Blades of glory: Knights compete in medieval battles in Serbia where the sword fighting is REAL

Armour-clad ‘knights’ have attacked each other with swords at a medieval-style event aimed at boosting ‘the uncompromising fight against violence on women, children and weaklings’.

Men from across Europe – and one woman – donned protective armour and battled outside a Serbian medieval monastery during the three-day ‘Just Out’ festival.

About 60 fighters thrashed each other with steel swords in high-octane duels at the event, which takes place every year outside the walls of the 600-year-old Manasija monastery, built in the early 15th century and listed by UNESCO since 2010.

Using heavy swords, armour-clad ‘knights’ attacked each other with gusto at the medieval-style event

The event takes place every year outside the walls of the 600-year-old Manasija monastery, built in the early 15th century and listed by UNESCO since 2010

The intense, highly-physical matches – best described as mixed-martial arts but with medieval weapons – are refereed and scored based on a point system

These were not staged re-enactment shows but full-contact fights in a combat sport known as historical medieval battle

While the fighting is rooted in old traditions, the modern form of medieval battle has only become formalised as a sport in the past decade

Battle-hungry ‘comrades’ representing more than seventeen countries including France, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary took part. There were also fighters from Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Armenia and Iran. 

And, according to Just Out’s website, ‘The big news is [we have] guests from Turkey and Scandinavian Vikings from Sweden and Denmark.’

These were not staged re-enactment shows but full-contact fights in a combat sport known as historical medieval battle, with competitors wielding blunted weapons as they skirmished across a grassy pitch in the shadow of the fortress in eastern Serbia.

The festival is aimed at fostering ‘respect of moral values’ and aiding in the ‘uncompromising fight against violence on women, children and weaklings,’ according to the official Just Out website

Medieval plate armour started to appear in the 1300s. It’s crafted with overlapping plates and is hinged and strapped together, to allow a full range of movement plate – it also gives the wearer an amazing degree of protection

One fighter, from Croatia, told Reuters that she found the matches ‘anti-stress therapy’

Combatants were grouped depending on their skill and fitness, with those in the strongest category often knocking rivals to the ground, their helmets dented

Festival-goers clad in medieval garb – many carrying their own swords, or bows and arrows – camped out in tents for three days of jousting, archery, crafts and meat-heavy medieval meals

The intense, highly-physical matches – best described as mixed-martial arts but with medieval weapons – are refereed and scored based on a point system.

Croatian fighter Neda, who did not give her family name, was the only woman allowed to take part in the battle.

‘It’s great for me. It’s anti-stress therapy,’ she told Reuters, wearing the red and white colours of her country. 

Combatants were grouped depending on their skill and fitness, with those in the strongest category often knocking rivals to the ground, their helmets dented.

‘I have a background in boxing and I love history, so for me (this sport) is a good mix,’ said 28-year-old French fighter Victor Rousseau, 28, as he prepared for a group match. 

Velimir Birmanac, a Serbian spectator wearing ‘civilian’ medieval dress with a loose shirt and belt holding a dagger, satchel and hollowed animal horn for drinks added: ‘This fighting and this culture… it’s wonderful.’

While the fighting is rooted in old traditions, the modern form of medieval battle has only become formalised as a sport in the past decade, helped by the launch of a world championship called ‘Battle of the Nations’. 

The organisers said that the Just Out festival receives support ‘from Beijing to London’, as the event is where ‘modern knights with brave hearts and with word of honour bring back lost hope while respecting [the] gentleman’s code’. 

Festival-goers clad in medieval garb – many carrying their own swords, or bows and arrows – camped out in tents for three days of jousting, archery, crafts and meat-heavy medieval meals.

Dressed to kill – or at the least suffer a few bruises – these two men are wearing a special mesh, mail/maille, one of the most common forms of armour in the medieval and ancient world

It’s thirsty work trying to wield swords while wearing such heavy gear, so this fighter takes a sip of a fortifying beverage at the fortress

‘All of the food is prepared with ingredients that were available in medieval times, in the 14th century in Serbia,’ Slavoljub Ljubisavljevic, of Serbia, said.

Knights were housed at a medieval camp, with visitors encouraged to ‘try out a variety of skills and crafts and on a journey through time in the past 600 years’.

These included throwing spears and axes, workshops with skin and wood, blacksmithing, mosaic work, calligraphy,  pottery workshop, and a knight riding school.         

‘We’re motivated (to come here) to learn how to return to our roots and live simply, like they did before electricity,’ said Veronique Gianerrini from France who attended the festival, which ended yesterday.

Taking a dip, this woman wearing a traditional dress ‘bathes’ in Resava river during the three-day event in eastern Serbia

Participating countries included Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Moldavia, Slovenia and Italy

The medieval camp – the village where the knights were housed – was open for visitors at the annual battle

Men dressed in traditional knight’s armour fight during the annual “Just Out” medieval festival next to Manasija Monastery

Preparing for battle: The combatants were grouped depending on their skill and fitness, with those in the strongest category often knocking rivals to the ground, their helmets dented

Men dressed in French crusaders pose for a photograph during the annual “Just Out” medieval festival next to Manasija monastery, near the town of Despotovac, Serbia

Cooling off in the river: the Јust Out festival is billed as a return to traditional values, run by a non-profit non-governmental organisation

‘We are fighting for the respect of moral values… and help [in the] uncompomising fight against violence on women, children and weaklings. This is our mission, our covenant,’ said the organisers

Serbian orthodox Monastery Manasija near Despotovac, south-west view: The fighting festival took place from August 24-26 at this fortress, to mark 600 years since Stefan Lazarević built one of the most beautiful medieval buildings in the country