning Greater Mongol Nation; 1206–1405) was the largest contiguous land empire in history, covering over 33 million km² [1] (12 million square miles) at its peak, with an estimated population of over 100 million...

Members of the Great Dark Horde are held to ideals of self-discipline, honor, and perfection; equality and respect for each person, regardless of race, sex, age, or allegiance; and camaraderie and friendship.

Although the role of the Horde is to serve as an anti-aristocratical alternative within the SCA, Horde members have served as King and/or Queen (and as Prince and/or Princess) in many SCA Kingdoms and Principalities; have served as officers at all levels of the SCA; have served as Baron/Baroness of SCA Baronies; and have earned almost every known award and rank of peerage the SCA has to offer. The Society for Creative Anachronism (usually shortened to SCA) is a historical reenactment and living history group approximating mainly pre-17th century Western European history and culture. ...

The emblem of the Great Dark Horde is a red and black yin-yang symbol traversed by a yellow lightning-bolt. Those Horde members who wish to be known as such are identifiable by cords of braided, woven or twisted red and black yarn which hang from the belt, commonly called "Horde Cords". Taoists Taijitu The concept of Yin Yang originates in ancient Chinese philosophy, most likely from the observations of day turning into night and night into day. ...

As to how many members they actually have, they will usually smile and tell you "Enough." Enough for what? That remains to be seen.