On the weekend of the 10th – 11th of October, Tempus Fugitives took part at the Italian Sidesword Open (ISO) in Desenzano. The ISO is part of the European Sidesword League (ESL), attracting participants from all around the world, although travel restrictions made this more of a national event this year. We are proud to …
Italian Sidesword Open 2020
I’m sure we are all feeling the effects of being walled up in our houses for months at a time. So when I was offered a narrow window of escape (to the town of Desenzano on lake Garda no less!!), I jumped at it. This was of course no holiday, but serious business. ProDesenzano and …
The Duel in 16th century Italy
Far from being a simple matter of heated tempers, duelling was a serious matter of social capital and it’s foundation in the common view of the natural order of the world. In this excellent article on duelling culture in the 16th century, we find a wealth of detail on the underlying social causes for such …
Lockdown viewing: Romeo & Juliet at The Globe Theatre
Watch Romeo & Juliet being performed at The Globe Theatre, a reconstruction of the Elizabethan playhouse for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays in the London Borough of Southwark, tomorrow for free! (Follow the link below) Read more about William Shakespeare’s connection to the world of historical fencing in London, and what this particular play …
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A Sword Wounds Compendium
The 18th century French surgeon Hughes Ravaton gives us a fascinating insight into sword wounds, and what it tells us about the use of such weapons as well as the swordsmans thought process when selecting his opening. Very Perilous: A sword wounds compendium by the surgeon Ravaton
Happy Easter everyone!
Have you ever wondered about the bizarre beasties in medieval marginalia? Amongst the most violent (and heavily armed, oddly enough) are the infamous rabbits. Here is Katja Hammond’s take on these. To see more of her brilliant work, look up her popular HEMA webcomic at squirescribbles.com
English Sidesword Open 2020
One of the few major European events dedicated purely to the use of the sidesword and its companion weapons, The English Sidesword Open (ESO) is always an eagerly anticipated international affair. With a great following of competitors and participants from around the globe, the ESO brings together, not just the best this art has to …
Feile na Gaiscigh 2020
This weekend Tempus Fugitives participated in the annual Feile na Gaiscigh Tournament in Dublin, the largest HEMA (Historic European Martial Arts) event in Ireland, where Stefano Conese’s hard work paid off as he again took medals in multiple categories; including the gold for sabre. His tournament success appears to have raised Stefano to the level …
Combat in Context – Romeo & Juliet
In 1545, Henry VIII issued a monopoly on the training of martial systems of combat to the London based ‘Company of the Maisters of Defence’. Already well established, this royal patronage ensured the livelihoods of the Maisters and raised them to the realms of respectability. Unfortunately, this charter was to be short-lived, as it needed …
Wessex League tournament finals
On the 7th & 8th of December, Tempus Fugitives converged on Cambridge for the finals of the Wessex League, and what proved to be a challenging finish to a hard fought tournament series. Stefano Conese struck again, winning the gold, successfully maintaining his lead in the Sword & Buckler category, and achieving an overall league …