Rules for Melee

Rules for Melee

There are two types of melee events. There is the Melee a pied Tournament and the Melee a cheval tournament.

Melee a pied Tournament

In Melee a pied Tournament, there are two teams of knights that fight on foot. The knights can choose what weapons they want to have as long as the weapon is blunted. The goal of melee a pied is to beat the other team. One team can also capture a noble and hold them there for ransom. This is when the other team will need to give up equipment or currency. Other nobles could pay the ransom but this is only when the two nobles are related.

Melee a Cheval Tournament

In Melee a pied Tournament, there is a fight between two teams on horseback. The knights can be equipped with what they want to have as long as the weapons are blunted. The goal of this tournament is to beat the other team. One of the teams could capture a noble and demand a ransom. The other team could pay in equipment or currency. Another noble could pay for the ransom but that only happens when the two nobles are related. It is just like Melee a pied but on horseback.

Medieval Melee

In modern melee, The tournaments usually would take place in fairs. The weapons are usually dull so that people would not get hurt. Armor is always worn for protection. The rules are changed from medieval times for safety reasons. Injuries may occur. When attacking and a person has fallen then the attacker would not attack the defender anymore. Deaths are very unlikely in modern melee.

Sources: http://s3.invisionfree.com/Aquitaine/ar/t230.htm

http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/medieval-tournaments.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_(medieval)