About 60 people from European countries participated in a medieval battle at a Serbian chivalry festival this weekend. But they did not just perform a half-hearted re-enactment — instead, the fighters participated in full-contact fights in a sport known as medieval battle.
The fighters dressed head-to-toe in knight’s armor and used blunted weapons on a grassy pitch outside a 15th century fortress in eastern Serbia. The matches proved intense and highly physical, and can be described as mixed-martial arts combined with medieval weapons.
“I have a background in boxing and I love history, so for me (this sport) is a good mix,” said 28-year-old French fighter Victor Rousseau, 28, as he prepared for a group match, according to AFP.
The tournament was part of a three-day medieval festival called “Just Out.”
“This fighting and this culture… it’s wonderful,” said Velimir Birmanac, a Serbian spectator wearing “civilian” medieval dress with a loose shirt and belt holding a dagger, satchel and hollowed animal horn for drinks, according to AFP.
Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.
