Description

Book Synopsis

The poleaxe is a fearsome weapon: the armour-breaching weapon par excellence of the late Middle Ages, wielded on foot in friendly tournaments, lethal duels, and on the battlefield. Instruction on its use is found throughout surviving medieval martial arts manuscripts from Germany and Italy, but Le Jeu de la Hache (Axe-Play)—written in the mid fifteenth century for the Burgundian Court--is both the most complete study of this deadly weapon and the oldest known French-language martial arts text.

In this new translation and interpretive guide, Jason Smith presents a complete translation of Le Jeu, detailed photographic reconstructions of its many techniques, and a short primer on the basics of axe combat, creating a complete curriculum for actually training in this unique medieval martial art. Combined with a historical overview of the manuscript and a detailed biography of Jacques de Lalain, a famed Burgundian axe-fighter, this volume is not just a modern training manual, but also a window into knightly culture at the waning of the Middle Ages.

Burgundian Poleaxe: The Noble Art of Chivalric

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    A Paperback / softback by Jason Smith

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      Book details

      Publisher FreeLance Academy Press
      Published 24 September 2020
      ISBN-13 9781937439064
      978-1937439064
      ISBN-10 1937439062
      Also in:
      Combat sports and self-defence Martial arts

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      The poleaxe is a fearsome weapon: the armour-breaching weapon par excellence of the late Middle Ages, wielded on foot in friendly tournaments, lethal duels, and on the battlefield. Instruction on its use is found throughout surviving medieval martial arts manuscripts from Germany and Italy, but Le Jeu de la Hache (Axe-Play)—written in the mid fifteenth century for the Burgundian Court--is both the most complete study of this deadly weapon and the oldest known French-language martial arts text.

      In this new translation and interpretive guide, Jason Smith presents a complete translation of Le Jeu, detailed photographic reconstructions of its many techniques, and a short primer on the basics of axe combat, creating a complete curriculum for actually training in this unique medieval martial art. Combined with a historical overview of the manuscript and a detailed biography of Jacques de Lalain, a famed Burgundian axe-fighter, this volume is not just a modern training manual, but also a window into knightly culture at the waning of the Middle Ages.

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