RULES OF COMBAT AND DISCIPLINES FOR HRADEC TOURNAMENT

 

The following text specifies general combat rules for the Tournament of the Elisabeth Richenza Hradec court, from safety rules to valid counting of hits. In this text, you will find the list of tournament awards and rules for fighting in the disciplines that may appear in the tournament. However, always check the schedule of the current tournament and which disciplines are announced for a particular year and how to take part in them. Registration for most disciplines must be in advance of the tournament. Requests for participation made directly at the tournament may no longer be heard.

The fighting equipment has to historically correspond with the years 1275-1330, with the cultural area and the social status of the represented character. Adequate equipment is a condition of participation in disciplines and for our purposes we divide it into light, medium and heavy class. You can find more about armour in a separate article: 

Equipment conditions for the turn of the XIII. and XIV. centur

Unless otherwise specified, the fight continues until the first good hit.

In pre-arranged cases, it is possible to fight for dominance.

All fights are fought in a knightly and friendly spirit. Everyone must fight with the intention of not hurting the opponent.
 

Good Hit

• It is a fundamental way of fighting not only at the tournament but also in other events. 

• A good hit is acknowledged by the stricken. It is allowed to finish an ongoing attack and after it, the stricken will resign from the fight.

• A good hit is acknowledged based on the perceived chance to penetrate the armour worn on the body part  hit.

• Before the fight, it is advised to show the strength of individual hits needed to overcome a specific armour.

• If the judges have doubts about a hit acknowledgement, they can disqualify the suspected person from the fight or stop the whole fight.

• Especially in duels, it is possible to fight for a higher number of good hits. After such a hit, the fight is always interrupted, the judges count this hit, and the fight continues.

Fight for Dominance

• It is possible in pre-arranged cases and with the consent of all the fighters.

• The fight does not stop after each hit and continues until one of the fighters admits his defeat and the superiority of his opponent.

• For safety reasons it is not allowed to fight in light armour in this type of combat.

• Fighters should, on their honour, take into account the quality and weak spots of their armour.

• If the struggle is balanced, and the fighting goes on for too long, the judges can set a remaining time limit. If the victor is not determined within the set time, the judges will choose one.

• If the fight is clearly in favour of one of the fighters, the judges can end the fight and choose the victor.
   

Major principles

• Weapons must be safe, without sharp parts.

• Blows must be conducted in a controlled and safe manner.

• Do not attack the face, neck or groin or in places that are not covered by armour. Horizontal hits to the head are not allowed.

• It is forbidden to strike with an axe at the knee and below.

• The strength of the blows should be adequate to the level of protection of the opponent's armour.

Shield 

• The maximum height of the shield is from the shoulder to above the combatant's knee.

• Pushing with the shield and active deflection of the opponent's strikes is allowed. 

• Prior to a fight, combatants can agree to allow striking with the shield, but only with straight and round-edges of the shield and only aim at the areas protected by armour. Strikes at the head are allowed only when the opponent is wearing a closed helmet.

Stabbing

• Stabbing is only allowed with a two-handed pole weapon with a safe point width of 1.5cm or more.

• A dagger or knife must not be loose in its sheath to prevent unexpected loss. A stab with a dagger or knife is only indicated at places where it would have a chance of passing through the armour (“soft spots”). Alternatively, the dagger or the knife can be put at the soft spot and gentle pressure indicative of the attack can be applied.

• Combatants in heavy armour can agree to allow indicating thrust with a sword in a duel.

• Sharp knives are not allowed to be carried into fights.

Kicks and wrestling

• Grapples and thrusts are the only wrestlings techniques allowed.

• Combatants can agree to allow usage of safely conducted kicks to areas protected by armour.

Heralds

• They assist the judges during the tournament and connect the tournament grounds to the individual tribunes, to which they provide commentary on the ongoing fights and deliver their messages, errands or execute their wishes. 

• They can take part in specific fights if it was agreed upon with their tribune. 

Judges

• They oversee and monitor the compliance with the rules.

• They have the right to exclude any of the participants from the fight for repeated violations of the rules or for a dangerous technique that was carried out.

• If a judge is not present at the conflict, any disputes are resolved by seniors of the groups or commanders.

• They can take part in specific fights if they find someone who will replace them.

• Their word is always final.

 

The veil of the Mercy of the Ladies

• If the ladies find the fight in progress too cruel or unfair, they may send a herald of the main tribune to cover one of the combatants with a veil of mercy and end the fight without any of the combatants losing their honour.

 

LIST OF AWARDS

The First Knight

• The most prestigious award that takes into account the knight's performance throughout the previous year, where not only the disciplines won are taken into account, but equally the courtly behaviour.

• Is chosen at the end of the tournament by the ladies of the main tribune in consultation with the other tribunes.

• The First Knight also chooses his own First Lady. This couple enjoys their position for the following year, with which various court ceremonies are linked.

• The First Knight is granted the sword of King Wenceslas II for one year.

The best fighter

• Awarded to the best fighter of the tournament.

• Chosen by the ladies after advice from the judges and heralds at the end of the tournament.

• The best fighter receives a reward directly from Queen Elisabeth Richenza.

Bearer of the shield of Jiří of Holohlav

• Award for long-standing honourable behaviour and merits for the Hradec court.

• Chosen by the ladies after advice from the judges and heralds at the end of the tournament.

• He is bestowed the shield of George of Holohlav for one year.

Champion of the main, red and blue tribune

• Each of the tribunes vote for their favourite to be honoured.

• He receives the jewel of that tribune.
   

Winner of the Jakub of Špernak competition

• He is bestowed the mace of Špernak for one year.

Winners of the Bavor of Strakonice competition

• The best fighter of the winning team is bestowed the Strakonice spear for one year.
  
   

ROYAL DISCIPLINES
 

The Royal disciplines represent the highlight of the tournament as a contest between the leading tournament participants of the court and the country.

• Only knights, lords and other nobles who have already proven their worth in previous disciplines and have the respect of other participants and noble ladies may participate.

• Participation in the Royal disciplines is subject to the Queen's approval. In order to obtain it, it is necessary to appear before the Queen and present one's request, supported by two intercessors from among the lords who already have permission to participate. The Queen herself will then decide, based on the words of the applicant and his intercessors, as well as on the fighting prowess of the applicant proven in other disciplines and fights.

• Lords enter wearing at least full heavy armour covered with a fine arming sourcotte and a sufficiently presentable crest on their helmet.

• The crest is an adequate symbolic compensation to the winner for the loser's armour and is a traditional ransom during the Hradec tournament.

• The crest can be presented in front of the main tribune, preferably so that the side tribunes can hear and the presentation does not have to be repeated, for which the services of heralds can also be used.

• Each lord must have at least as many crests ready as the number of matches he wants to participate in Royal disciplines.

• The victor receives the loser's crest and may dispose of it as he pleases and manners dictate. Keep it as a trophy, lay it at the feet of a chosen lady, have it redeemed by an opponent, or return it generously. 
   

Clubs

• Two Lords equipped with a painted wooden club no longer than 90cm and a shield fight each other.

• The first one to knock down the opponent's crest with his club wins the fight.

• The crest must be connected to the helmet only by a 10-12mm diameter wooden bar, this is most often embedded in a metal tube on top of the helmet and secured against accidental dropping.

• The height of the metal tube used to hold the crest must not be more than 4 cm.

• The crest must be strong and solid enough to be knocked off when hit.

• The height of the solid part of the crest from the top of the helmet, including the wooden bar, must be at least 20 cm.
   

Crests

• Two opponents fight each other equipped with sword and shield, or otherwise by mutual agreement.

• The fight is fought to gain dominance. 

• The crest may be made of precious feathers, or another figure or valuables.

• The crest is preferably firmly attached to the helmet, but it is permitted to fight with the crests removed.

• If a great helmet is dropped during a fight, the fighter is defeated. 

• Shield strikes are allowed unless the participants agree otherwise.

Crests variant: Five good hits. 

• Unlike classic crest discipline, this is fought to score five good hits instead of gaining dominance.

• The fight is stopped after each good hit and the hit is counted before the fight continues.

Crests variant: The lord and the squire

• Unlike classic crest discipline, this is fought by two pairs of lords and their squires.

• The squire must have at least full medium armour.

• Both the lord and the squire fight to gain dominance and support each other in combat against the other pair.

• The fight ends when one of the lords admits defeat.

 

GROUP FIGHTING
 

• The minimal equipment for participants is at least full light armour and weapons of their choice.

• It is always fought till the first good hit.

Fight for the bridge

• Two teams face each other, each on his side of a bridge marked with wooden boards.

• If the commanders agree, they can equalise the numbers of men.

• Fighting can also take place on the bridgehead.

• Whoever places his foot on the ground outside the bridge is out of the fight.

• The side whose opponents are defeated or surrender wins the fight.
   

Bridge fight variant: Five on five

• Unlike the classic bridge fight, the number of each team’s  members is limited to five.

• If allowed, the rest of the squad makes up the alternates.

• The alternates join the fight for their eliminated comrades at the direction of the referee.

Bridge fight variant: Two bridges

• Unlike traditional bridges, there is one wider and one narrower bridge in the field.

• Both teams start on their respective bridgeheads and must tactically distribute their forces on both bridges.

Fighting in the field

• Two squads face each other on opposite sides of a field marked with a fence.

• If the commanders agree, they can equalise the numbers of men.

• The battle is won by the side whose opponents are defeated or surrender.

Fighting in the field variant: Fortification

• Small pieces of fortification such as calthrops and fences may be placed in the field.

Capture the flag

• All participants fight on the field outside the main arena, divided under several banners.

• Before the battle, the teams can ally under a specific banner.

• Once all agreements and alliances are made, the referee will start the fight.

• Each banner fights for itself. 

• Once a particular banner bearer is defeated in combat, he will lower his banner.

• The last banner standing wins the fight.

Gold and crimson

• All participants fight on the field outside the main arena. Participants are divided under gold and crimson standards.

• The ladies divide the participants under either the gold or the red standard so that the rivals can also reconcile by fighting side by side and all the armed folk are mixed together, as opposed to the normal arrangement of squads.

• Once a particular standard bearer is defeated in combat, he will lower his standard.

• The battle is won by the last standard standing.

 

INDIVIDUAL FIGHTING

Discipline of Jakub from Spernak

• The fight is fought to gain dominance and participants enter equipped with at least full medium armour.

• Two opponents fight each other. They are armed with a sword and a shield, or can mutually agree on a different type of armament.

• The winner of the duel advances to the next round, while the loser immediately drops out of the contest.

• At the end of the tournament, the winner of the entire duel receives the prize.
   

Discipline of Bavor from Strakonice

• The fight is fought till the first good hit and participants enter equipped with at least complete light armour.

• The fight is a competition of two teams, each consisting of three low-born men-at-arms.

• One man-at-arm can be a member of only one team.

• The choice of weapons is made simultaneously and separately before the fight so that the opponent cannot adapt.

• Teams are divided into basic groups and teams earn points for winning matches.

• In the subsequent knockout phase, the teams with the most points fight against the teams with the least points until only one winning team remains.

• The winning team will determine their best member who will accept the award at the end of the tournament.

 

EXCEPTIONAL AND PASTIME FIGHTING

Pas d'Arme

• Challengers are predetermined and can only be knights, lords and other nobles.

• The challenger enters wearing at least full heavy armour and armed with the weapons of their choice.

• The challenger determines how many men-at-arms he can defeat in one on one duel.

• The number of men-at-arms determines the equal number of lives for the challenger, or how many good hits he can take.

• The men-at-arms must be equipped with at least complete light armour.

• Men-at-arms are eliminated after the first good hit.

• The fight ends when all men-at-arms are eliminated, or when the challenger loses all lives, or is exhausted.

Fight over the fence

• The fight is fought to gain dominance and participants are determined by the noble ladies.

• Participants enter in at least full heavy armour and are armed only with a sword.

• The fight takes place over a low fence that separates the opponents. Opponents may not step away from the fence more than one step.

• A safely conducted sword thrust is allowed.

 
Maiden's Castle

• Gentlemen are dressed in civilian clothes and armed only with a rose without thorns; they may have additional roses ready in a predetermined place outside the battlefield

• Ladies have a ribbon tied to their wrists and are armed with wreaths and possibly veils.

• Ladies defend themselves with wreaths and may use them to destroy the gentlemen's roses; a destroyed rose may not be fought with. If a flower breaks, the -clean- petals can be used as throwing weapons

• A lady may cover a gentleman's head with a veil, and he must redeem himself with a courtly service the lady designates.

• If a lady is struck by a rose anywhere from the waist up, she is stunned for three seconds before she is allowed to move again.

• Meanwhile, the gentlemen try to untie and take the lady's ribbon. No other physical contact is allowed.

• The lady may take a new ribbon from a predetermined place. The fight ends when these run out.

Variation of the Maiden's Castle: In Armour

• Unlike the classic maiden castle, the gentlemen enter in armour of the ladies' choice.

• Instead of wreaths, the ladies are armed with wooden clubs and batons

 

 

Written by: Miroslav Mölzer (Libiš), Václav Černý (Javornice), Jiří Janda (Rabštejn), Vít Hrachový (Kastilie), Vladimír Blažek (Wildenberg), Zdeněk Pokorný (Blatná) a Lýdie Krňávková (Spakona)

Translated by: Katharina Cordts (Ottersberg), Vít Hrachový (Kastilie), Miroslav Mölzer (Libiš), Tomáš Juračka (Nasavrky)