The first experimental Sword and Shield tournament in the tradition of the hólmgang duel has just finished. The organiser was Projekt Svinfylking in cooperation with our Foundation.
On Saturday of 24 September, 2022, the first experimental Sword and Shield tournament in the hólmgang tradition (i.e. honourable duel) took place. “Hólmgang” has historically been a legal method of litigation used by early medieval Scandinavians. Failure to appear at the duel was disgraceful and infamous. Oaths of such a person were worth nothing, and their vote was not taken into account during elections. In addition to appearing in a duel, it was necessary to fight and not to yield. The struggle took place on a buffalo skin or a large coat (in simplification it was a square measuring 3×3 meters). Leaving this area with even one foot ended the duel with a loss. The convention of this year’s edition pertained to combat with a one-hand sword and round shield (the so called Viking shield).
Detailed information on the results of the 1st edition can be found below:
| WINNERS | PRIZES | |
|---|---|---|
| I place |
Maciej Borys SDESW Arma-PL Warsaw |
Big Viking shield |
| II place |
Marek Zielinko Fechtschule Gdańsk |
Buckler |
| III place |
Paweł Adamiec Projekt Svinfylking |
Horn mug |
| Award for the smallest number of double hits | Marek Zielinko Fechtschule Gdańsk |
“Golden doubloon” |
Congratulations to the winners. BRAVO!
The main organiser was Projekt Svinfylking and the Foundation for Historical Martial Arts.
We invite you to watch the video of the duels: