None shall pass: Learning to be a Medieval Knight

"Life becomes very easy when, should anyone disagree with you, you kill them."

This is definitely the mindset to adopt if you decide to become a medieval knight for the day. Dressing up in historical costume and playing out the role of a medieval knight is a huge amount of fun and there are many medieval re-enactment societies out there that do just that.

I was surprised to discover just how seriously many of these societies take the whole business of reproducing an authentic medieval experience. Historical accuracy is the order of the day, with some groups going as far as wearing medieval underwear (very drafty) and eating medieval food (surprisingly tasty, especially the pies and small ale).

They also do it in public. It's not just about having fun but putting on a show that is both entertaining and educational. I joined a medium sized medieval group called the Lion Rampant at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk for the weekend and was amazed at both the depth of knowledge and the interest in all things medieval that my fellow knights and squires, ladies and minstrels displayed.

First order was getting kitted out. Hose (trousers consisting of separate leggings attached at the top to a belt but not joined where it mattered) over a long shirt tucked under at the front and with the back drawn round and up till it tucked into the belt as well. A fighting doublet (a padded jacket which, just like the trousers, has separate sleeves that are laced on at the top) and over this a tabard (a bit like a poncho but square cut). This particular group allows modern leather boots as long as they look about right so I was spared from walking around in soft shoes and clogs.

Having been dressed and fed (thank you to the generous lady known only as "old woman with pies") it was off for battle training. The swords they use are made of tempered, spring steel and are entirely realistic in terms of weight, balance and look with the exception that instead of having sharp edges, they are rounded off. No fighting occurs unless you at least wearing some kind of body armour, armoured gauntlets (chain mail over stiff leather gloves) and a full-face helmet.

Sir William, the battle captain, taught me to sword fight using authentic medieval methods, consisting of practice attacking and defending in turn using only wide, circular swings at either leg or an overhead swing at the head. Once he felt I was basically competent at this (didn't feel that way to me but then he’s the battle captain) we added attacks to the side and the proper defence against the same. This completed the basic five attacking and defending moves that would allow me to fight using the free-form, un-choreographed style that this group specialises in. Although the fights I engaged in were cautious and slightly nervous affairs, I did get to enjoy a couple of proper fights that felt really good. In particular, following on from the traditional dispute about whose lady was the more beautiful, I was challenged to a dual by one of the more experienced fighters and told (on the quiet) to really let rip. I soon realised that this guy was so good at reading what I was doing that he could probably have fought three of me at once without breaking into a sweat. As long as I stuck with the moves I had learnt, there was no way I stood a chance of landing a blow so I was able to stop being nervous and set about him with a passion. All this training takes place during the day with the public around and the clashing of steel on steel soon drew a crowd. I was thrilled with the applause and cheers I received when Sir Nigel left himself open for a 'gut shot' and let me put him down, even if I was rapidly dispatched by the evil and nasty, armour clad Sir Robert less than a minute later.

It's not all fighting and machismo, however. These groups are there to both entertain and educate, and apart from staying in character as they engage in daily activities, the day is punctuated by a series of scheduled displays. I had the chance to take part in most of these, having been taught a basic but elegant medieval dance bizarrely called the "Brawl". Later in the day a despairing captain of archers managed to get me to launch a few poorly directed arrows in the general direction of the archery butts, and I also had the opportunity to get some horrible squeaks out of the reproduction musical instruments used by their band of talented minstrels. Other activities were the "arming of the knight" in which, starting in his underwear, a knight is kitted out with authentic full-plate armour from head to toe, and the afternoon play in which the troup acted out a drama of chivalry, betrayal and eventual revenge after the final all-in melee where 20 knights come crashing together and fight until one side or the other is beaten. The fascinating thing is that this final part of their scripted play is left open for either side to win as their training allows them to genuinely pit their free-fighting skills against one another. This is not only realistic fighting, it's real and genuinely competitive fighting on a par with any other martial sport.

After the public has gone, the camp settles down, a few beers come out and I discovered these people who are fanatical about authentic spice mixes, linens and dance moves are actually wonderful company, and not at all the crowd of slightly mad geeks that I had expected to be spending my weekend with. I commented on the professionalism I had seen during the day and discovered that this was exactly the right word to use. Apart from a couple of degree qualified historians, the minstrels included a professional classical trombonist and I discovered "old woman with pies" worked as a chef. In a few cases members had also managed to turn their hobbies into thriving businesses, as the battle captain now trains stunt fighters, two of the ladies run a historical costume business, and one of the knights had recently shifted to full-time in the armoury and forge at the end of his garden.

Overall it was a wonderful experience and I am glad that despite their aim of being as authentic as possible, they still think it is ok to answer the call of nature using modern plumbing.

Many thanks to the Lion Rampant medieval display troop for their hospitality and the opportunity to become one of their number for a short while, and if you ever get the chance to learn how to settle arguments with the edge of a broadsword then I recommend you take it!

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For medieval experience days including castle tours, jousting and learning to be a medieval knight, check out our medieval page.

Monday September 14, 2009 | Richard | Articles