Melees can range from bouts of two versus two up to 150 versus 150, where scads of knights engage in brutal battles that, to the untrained eye, resemble attempted murder or at least assault and battery. Most rounds - whether in group battles called melees or one-on-one duels - usually last only a minute or so. No stabbing, no chopping the back of necks, no hitting feet, no striking behind the knees, no groin shots - similar to the 13th century but with a 21st century nod to safety like helmet padding to decrease concussions and medical care that relies more on physicians than barbers. Governing bodies such as the International Medieval Combat Federation set rules for the fighters. The first “Battle of the Nations” was held in Ukraine in 2010, sparking global interest. The sport, kept alive in Russia and Ukraine, underwent a resurgence in the 1990s.

5 things ‘Game of Thrones’ got wrong, according to a medieval warfare expertīuhurt developed in the 13th century as a way for knights in feudal Europe to hone their combat skills while putting on a public spectacle.

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