Category Archives: battle

wīg-gār

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wīg-gār, m.n: a lance. (WEE-GAR / ˈwiːj-ˌgaːɹ)

Detail of a miniature of hunters pursuing a bonnacon with a very long lance and strategic shield, from a bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds, England (Salisbury), 2nd quarter of the 13th century. British Library, Harley MS 4751, f. 11r. Bonnacons spray attackers with their poisonous dung.

ge-dīþan

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ge-dīþan, wk.v: to put to death, kill; to mortify (in the theological sense). (yeh-DEE-than / jɛ-ˈdiː-θan)

British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV, detail of f. 61v. The Decretals of Gregory IX (the Smithfield Decretals), c.1300-1340.

fȳst-gebēat

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fȳst-gebēat, n.n: a blow with the fist. (FUST-yeh-BAY-aht / ˈfɝːst-jɛ-ˌbeːat)

medieval-fighting-e1376628594115
I found this image on Medievalists.net along with a paper discussing whether the art of boxing vanished during the Middle Ages. It’s surprisingly difficult to find medieval images of unarmed people fighting with their hands only. This one (Codex Wallerstein) is from the late Middle Ages, c. 1470.