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Defend Yourself, Good Knight
A.D. 1590

Offense Defense
pole arm
The Yellow Knight has challenged you to a fight at the half-barrier, on foot. You will hit each other with spears or pole arms -- sharp blades or hooks attached to the end of a long pole, like this halberd -- over a fence that is waist-high. The edges of a pole arm blade can be very sharp, and you will be fighting face to face. You will need very good armor, with no gaps or holes!
half-armor
This armor was made especially for the foot tournament at the half-barrier. It will protect your upper body from swords and pole arms. The helmet even has a special way of attaching to the neck so that no weapons can get through; that's important at such close range. It doesn't have any protection for the legs, because the Yellow Knight isn't allowed to hit below the half-barrier fence. But watch out - if he hits you anywhere else, he gets points. And if he gets more points than you do, he will win the tournament.

ready, aim, fire! These are fun tournament games, but back in real battle there are soldiers with guns! What kind of armor are you going to wear to stop a bullet?


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Parade Halberd with the Arms of Elector Christian I of Saxony, Germany, Saxony, 1586-91, CMA, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1819
Half-Armor for the Foot Tournament, Pompeo della Cesa (Italian, Milan, active 1572-93), c. 1590, CMA, The John L. Severance Fund 1996.299


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