Walter wrote:-
>
> (1) left handed people
>
> We have been discussing left handed fighting on our re-enactment mailing
> list. Some of us came up with the idea that this must have been discouraged
> or even forbidden from a religious point of view. Maybe the use of the left
> hand for certain actions might have been restricted. I now that in modern
> muslim world there are rules that apply to this.
>
> Would anyone be able to comment on this? Would 14th c Catholic religion
> have restricted left handedness?
>
Left-handed fencers have a distinct advantage against their right-
handed opponents (and therefore Inigo Montoya in "The Princess Bride"
is wrong) -- here I speak from years experience fencing lefties and
all too often losing: the attacks come, well, backwards, and the
parries that work nicely against other right-handed types frequently
just drive a lefty's blade straight into your own target area.
There are also theories about why some castles have spiral staircases
that spiral the "other" way, and that this is related to
left-handedness.
I can think of no religious restrictions on left-handed fighting, but
that does not mean there weren't any.
Are you aware of the mediaeval military discussion list DE RE
MILITARI ? Lots of good stuff, and a number of regular contributors
(and a number of lively feuds, as well!).
tot straks,
~jon
J. M. B. PORTER
Department of History : University of Nottingham
University Park : Nottingham : NG7 2RD : England
t: + 115 951 3639 f: + 115 951 5948
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