Codex Belli
Encyclopedia
Codex Belli is the name of a set of rules for medieval
combat reenactment
first issued in 1999 and then revised by the German
umbrella group Kämpferliste in 2002. The Codex Belli is allegedly based a 1977 ruleset by Colin Richards.
The Codex Belli, literally Laws of Battle, are a ruleset for unchoreographed semi-contact combat with medieval reenactment weapons, which differ most notably from realistic replicas in that they have rounded edges and points. The goal of this ruleset was to create a common standard for safe fighting practices as lower-scale reenactment events grew larger and a trust-based system became insufficient with the increasing number of reenactors involved.
Numerous German medieval reenactment groups have adopted the Codex Belli as a standard ruleset for combat reenactment, in preference to custom rules based on other groups, such as the SCA
. Among other things, its application at major national reenactment events has led to an increasing popularity, although critics have attempted to establish different systems.
The A-Card is essentially a card qualifying the owner as a verified safe fighter listed at the Kämpferliste. This list is maintained by the same group that issued the Codex Belli and thus the A-Card is also intended to verify that its owner knows the ruleset and has proven to be able to fight without violating it.
The A-Card was deemed necessary when events grew too large to rely on individual reenactors' reputations as safe fighters or on-location safety tests.
However the A-Card was also strongly criticised for being less reliable, as the owner could become unsafe after acquiring the card (eg. due to a lack of practice), which wouldn't be an issue in the case of on-location safety tests or an honour based system in which another person, usually the group leader, would assure that the combatant is safe and jeopardize both their and the combatant's honour if the combatant then proved unsafe.
In the past it has also been poked fun at for being too bureaucratic and not applicable in the Real World.
Many implementations of the Codex Belli ignore the A-Card and instead rely on safety tests or observation during warm-up.
, padded vest, or no armour
at all) starts out with.
Some groups prefer setting that default to a single hit point, which leads to shorter battles and strongly favours chainmail
, which grants the wearer one additional hit point, or plate armour, which grants the wearer two or more hit points, usually depending on whether it is a half-plate or full plate.
The other common variant is giving unarmoured combatants three hit points, which lowers the advantage of heavy armour, especially in longer battles where armoured combatants often tire out faster than unarmoured ones because of the added weight of metal armour.
Generally any hit counts as a single hit and deducts one of the victim's "lives" or "hit points", usually resulting in death in case of the single-hit variant. Some variations count hits with a projectile, such as an arrow or crossbow
bolt, twice because the added range gives the victim more time to react than when having to deal with a melee
attacker.
Sometimes, especially in training battles, trainees with little prior experience or who haven't been in a many-against-many combat before are granted an additional hit point.
Combinations of these rules rarely result in a total amount of hit points greater than six using the triple-hit rule or four using the single-hit rule.
s have become the standard choice for a secondary weapon in these combats because they can cover the entire legal hit area (torso, upper arms and upper legs).
As a result, the unusual practice of attempting to hit the opponent on the back while facing him from the front has become increasingly popular because it seems to be the easiest way to score a hit when both combatants are using a sword and shield combination.
This is not only a very artificial technique, it is also criticised for provoking injuries in the upper body area or, especially in the absence of a solid helmet
, on the head — both of which the Codex Belli was supposed to protect — by being based on the idea of the attacker trying to strike downwards from above the opponent's shoulder, which requires an upward movement of the sword
.
Medieval reenactment
Medieval reenactment is a form of historical reenactment that focuses on re-enacting European history in the period from the fall of Rome to about the end of the 15th century. The second half of this period is often called the Middle Ages...
combat reenactment
Combat reenactment
Combat reenactment is a side of historical reenactment which aims to depict historical forms of combat. This may refer to either single combat, melees involving small groups, or nearly full-scale battles with hundreds of participants....
first issued in 1999 and then revised by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
umbrella group Kämpferliste in 2002. The Codex Belli is allegedly based a 1977 ruleset by Colin Richards.
The Codex Belli, literally Laws of Battle, are a ruleset for unchoreographed semi-contact combat with medieval reenactment weapons, which differ most notably from realistic replicas in that they have rounded edges and points. The goal of this ruleset was to create a common standard for safe fighting practices as lower-scale reenactment events grew larger and a trust-based system became insufficient with the increasing number of reenactors involved.
Numerous German medieval reenactment groups have adopted the Codex Belli as a standard ruleset for combat reenactment, in preference to custom rules based on other groups, such as the SCA
Society for Creative Anachronism
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century...
. Among other things, its application at major national reenactment events has led to an increasing popularity, although critics have attempted to establish different systems.
The A-Card
The Codex Belli introduced the concept of the A-Card (the "A" is for "Authorisation") or "driver's license for reenactment" as it has been nicknamed by supporters and critics alike.The A-Card is essentially a card qualifying the owner as a verified safe fighter listed at the Kämpferliste. This list is maintained by the same group that issued the Codex Belli and thus the A-Card is also intended to verify that its owner knows the ruleset and has proven to be able to fight without violating it.
The A-Card was deemed necessary when events grew too large to rely on individual reenactors' reputations as safe fighters or on-location safety tests.
However the A-Card was also strongly criticised for being less reliable, as the owner could become unsafe after acquiring the card (eg. due to a lack of practice), which wouldn't be an issue in the case of on-location safety tests or an honour based system in which another person, usually the group leader, would assure that the combatant is safe and jeopardize both their and the combatant's honour if the combatant then proved unsafe.
In the past it has also been poked fun at for being too bureaucratic and not applicable in the Real World.
Many implementations of the Codex Belli ignore the A-Card and instead rely on safety tests or observation during warm-up.
Hit Point Rules
Although the Codex Belli itself doesn't specify any rules for counting hits, two variants have become widely accepted at German events. These variants differ only in how many hit points an unarmoured combatant (eg. someone wearing a gambesonGambeson
A gambeson is a padded defensive jacket, worn as armour separately, or combined with mail or plate armour. Gambeson were produced with a sewing technique called quilting. Usually constructed of linen or wool, the stuffing varied, and could be for example scrap cloth or horse hair...
, padded vest, or no armour
Armour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
at all) starts out with.
Some groups prefer setting that default to a single hit point, which leads to shorter battles and strongly favours chainmail
Chainmail
Mail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh.-History:Mail was a highly successful type of armour and was used by nearly every metalworking culture....
, which grants the wearer one additional hit point, or plate armour, which grants the wearer two or more hit points, usually depending on whether it is a half-plate or full plate.
The other common variant is giving unarmoured combatants three hit points, which lowers the advantage of heavy armour, especially in longer battles where armoured combatants often tire out faster than unarmoured ones because of the added weight of metal armour.
Generally any hit counts as a single hit and deducts one of the victim's "lives" or "hit points", usually resulting in death in case of the single-hit variant. Some variations count hits with a projectile, such as an arrow or crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
bolt, twice because the added range gives the victim more time to react than when having to deal with a melee
Mêlée
Melee , generally refers to disorganized close combat involving a group of fighters. A melee ensues when groups become locked together in combat with no regard to group tactics or fighting as an organized unit; each participant fights as an individual....
attacker.
Sometimes, especially in training battles, trainees with little prior experience or who haven't been in a many-against-many combat before are granted an additional hit point.
Combinations of these rules rarely result in a total amount of hit points greater than six using the triple-hit rule or four using the single-hit rule.
Critique
Since some interpretations of the Codex Belli go as far as banning hits against the entire length of the lower arms and lower legs, shieldShield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
s have become the standard choice for a secondary weapon in these combats because they can cover the entire legal hit area (torso, upper arms and upper legs).
As a result, the unusual practice of attempting to hit the opponent on the back while facing him from the front has become increasingly popular because it seems to be the easiest way to score a hit when both combatants are using a sword and shield combination.
This is not only a very artificial technique, it is also criticised for provoking injuries in the upper body area or, especially in the absence of a solid helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
, on the head — both of which the Codex Belli was supposed to protect — by being based on the idea of the attacker trying to strike downwards from above the opponent's shoulder, which requires an upward movement of the sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
.