Developing Rapier in the West Kingdom

The Musings of Arenwald von Hagenburg,

Master of Defense

Background

I have been told, and to some extent experienced, the attitude that Rapier is a contentious issue in the Central West Kingdom (S.F. Bay Area, USA), but people should also be aware that it is a fairly mainstream and well accepted activity in Lochac particularly, and from what I can gather in Oertha.

The issue of developing rapier activity is a difficult one, given that it comes with a lot of associated emotional baggage. I hope to be pretty objective, since I am not heavily committed to rapier, and have spent a lot of time as a heavy fighter and modern fencer. I have been an authorised heavy fighter from 1984 through to 1995, when my authorisation lapsed while I was on sabbatical in France. I have been involved with fencing as a modern sport since 1976.

Context and Direction

My vision for developing rapier in the West, includes a heavy emphasis on recreation of techniques descibed in period sources. I see dance and fencing as related activities. I would like to see fencing reconstruct drills and styles in the same way that dancers in the SCA reconstruct Italian and French dances from the period manuals.

Since fencing was clearly a social skill and pastime in the 16th century. We know this from the number of references to it in literature and historical manuals of dance. As well as through civic records of guilds and masters certifications in cities throughout Europe. My vision of fencing is to construct an environment where this type of fencing activity, as an adjunct to dance and other gentlemanly pursuits, could be fostered and blossom into another branch of martial activity.

Re-enacting rapier combat in the SCA

Access to fencing manuals is easy to obtain. I have copies of a large number of useful manuals, and can make them readily available for the cost of copying and postage. I am also actively engaged in research in reconstructing period rapier techniques and social attitudes to fencing play an important part in contextualising that research. Note also that Patri Pugliesi in Carolingia is the source of my manuals, and a good way to get such information if you are resident in the mainland USA.

Any attempt to regulate the dress and nature of recreative rapier combat within the West Kingdom by enacting rules and laws seems doomed to attract significant and vocal opposition. The people making such protests quite rightly argue that no other area of demonstrably valid SCA activity is treated in this manner. And they are quite right, in fact many other areas are treated with considerable leniency, most prominent among them dance and music.

I have a strong interest in historical dance and music, and much of the music played at events I have attended, both in Lochac and in the Central West, has been derived from broadside ballads published in the 18th and 19th centuries. Dance is no better, with dances like the "Hole in the Wall", "Karabushka", and the "Monshaft Pavane" being several hundred years outside the SCA period, and obviously significantly different in style to any dances described in dance publications prior to the end of the 16th century. In addition many of the Playford Country Dances are drawn from a 1651 edition of the book, and even the early edition falls outside the official SCA period by a few years.

In the light of this style of argument, the only productive avenues I can see towards redirecting the "modern fencing in costume", "cavalier", and "hack and slash" fencing proponents are social expectations, peer group pressure, and good examples (read charismatic leaders). Let me address these points below.

Social expectation and peer group pressure have worked well to discourage the use of modern styles in Lochac. This is doubtless due in part to our isolation from the other major "fencing kingdoms" which seem to have had a significant effect on the development of rapier in the central west. My perception is that the CW rapier community is largely headed up by people who originated in other Kingdoms and might not have the focus on reconstruction and reenactment based on period documents we have become used to in Lochac. If my perception is correct, and the people in the CW are representative of the rapier community there, then I can understand to some extent why the development of rapier has been so hotly contested.

Creating a rapier culture in the SCA

One way to advertise expectations, is to prepare a mission statement style document that descibes the aims of rapier combat and rapier research activities in the West. This will make the expectations and objectives of the activity clear, and will assist other members of the West in providing positive (and negative) feedback to fencers, thus helping to clarify what is happening and establish a healthy constructive fencing culture.

The second, and perhaps most powerful aid in manipulating the development of the cultural context of fencing in the West is to provide good role models. In achieving this we need to look to other kingdoms like the East, I believe, to see how they have handled this issue without creating a fencing peerage, or buying into the "fencers should be Knights/Laurels/Pelicans debate".

I think the obvious solution is to enshrine within the fencing rules a privileged class of fencer, called a Master of Defence. This would be similar the the Master Archer in the East for example. Masters of Defence might be selected by other Masters of Defence through a fighting examination, which was called "Playing the Prize" in England. Of course other selection processes can be used, this is one that offers the possibility for good theatre, and happens to be period. I see the Masters of Defence providing a leading example to the rapier community, in a similar fashion to the role Knights play for heavy fighters. Masters would be the important and widely recognised teachers of Rapier in the Kingdom. They would be responsible for holding collegia, and inter-salle competitions, and provide a focus for the practice of fencing in the West. Since they would be teaching and acting as role models, they would also act as agents of aculturation for new fencers entering the West Kingdom.

Well, that's probably enough work avoiding for me for one day. Hope to hear from you all out there..... Best wishes, YISTTD etc... Master Arenwald von Hagenburg OL, LOG, RL, AoA. (West Rapier Marshal)