Tournament Mandate

Our annual grand tournaments are hosted by the tenans (challengers) Knights of the Northern Realm of Edmonton and the venans (visitors) Knights of the Southern Realm from Calgary. These tournaments are held to celebrate and promote our historical European heritage of the romantic era of chivalry and knights. It is a non-competative event to promote and exhibit skillful swordsmanship as well as re-enactment of 14th century history in the time of King Edward III.

Combatant Requirements

Those participating in the Knights of the Northern Realm tournaments must be active members in the club or from its brother group Knights of the Wild Rose. They must have the ability to perform fights safely. Those members that are in good standing, that are familiar with our combat system and have taken the Beginner class are welcome to participate.

Combatants are welcome to fight those who are willing and to refrain from combat with those they are not comfortable with. All members must meet basic skill levels and minimum requirements for armour to meet safety guidelines. All combatants must sign a waiver form.

Combat Detail

The combats in our tournament list area can be of any medieval fight method providing it is based on historical weapons and armour of the medieval period, and the fighters use appropriate armour for safety.

1). Before the combat round, the two fighters will agree to allow or disallow either thrusting, or grappling, and if one of them breaks their agreement, then the fight will be halted by the marshal.

2). The combats will be limited to a three minute bout or counted blows at three hits with three weapons or five hits with one as in period rules, or agreed to as pleases the fighters. The fight shall continue until one bests the other which can be by any of the following potentials: A clear Mortal wound, to the 'Yield' , Cast Down (cast to the ground and beaten), Disarmed, or would have been Forced from the clearing.

Each fighter should keep in mind this is a re-enactment of history and not “Ultimate Fighting Championship”. This is to discourage heavy hitting and unsafe combat of those more interested in winning than performing. This also allows for fair competition with new members.

3). The weapons may be aluminum or steel rebated swords, spears, daggers and axes, and/or rubber pole arms and war hammers, foam maces or rubber flails, wooden shields and bucklers.

4). At any time when a fighter is wounded they must clearly call “Yield” and the combat must end.  They must seek immediate medical attention.

Heraldic Requirements

It will be requested of all combatants to bear arms so that they may be identified by the Marshall, Judges and members of the court.

They are strongly encouraged to bring gonfalons (banners) with their heraldry of a standard size of 24” wide by 72” tall to be mounted on a 10' pole and displayed around the lists (combat clearing). There we will have poles and stands available for all banners brought.

Each knight and squire is to be identified on the tournament field with a plaque of their arms. A list display will present these plaques as their fighters enter the field. The measurements for the plaque are 1.2 cm thick plywood, 22 cm wide x 35 cm height with the peg hole at 1.5 cm wide.

All entries should display their coat-of-arms on your jupon, banner, plaque and/or shield. Historically accurate European armour and clothing for the period between 1327 - 1377 AD will be required.

Armour Requirements

1) All armour is to be constructed in an authentic style and should be recognizable according to style and materials as belonging to the period of 1327 - 1377 AD.  The Marshall of Arms will have final say on historical accuracy.

2) All armour must be in good repair and fitted to the user.

3) All combatants are responsible for the integrity of their armour and ensuring that it provides adequate protection against the rigors of combat.

4) The Marshall will reject armour that does not meet the standards outlined here or armour in poor repair, non-historical in appearance and of inferior quality where safety may be an issue.

Armour options:

1) Bascinet or klappvisor with visor and aventail, great helm with mail coif or other period helm.

2) Breastplate, coat of plates or brigandine over mail haubergeon or hauberk and/or aketon or gambeson

3)  Steel or splint vambraces and rerebraces with steel spaulders or rondelles and elbow cops

4) Steel gauntlets (mail does not properly protect the hands)

5) Steel or splint cuisses with steel poleyns and steel or splint greaves

6) Period footware or sabatons
7) sports can

Optional Equipment

1. 1)Heater shield with historical coat-of-arms
   

2. 2)Rebated, re-enactment weapon
   

3. 3)Personal gonfalon (banner) with historical coat-of-arms
   

Please be aware that the ACTUAL armour worn WILL be taken into consideration during a fight. Superior armour coverage provides increased protection for YOU.

Weapon Requirements

The weapons used may be aluminum or steel rebated swords, spears, daggers and axes, and/or rubber pole arms and war hammers, foam maces or rubber flails, wooden shields and bucklers.

Tournament Rules

These rules have been created only for the concern for safety.

1). There will be at least one Marshal overseeing each combat bout.

2). All armour and weapons must be inspected and approved by the Marshal before the tourney starts. The inspection of harness will be done only while worn by the combatant.

3). All combat must cease at the command or signal of the Marshal or a Yield declared.

4). Thrusting may only be allowed if agreed to by both combatants, and if the armour worn by them have sufficient protection for thrusting.

5). Thrusting to the head is strictly prohibited, and the groin area is completely off limits.

6). Grappling also may only be allowed if agreed to by both combatants, and if using a period style.

7). Thrusting or grappling with no agreement to do will may force the Marshal to stop the fight and forbid the offender from re-entering the lists.

8). It is forbidden to willfully strike an unarmoured part of your opponent, or to attack your opponent with his back turned.

9). Any injury stops the combat immediately. Declare injuries with a clear and loud declaration of “Yield”.  The fighter must then seek immediate medical attention.

Support

All Knights and Squires are asked to bring their own Lady, Page and/or Squire to the tourney.  The combatants will be led out by Ladies with silver chains at the start of the tournament.  Please have your guests dressed in a 14th century costume in your arms. This adds to the historical atmosphere of period tournaments.