What we do
Who are the Medieval Combat Society
The society is run by the members for the members who have fun taking part in reenactment shows in the UK and further afield. Members come from all walks of life and enjoy different aspects from living history displays through to fighting with sword, axes and maces, or it may be the archery, dancing or banqueting.
Where to see us
Book the Medieval Combat Society
01
Displays
Archery, combat, dancing, Living history, have-a-go archery, set to a display of living history and medieval tents.
02
Entertaining
More than just a display, we engage with the crowd to have them cheer for their favourite knight or boo the bad.
03
Experience
We practice all the off season and have many years of experience in hundreds of bookings, and tailor each show to its setting.
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Medieval Combat Society
(opens in a new tab)The Medieval Combat Society (MCS) is a 14th Century Re-enactment Group, active since the 1970's. Welcome to the Medieval Combat Society Facebook page.
9 November 1362 (36 Edward III): This date marked the grand finale of the historic Smithfield Tournament. Organised as a spectacular multi-day celebration for King Edward III’s 50th birthday and the official end of the second wave of the Black Death, the event served as a send-off for Edward of Woodstock, prince of Wales and known since 1545 as the black prince before he departed for his new court in Aquitaine. It was highly notable because the Black Prince famously tilted using his custom black "Shield for Peace" emblazoned with three white ostrich feathers.The exact 14th-century reference claiming that Edward of Woodstock (the Black Prince) took a feather from the fallen, blind King John of Bohemia at the Battle of Crécy comes from the medical treatise Medica, written by the eminent medieval English physician John of Arderne.The passage itself is preserved in a 14th-century manuscript copy of Arderne's work (specifically catalogued by historians as Sloane MS. 56, folio 74, housed in the British Library), which was transcribed by a contemporary scribe named William SetonIn the margins of the manuscript, an ostrich feather is drawn next to the text as a bookmark or reference marker. Beside the drawing, the text reads: "ubi depingitur penna principis Walliæ… Et nota quod talem pennam albam portabat Edwardus, primogenitus E. regis Angliæ, super cristam suam, et illam pennam conquisivit de Rege Boemiæ, quem interfecit apud Cresy in francia.""Where the feather of the Prince of Wales is depicted… And note that Edward, the eldest son of Edward King of England, wore such a white feather upon his crest, and he won that feather from the King of Bohemia, whom he slew at Crécy in France."John of Arderne's medical notes capture the very earliest written instance of the battlefield rumor spreading through England around the time of the Black Prince's death in 1376.However historical records and royal seals prove that King John of Bohemia did not actually wear ostrich feathers on his helmet; his official crest consisted of vulture wings. The ostrich feather badge most likely came from the Black Prince’s mother, Philippa of Hainault. Her family was descended from the Counts of Luxembourg (of which King John of Bohemia was also a member), and she used the ostrich feather as a personal family device years before the Battle of Crécy took place.Did Edward of Woodstock take an Ostrich feather from King John of Bohemia as his badge? www.youtube.com/shorts/6RktMx3ugXUwww.themcs.org/characters/Edward%20of%20Woodstock.htm
9 November 1337 battle of Cadzand (not to be confused with the 1387 battle of Cadzand), Walter Manny led an assault against the small island of Cadzand, prompting the garrison of Sluys a few days later, to cross to the Island and fight the English where they were defeated.How did a single English volley collapse an entire Flemish army in under three seconds?The Battle of Cadzand 1337 was the opening military strike of the Hundred Years' War www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiX56A5tZcIwww.themcs.org/weaponry/crossbows/crossbows.htm
8 November 1355 Edward Of Woodstock, the prince of Wales, and known since 1545 as the Black Prince leading his army on a great chevauchée with the vanguard reaches the furthest eastern limit of the campaign: the Mediterranean port city of Narbonnewww.themcs.org/armour/14th%20century%20helms.htm
8 November 1355 king Edward III issues a chivalric challenge to king John II of France to meet him in battle. When it became clear that King John II was employing a scorched-earth strategy, destroying resources on his own lands ahead of the English army and strictly avoiding an open field engagement, Edward III sent a herald directly to the French camp. He offered John II a choice: meet the English army in a fair, pitched battle on a mutually agreed date, or settle the dispute over the French crown via personal, single combat between the two kingswww.themcs.org/costume/Male%20reenactment%20costume.htm
7 November 1342 (16 Edward III): Following his landing in Brittany late the previous month, King Edward III officially ordered his invasion fleet and vanguard army to set off from Brest. Under the direct tactical command of Robert of Artois, the fleet sailed along the southern coast of Brittany to launch a heavy siege against the strategic, walled city of Vannes. This deployment marked a massive escalation in the War of the Breton Succession. The move was plagued by a severe crisis—the Calendar of Close Rolls notes that 186 English transport masters and crews deserted directly on and around this date, refusing to sail into dangerous winter storms without their back-pay.www.themcs.org/armour/14th%20century%20armour.htm