[Ansteorra] Story from Crown Tourney

[Casey Weed]

Sir Dieterich here.

Having fought in 10 different kingdoms in the SCA including Drachenwald- the
most significant data point- I'm with Rose and Tim on this one... fighting
where it's cool is more fun, more accurate, and more safe.  Tradition for
the sake of tradition is nonsense and if you can make it cooler for the
fighters or the viewers without compromising the magic of the event, go for
it.  It doesn't make you tougher or more heroic to get a heat injury; it
makes you more likely to get hospitalized or die.  Head check: this is make
believe, folks.

Also, regarding this...

*** Well the fighter of the Middle Ages didn't fight indoors.

> Heat was an issue in the Crusades or the Battle of Stanford Bridge. We
> cannot claim to be studying the fighting styles of the Middle Ages if we
> move indoors.
> I am not sure about Rapier fighting because didn't they do things like
> hunts in France inside the great palaces? Did they ever do rapier fighting
> inside.
> ******
>

This is not true in every case and certainly not true if you acquiesce that
fighting in the shade is semantically no different than fighting inside.
There are several examples of German fighting events being fought under
cover of shade in the 15th c.  with poll axes, judicial shields, and bastard
swords.

>From the late 15th century onward, the concept of "the salle" is the
standard for much if not all martial education.  By the time of Elizabeth it
was common to watch prizefighting on the theater stages, either outside but
under shade, or altogether inside as at Blackfriars.  It was an alternative
stage event to bear baiting and play going.

In general, war fighting is done under conditions of necessity.  Prize or
recreational fighting was done under the most pleasant conditions available
under the constraints of light and space.  So, yes, fighting inside is
period.

Lastly, The Battle of Stamford Bridge was fought in late fall (September
25th, 1066) almost 20 degrees farther north in latitude than Norman,
Oklahoma.  England in the fall is brisk and wonderful if perhaps somewhat
damp.  The deciding factors for that battle were logistical- Hadrada's men
didn't have all their gear and were split in two forces.  Heat had nothing
to do with it.