This is a book about how medieval weapons were used, according to medieval people who used them. It discusses the use of eight weapons or weapon combinations from the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, selected with an eye toward their iconic status in popular culture, as well as five different combative contexts.
The aim of this book is to familiarize the reader with the use of medieval weaponry according to historicalfencing masters. It is not a how-to book on martial arts, but the reader will come away with a fresh appreciation for the sophistication of medieval fencing and an accurate picture of what medieval fighting looked like on the personal level.
Table of Contents:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A NOTE ON TRANSLATIONS
PREFACE
CHAPTER ONE
We're all sword geeks here
CHAPTER TWO
How do we know any of this?
CHAPTER THREE
Of royal blood: longsword
CHAPTER FOUR
Excellent and useful: sword and buckler
CHAPTER FIVE
Queen of swords: sword and shield
CHAPTER SIX
The forgotten: sword and cloak, sword and dagger, and two swords
CHAPTER SEVEN
Malice and art: knives and daggers
CHAPTER EIGHT
Many obligations: greatswords
CHAPTER NINE
The unseen: what about axes and maces?
CHAPTER TEN
Arm's length: thrusting polearms
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Grace and results: cutting polearms
CHAPTER TWELVE
Taking hits: fencing in, and against, armor
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Honor in wars: military fencing
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Final thoughts
WORKS CITED
INDEX
About the Author :
Eric Lowe is the head instructor of Swordwind Historical Swordsmanship (swordwind.org) in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he studies and teaches Kunst des Fechtens and Bolognese fencing.
