Guide to Historic Combat

Beginning your research into the field historical combat has never been easier. At this time there is quite literally a ton of information freely available on the web. Numerous books and other resources are also available for purchase; so you should have plenty of resources to get started.

Please note that this guide is a work in progress. If you have any comments, suggestions, corrections, or additions please e-mail Lady Elysabeth Underhill (mka Larissa Gordon) at laralu@gmail.com

Recommended resources to begin with:

Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts (AEMMA): This historical European martial arts school possesses a significant online library which includes period manuals, a listing of secondary book sources, and a few articles. A small fee is needed to access most of the materials, except for a few specific manuals.
Bjorn's Sword Site (Sweden): Click on the section labeled "Stuff in English" for a wealth of essays on sword-related topics.
Historical Manuals by Patri Jones Pugliese: The oldest and largest source for photocopied combat manuals from the Middle Ages to the 1800's.
Journal of Western Martial Art (JWMA): An online peer-reviewed journal for the study of western martial arts. A great resource with information on all aspects of Medieval and Renaissance historic combat.
The Knighthood, Tournaments & Chivalry Resource Library -: A fine resource for articles and links on precisely what it says.
Tattershall School of Defense Resources page: Has a number of articles and links useful to those beginning their exploration of historic combat.

Martial Arts Academies:

These European Martial Arts Academies are not affiliated with the SCA.

UNITED STATES:

Academia della Spada (Washington State near Seattle)

ARMA (various study groups)

Chicago Swordplay Guild (Chicago)

Gallowglass Academy (Illinois)

Higgins Armory Sword Guild (Massachusetts)

Martinez Academy of Arms (New York City)

Mid-Atlantic Society for Historical Swordsmanship (Maryland & Virginia)

St. Martin's Academy of Arms

Northwest Academy of Arms (Oregon)

Rocky Mountain Swordplay Guild (Denver & area )

Tattershall School of Defence (Arizona, California, Texas, Washington)

CANADA & EUROPE: (only includes schools with websites in English)

AEMMA (Toronto)

The Company of Maisters (England)

European Historical Combat Guild (several chapters throughout Western Europe)

The Exiles (England)

Hotspur School of Defense (England)

Linacre School of Defense (England)

MacDonald Academy of Arms (Scotland)

Schola Gladitoria (England)

School of European Swordsmanship (Finland)

Sussex Rapier School (England)

Stoccatta School of Defense (Australia)

Organizations:

Association for Historical Fencing: This association puts out a newsletter which includes articles, a few of which might be of interest to an SCA audience. Past issues are available to the public.
Classical Fencing: Dedicated to preserving and promoting classical and historical fencing, the website of this organization has many useful articles within its pages, though all will not fall within the SCA's time period.
Historical European Martial Arts Coalition: Several articles and a few period manual translations.
Oakeshott Institute: Focuses on the study of ancient arms and armour.
Order of the Seven Hearts: A member of the Mid-Atlantic Society for Historical Swordsmanship, this group of individuals focuses its study on the teachings of Fabris. This site contains several articles.
Sword Forum International: This organization exists to promote the study of swords and swordsmanship from all cultures and time periods. There are a few useful articles and some links to images, but the most valuable resource on this website is the online forum.

Websites:

The Arador Armor Library: Dedicated to providing information about armor and armor construction. Includes articles, links to images, reviews, and more.
Armour Archive: Devoted to teaching people how to make armor. Includes many articles with information about historic armor, links to useful websites, and a discussion board.
Bjorn's Sword Site (Sweden): Click on the section labeled "Stuff in English" for a wealth of essays on sword-related topics...
Destreza Translation and Research Project: Dedicated to the Spanish system of period rapier combat.
The Duellist (UK): Provides useful information of all types for those interested in European swordsmanship in the United Kingdom.
Elizabethan Fencing & the Arte of Defence: A good starting point to learn the basics about later period historic rapier combat. The site includes basic information about a number of period masters, different styles of fencing, a useful links page, a few period manuals which have been translated into English, and other articles & information of interest.
HistoricalFencing.org: Links to several different organizations related to historic fencing.
Journal of Western Martial Art (JWMA): An online peer reviewed journal for the study of western martial arts. A great resource with information on all aspects of Medieval and Renaissance historic combat.
The Knighthood, Tournaments & Chivalry Resource Library: A fine resource for articles and links on precisely what it says.
Medieval Sword Resource Site: Extensive information on Medieval Swords including a virtual museum, bibliography, on-line library, collectors guide, and more.
MyArmoury.com: For those who collect modern reproductions of arms and armor. Features articles and other information on the history of weapons and armor.
The Secret History of the Sword: Website for the book of the same name authored by J. Christoph Amberger. This site includes excerpts from the book.
A Study of the London Masters of Defense: Article providing an overview of the London Masters of Defense

Period Manuals:

Some of these pages link to the same source. Most are free, however most resources from AEMMA, and some from ARMA require a small fee be paid to that organization.

AEMMA: This organization has a very extensive "knowledge base." Access to scanned original copies, translations, and interpretations of Liberi and Silver are free for anyone to use. Access to AEMMA's other resources requires the purchase of an online library e-card for a nominal fee.
ARMA: ARMA has resources from a wide variety of well known and more obscure manuals, however, many of the scanned copies of original manuals on this website are only available as excerpts. Some of these can be accessed in full if you become a member of ARMA and pay their membership fee.
Elizabethan Fencing & the Arte of Defence: Agrippa, Alfieri, Capo Ferro, Carranza, Fabris, Giganti, Lovino, Marozzo, Tamiriz
Giacomo di Grassi (interpretation)
DiGrassi (transcription)
Don Danulf's Academy of Defense: In English - De Grassi, Saviolo (book 1), Silver (two manuals)
The Exiles - Fiore Project: Fiore (translations and transcriptions based upon several original texts with scans of images)
Higgins Armory Sword Guild
Linacre School of Defense: Primarily focuses on out of period masters and manuals. The works of Silver are available as well as many out of period manuals, such as the manual written by Sir William Hope.
The Raymond J. Lord Collection: All original - Agrippa, Auerswald, dall'Agocchie, di Grassi (English), Dudley, Giganti, Gunterrodt, Liancour, Lovino Manciolino, Marcelli, Marozzo, St. Didier
Pallas Armata (English)
Sussex Rapier School: Originals and interpretations for: Agrippa, Alferi, Carranza, Capo Ferro, de Grassi, Fabris, Giganti, Lovino, Marozzo,Palladini, Saviolo, Silver, & Alfred Huton's "Old Swordplay"
Tattershall School of Defence: includes translations of Capo Ferro, Giganti, Vigianti, Quintino; originals of: Liberi, Manciolino; an out of period small sword manual, a period Italian/English dictionary

Books:

Chivalry Bookshelf: Chivalry Bookshelf publishes a wonderful selection of books written by experts in all areas of historical combat. The books listed on there website are also available through purchase at Amazon.
Freelance Academy Press: "Freelance Academy Press brings readers innovative books and rich supporting material in the field of Western martial arts. We do this through new educational books and carefully selected, timeless reprints....A publishing house is built upon the quality and diversity of its catalog, and that can only be done through a strong partnership with its own freelancers – its authors. Therefore we don’t simply publish a book, we collaborate with our authors to shape and refine their vision into a work that will withstand the test of time."

Discussion Forums:

Livre_de_combat (SCA forum)

Western-Arts

Sword Forum International

ARMA Forum

Conferences:

Dec 2007

International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention

Western Washington WMA Workshop (4W)

Western Martial Arts Workshop (WMAW)

Museums:

There are many museums that have excellent collections of period arms and armor. If you live too far away to visit, some of the museums allow you to search their online collection of images for arms and/or armor, or conduct a more specific search of your choosing.

Mediaeval Swords in Museums: An annotated list of major museums in Europe, Canada, and the United States featuring exhibits of arms and armor from the Middle Ages. (Click on "museums")