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Other Leeds events

A Knight to Remember

Please note this event takes place on the first floor and has no step-free access.
Pizza and burgers available downstairs.
Past event - 2018
15 May Doors: 19:00
Talks from 19:30-21:30
Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen, 1-1A Cross Belgrave Street,
Leeds LS2 8JP
Sold Out!
Arms and armour were a matter of life and death in the Middle Ages and even to this day people are hard at work deciphering martial weapons, armour, and techniques. Here we will take a closer look at the development of medieval and early modern arms and armour, with an exciting demonstration of real life medieval fighting styles. Truly a knight to remember!

At Daggers Drawn: Medieval Weapons Contextualised

Dr. Iason-Eleftherios Tzouriadis (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Weapons and tools used for fighting have been around for millennia. This talk focuses on the different types of arms that developed from early Middle Ages to the Early Modern period as warfare evolved. Besides their destructive nature, the symbolic role of weapons will also be examined and examples will be presented of how medieval martial culture and weapons have left an imprint even to this day. Finally, there will be a brief discussion about the ethical implications and importance of examining arms and armour from a modern perspective.

Dressed to Kill: The Development of Medieval Armour

Dr. Karen Watts (Curator Emeritus at the Royal Armouries and Professeur de Patrimoine et Archaeologie Militaire at the Ecole du Louvre)
In the Middle Ages the armourers were faced with two significant problems: firstly how to protect a human body with a shell that would repel weapons and secondly how then to move (run, leap, and wield) without being a static target. There was a dual conflict between maximum protection versus maximum movement.
The talk will examine the problem, the ingenious medieval solutions and how it continues to be relevant today. Magnificent armours worn for war and sport will be shown. The talk will conlude with a curious modern-day conundrum.
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