First edition of the experimental Sword and Shield tournament in the “hólmgang” tradition

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 of the experimental Sword and Shield tournament in the tradition of the hólmgang duel:
– Maciej Borys – 1st place – from SDESW ARMA-PL Warsaw,
– Marek Zielinko – 2nd place – from Fechtschule Gdańsk,
– Paweł Adamiec – 3rd place – from Projekt Svinfylking,
– Marek Zielinko – prize for the smallest number of double hits – from Fechtschule Gdańsk,

The winners of both categories received the following prizes:

1st place: a big Viking shield

2nd place: a buckler

3rd place: a horn mug

Smallest number of double hits: “Golden doubloon”.

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:

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