Laurentius Guild (Laurentiusgildet) is a historical European martial arts group headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark with chapters in Nyborg and Vordingborg. Its membership consists of academic researchers specializing in fencing with a focus on the 14th and 15th centuries.
Led by Frede Jensen of Randers Museum,[1] the group provides organized instruction in the study and practice of historical European swordplay with a particular focus on longsword fencing, with or without armour, and on sword and buckler fencing.[2] It is one of several northern European groups of students and researchers in the area of medieval martial arts.[3] Established in 2004, it is a small historical European martial arts group whose members are mainly from Aarhus University, especially those specializing in medieval archaeology or history.[4]
The Nyborg chapter specialises in longsword, rapier, and poleaxe. Indeed, longsword interpretation across the Guild is led by Claus Sørensen, a medieval archeologist based in Nyborg Castle.[5] Methodology is based on fencing manuscripts from the 14th to 17th centuries with a focus on the 14th and 15th centuries. This is enhanced with the practical knowledge gained through solo and partnered drilling, and free play (sparring). In this way, it follows a similar methodology to experimental archeology.
The Laurentius Guild is part of HEMAC (Historical European Martial Arts Coalition), which is a pan-European organization of martial artists and researchers dedicated to the study of traditional European fighting arts and martial traditions.[6]