Results of the Historic Combat Series at Pennsic XXXI

[Asbjorn Johansen]

This is the general distribution announcement feel free to cut and paste it to whatever list you think is appropriate.

Asbjorn

Results of the Historic Combat Series at Pennsic XXXI

The Historic Combat Series is an attempt to provide a venue for those who wish to focus on more authentic forms of tourney, melee and combat, within the SCA. While the particulars of several tournaments varied from period, the effort was to make each event explore some aspect of medieval combat in a more in depth manner than is done in typical SCA combat whether it be in format, appearance, or technique. At Pennsic XXXI we had 13 days of combat, and many great deeds of chivalry and arms.

Details on the rules for the various tourneys and melees can be found at www.historiccombat.org

Tourney Results:

I33 Sword and Buckler Tourney
Combat with sword and buckler, inspired by the I33 manuscript, the earliest known European combat manual. This tourney was run in single elimination format. Two prizes were awarded (steel bucklers). One for the victor in the tourney, and another for the persons whose fighting best reflected the manual.

Sir Garik met Sir Guerric in the finals, with Sir Guerric emerging victorious (the similarity in pronunciation caused much amusement).

Edric was awarded the prize for combat that most embodied what is seen in the manual.

The Plate and Mail Tourney

Combatants were to be armoured primarily in steel plate or mail. This was a counted blow single elimination tourney, with the number of blows based on the harness worn. Combatants also lost if they were struck a given number of blows, struck in an unarmoured area, driven from the lists, knocked to the ground or were disarmed.

Sir Robert and Murdoch met in the finals, with Sir Robert emerging as the victor.

As Real Men Fought (Period Victory Conditions Tournament)

This tourney was run as a single elimination list. A breastplate was offered as the prize. Bouts were fought until one of the following terms was met: A combatant was driven to the ground or from the list, a combatant is without a weapon, or a combatant yields. In addition a combatants had a choice of adding a modern constraint, fighting until a specified number of blows had been landed, in order to simulate be beaten to the point of yielding (this option was only chosen for a few of the combats).

Squire Trevor and Ehren Freed met in the finals with Squire Trevor emerging victorious.

The Grand Pas de Armes was also run on Monday before opening ceremonies, with great displays of prowess and honor abounding. Our King of Armes, then Squire, now Sir Vitus chose to honor 3 combatants for the performance on the field that day.
Master Rufus was honored for his courtesy and grace, Marcus Von Westphall selected as most Preaux, and Duke Finvaar de Taahe was chosen as the overall champion for both his inspiration to us and his preaux.

A Grand Melee was held to commemorate the famous Combat of the Thirty which occurred in the 100 Years War (http://www.nipissingu.ca/department/his ... THIRTY.HTM). Rules for the melee were developed at an event earlier in the week. We wished to create a set of rules that would provided a more authentic feel, while remaining relatively simple. Combatants fought until receiving 3 good blows or a thrust to an open faced helm or an armpit. In order simulate the advantage that would be gained by striking someone who was unaware or unable to defend themselves, we allowed a “submission from behindâ€

[Jean Paul de Sens]

Sounds great. I hope you have the energy to put it on again next year, when I will be able to attend.

JP