BATTLE OF WISBY

WELCOME TO THE BATTLE OF WISBY IIII, AUGUST 2019

The Battle of Wisby project aims to recreate the battles of Mästerby and Visby, and to give voice, across the centuries, to those who fell in these battles. At the same time, we wish to highlight the historical trauma that these events became for the locals.

All tickets can be bought at the entrance or through this link.

Reenactment
of the battle

Reenactment of the battle

During week 32, the battle of Wisby will be recreated on the island of Gotland.The aim is to recreate the battle, in order to illustrate the way it may have played out in 1361. Reenactment is an excellent way to bring historical events to life, and as a result gain more understanding and knowledge about it. The battle will take place Saturday.

BACKGROUND

Some facts about the battle:
1185 skeletons have been unearthed from the mass graves outside Wisby. With them, many objects were found. Among these are 185 mail coifs, 28 coats of plates, 20 armoured gauntlets, 6 spurs, 38 arrowheads and 590 strap buckles. 

A number of written sources mention the invasion in 1361.
Among these are:
  • A stone cross that commemorates the battle. The cross was likely erected in relative conjunction with the events that took place. The inscription relates the essential facts: the battle was fought outside the gates of Wisby, between Danes and Gotlanders, in the year 1361, on the 27th of July, and the foreign army was victorious.
  • The Franciscans of Wisby mention that some 1 800 peasants were killed in the battle.
  • There are many stories and legends concerning the battles of 1361. One of them says that the burghers of Wisby kept the city gates closed, refusing to let the army of local peasants in. We do not know if this is true. The Danish forces may have already been in place, blocking the path of the Gotlanders, and forcing them to fight outside the walls. Alternately, the Gotlanders may have chosen to engage in battle with the Danish army outside the walls, hoping to win.
REFERENCES
Thordeman, Bengt, Armour from the battle of Wisby 1361. 1, Text, Kungl. Vitterhets historie och antikvitets akademien, Stockholm, 1939

Tickets are sold through this link.

THE BATTLE
OF MÄSTERBY

THE BATTLE OF MÄSTERBY

During week 32, the battle of Mästerby will be recreated on the island of Gotland. We wish to recreate the battle to illustrate how it might have played out at Mästerby, 1361. Recreation is an excellent way to bring a historical event to life and, as a result, gain more understanding and knowledge. The battle will take place Thursday.  

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

SOURCES DISCUSSING THE FIGHTING AT MÄSTERBY, 1361.

Several sources from approximately the same time discuss three battles on the island of Gotland 1361. Amongst these sources are:
  • Sjællandske Krønike, cirka 1365
  • Libellus de Magno Erici Rege, written sometime between 1365 and 1371
These sources do not mention the location of these battles, except the one outside of the city of Visby. The first source to specifically name Mästerby is: 
  • Cronica Guthilandorum, by H.N. Strelow, 1633
Strelow’s account is written long after the events of 1361, but it is possible that he had access to older sources, which were destroyed at a fire in a vicarage, 1735. He tells us that there were two battles at Fjäle Myr in Mästerby, over the course of two days, and that the Danish king had a stone cross raised at Grens gård. It is not very likely, however, that Atterdag himself had the cross raised – a more probable story is that the Gotlanders themself did this, a few years later. 
Other things which indicate there were battles at Mästerby are, aside from the sources, tales and oral traditions, various findings. Among these are:
  • Two rondell daggers
  • Arrow heads
  • Stirrups
  • Spurs
  • Lance heads
  • Parts of maces
  • Battle knives
  • Parts of armor, such as lamellas, buckles and fittings
  • Parts of chainmail
Many findings have been made, particularly during recent years, as archaeological expeditions have investigated the area.
All in all, sources, tales, findings and oral traditions provide us with unambiguous proof that there were battles between the Danish and the Gotlanders at Fjäle myr in Mästerby parish, only days before the battle at Visby Ring-wall. 

Sources:
Mästerby 1361, Slagfältsarkeologi i Valdemar Atterdags fotspår.
Link to the archaeological investigation at Mästerby (in Swedish only) 

THE REENACTMENT OF THE BATTLE OF MÄSTERBY, 1361

Tickets are sold through this link.

Battlefield
Equipment

Battlefield Equipment

Your clothing and equipment must correspond with material culture in the area around the Baltic sea during the mid-14th century. We happily approve of well-worn equipment – the Danes have supposedly been in the field for two years, and the Gotlanders would probably not have had access to particularly new equipment.

GENERAL

If you are reenacting a period post-1361, you will need to adjust your armor so it will correspond to the conditions in 1361. For example, you should:

Remove globulus breastplate or cover it with a surcot.
You may fight wearing plate arms, but we encourage you to go to battle in chainmail instead. The fighting rules have been adapted to allow fighters to wear light armor – as was probably the case for the common Gotlander. 

CLOTHING
The colors of your clothes should be possible to produce using plant dyes. Modern body adornments, haircuts and unorthodox hair colors must be covered. Modern glasses are not allowed. Fighters should wear woolen hose, some kind of kyrtle/tunic/doublet made from wool OR a gambeson. The only shoes allowed are medieval-type turnshoes.

GENDER
Everyone participating as fighters in the battles shall dress as, and appear as, men.

CATEGORIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

FLEEING CIVILIANS
This group will never be in any direct fighting. As a member of this group, you will make the battle seem more realistic by adding more people to the battlefield. 

Equipment
  • 14th century clothing/equipment 
LIGHT TROOPS
This category will never be in any direct fighting. They may, however, get hit by arrows. In this group there may be crossbowmen, bowmen, couriers, water carriers or soldiers as extras. 

Equipment
  • 14th century clothing/equipment. 
  • Helmet or a mail coif with padding.
  • Exceptions for weapon specifications (read more under fighter) are only allowed if approved at muster. 
CROSSBOWMEN
According to Swedish law it is prohibited to use crossbows against humans, even when arrows are blunt. Because of this, crossbowmen will only fire towards areas not occupied by people. If you are interested in participating with a crossbow, please contact Thomas: thomas@battleofwisby.com

BOWMEN
Arrows must have good quality rubber blunts, which must not be fitted over any kind of metal head. 
All arrows must be inspected by an official inspector prior to the battle. Arrows must be inspected continuously by the shooter and the unit leader to make sure that the rubber blunt has sustained cracks or damage. If the arrow is damaged it must be broken off or put away. 
The arrows of a bowman should be identifiable by a personal mark – otherwise it will be impossible to tell which arrow belongs to which shooter in the end. 

CAVALRY
Both sides will present a mounted force. When you apply for the event, tell us which side you would rather be on. We will do our best to meet your specifications, based on your skills, your horse and your equipment. 

Equipment
  • 14th century clothing/equipment. 
FIGHTER
The participants in this category will take active part in the fighting. 

Equipment
  • 14th century clothing 
  • Helmet, protecting head and temples 
  • Approved weapon for close combat, according to the Battle of Wisby rules 
  • Approved gauntlets 
  • We also recommend mouthpieces/gum shields, as well as jockstraps. 
When facing an opponent who is wearing an open helmet, you are not allowed to fight with your visor down. A lot of people will have open helmets, and if all visors are up, visibility will improve greatly. Furthermore, you will probably be a bit more careful when engaging your opponents. All in all, this means a safer fight. 
You may not engage non-combatants, light infantry or horsemen unless specifically ordered to, and unless you have practiced this beforehand. 

ARMOUR SPECIFICS

HELMET
All helmets must protect the upper part of the head, including the temples. Helmets should be worn with some form of padding inside. A mail coif (even a padded one) is NOT considered a helmet. Kettle hats with vision slits are not allowed. 

GAUNTLETS
As a minimum, gauntlets must be padded and reinforced with heavy leather on the back of the hand, the wrist and all fingers, including the thumb. 

WEAPON DIMENSIONS AND TYPES
No weapons can be unnecessarily heavy. They must be in good condition, and all notches on point and edge must be filed down. No sharp weapons of any kind are allowed on the battlefield. It is every commander’s responsibility to make sure that these general rules are followed. 

SWORDS 
Edge – 2 mm. Point diameter: 8 mm. 

DAGGER/KNIFE
Blade length: Max 30 cm. Edge: 1 mm. Point diameter: 8 mm. 

AXES/GLAIVES/BILLS
Edge: 3 mm. Corners: 18-20 mm. Point diameter: 8 mm. Pollaxes should be of earliermodells. Pollaxes with holes in the axeblade and straight axeblades are not allowed.

SPEARS 
Edge: 2 mm. Point: Rounded. At least 8 mm, and at least 3 mm thick. 

MACES 
The wings/edges of a mace must be at least 3 mm thick. Spiked clubs are not allowed. 

FLAILS AND OTHER WEAPONS WITH CHAIN/CORD
Not allowed. 

SHIELDS 

Shields must be made in such a way that it will not splinter in any way when it receives thrusts and cuts. Plastic or metal are not approved as materials (but metal bucklers are allowed). Bucklers should not have a diameter exceeding 55 cm.

General
Equipment

General Equipment

Our aim is to display the material culture and dress of the Baltic region 1300-1400, with all equipment appropriate for Northern European Middle Ages. Participants are required to submit photos of their tents (if planning to stay in the camp) as well as their clothing (this goes for everyone).

CLOTHING 

FOR WOMEN 
Plain shift - white or unbleached linen/hemp 
14th century style dress - wool or silk 
Veil and/or wimple - linen/hemp/wool/silk 
Socks/short hose - of wool, sewn or needlebound 
Turnshoes or soled hose 

FOR MEN 
Shirt - white or unbleached linen/hemp 
Braies - white or unbleached linen/hemp 
Hose in 14th century style - wool 
Kyrtil or other garment in 14th century style - wool or silk 
Belt 
Turnshoes or soled hose 

IN GENERAL 

If you are portraying a person of noble birth, you may use silk in your clothes.
There is very little evidence of dyed linen fabrics in the area, so we ask you NOT to bring colored linen to this event – linen garments must be white or unbleached.
The colors you choose for your wool/silk garments should be possible to create with natural dyes.
You do not have to wear hand-sewn clothes, but machine-sewn seams must be completely invisible.
Adornments such as tattoos and piercings must be hidden. This includes hair dyed in non-natural colors, as well as modern glasses. Please use contacts or obtain a pair of medieval style glasses.
Modern make up is not ok.

ACCOMODATION 

TENTS 
All tents must be traceable within sources from 1300-1480, and be unbleached or white. You are required to keep your tents open to the public, and therefore they should be furnished according to the period and the type of person you portray. No visible modern objects are permitted. Nobles should display reasonably upscale furniture in their tents, while simpler people should, of course, have simpler furniture. 

CAMP EQUIPMENT 
All camp equipment and furniture must be traceable within sources from 1300-1400. This includes personal equipment such as eating utensils and cooking equipment.

RULES AND
ORGANISATION

RULES AND ORGANISATION

We expect that all participants acquire the equipment necessary to be a part of this project. We would like to point out that although the weapons used will be blunted, injuries are always a risk. Do not participate in the battles if you do not wish to put yourself at risk. Everyone participating in the battles does so at their own risk. Neither Battle of Wisby nor their partners may be held responsible for any injuries occurring during the event. No person under the age of 18 may participate in battle.

BATTLEFIELD ORGANIZATION

The two armies will be put together in May. With the aid of the photos submitted by our participants, we will divide the participants into a Danish side and a Gotlandian side.

THE GOTLANDERS

This army will be put together according to medieval Gotlandian organization: A group or a person is put into a “Socken”. A number of those (“Socknar”) make a “Ting”. The “Tingen” form a “Setting” and two or three of those (“Settingar”) form the Gotlandian army, supported by units of light troops, bowmen and other units.

THE DANES

The Danish force is commanded by the Danish King, Valdemar Atterdag, his son Prince Christopher and his foremost knights: the Duke of Saxonia, Claus Limbek, Henning Podebusk and Valdemar Sappi.
Individuals and groups will be put together in units of different sizes, until they form a company. These companies will be lead by Valdemar's trusted knights. The companies will be organized by categories: fighters, light infantry, bowmen and cavalry.

MUSTER

All participants will be inspected at muster. This is done because we would like to know how many participants are attending in the end, that they have got all information they need, that their equipment is approved and that all participants could participate and use their weapons in a safe manner. Times for muster will be posted later.
All participating must attend one muster before participating in battle.
All bowmen should attend archer practice for the Battle of Wisby. 

BATTLE REHEARSALS

Their going to be battle rehearsals before the battles. For the battle of Mästerby only commanders need too attend on the battle rehearsal.
For the battle of Wisby all participants need too attend on the battle rehearsal. 

CATEGORIES

There will be a number of different categories of people on the battlefield. 
Fleeing civilians (14th century clothing/equipment)
Will never engage in actual combat.
Light troops (helmet)
Couriers, crossbowmen, bowmen, water carriers and soldiers participating as extras.
Cavalry (14th century clothing/equipment)
Danish cavalry plus Gotlandian soldiers riding to the battlefield.
Fighters (helmet, gauntlets, weapons approved for fighting)
Participants engaging in actual combat.
Crew
Responsible for security and service to the audience. 

FLEEING CIVILIANS

This group of participants will never be in any kind of fight. Participants could be women, men and children. This category exists to show that everybody is effected in an armed conflict. The fleeing civilians will leave the battlefield before the actual battle begins.
Fleeing civilians also help out with distributing water too participants in the battle.

LIGHT TROOPS

Crossbowmen, bowmen, couriers, water carriers and soldiers participating as extras.This category will never be in any direct fight.
As a soldier participating as an extra you will make the battle appear more realistic by adding more people to the battlefield. You can portray anything from a peasant soldier with a spear to a cap-a-pie-armored nobleman.

CROSSBOWMEN

According to Swedish law, it is prohibited to use crossbows against humans, even with blunted arrows. Because of this, crossbowmen will only fire towards areas unoccupied by people. If you are interested in participating with a crossbow, please contact: thomas@battleofwisby.com

BOWMEN

  • Bowmen can fire only when ordered to, and only at targets specified by the unit leader.
  • Bowmen will fire at the same time, unit-wise. The opponents targeted must know that they are being fired upon, and when this happens.
  • It is forbidden to fire at opponents engaged in close combat.
  • Arrows must have good quality rubber blunts, that must not be placed over any kind of metal head.
  • All arrows must be inspected by an official inspector prior to the battle. Arrows must be inspected continuously by the shooter and the unit leader to make sure that no cracks or damage has occurred to the rubber blunt. If the arrow is damaged it must be broken or put away.
  • The arrows of a bowman must be marked with a personal mark – otherwise it will be impossible to tell which arrow belongs to which shooter when the battle is over.
  • It is forbidden to fire at opponents not wearing armor. All targets must wear at least chainmail or a gambeson.
Clout shooting
Arrows must be fired at an angle of at least 45°. The average firing distance during the battles will be 100 m.
Direct shooting
Shooters allowed to fire directly at opponents need to pass a special shooting test.

CAVALRY

Both sides will have horsemen. When you apply for the event, tell us which side you would rather fight on. We will do our best to meet your request, based on your skills, your horse and your equipment. 

THE GOTLANDIAN CAVALRY

The horsemen on the Gotlandian side consists of Gotland locals arriving to the battlefield on horseback. When they have arrived, they dismount, and the horses will be taken to a safe area.

THE DANISH CAVALRY

The Danish cavalry will be divided into several groups according to the battle script. We will probable have two units. One of them will act as King Valdemar’s body guard, a unit that will ride behind the actual fighting zone. The other unit will be more involved in the battle, by riding in high speed along secured lanes in the battlefield, to show the effect of cavalry charges.

FIGHTER

The participants in this category will take active part in the fighting.
- You may NOT engage non-combatants, light infantry or horsemen, unless specifically ordered to, and unless you have practiced this beforehand. 

GENERAL RULES OF ENGAGMENT

  • The basic attitude in these fights should be that the fighting should be SAFE and FUN, both for audience and fighters.
    The attitude is very important – the will to win no matter what will hurt people, and if that happens, you are in the wrong! All injuries and incidents will be investigated. After the fight, our aim is that everyone shall feel that the battle has been safe enough, and not too hard.
  • The battles will be “semi-coordinated”. This means that troop movement and arrow shooting is coordinated, but the actual battle between the units will be “free”. If you fail to show respect and care for your opponents you may be banned from the field.
  • Obey orders without question, and do not leave your unit without letting your unit commander know. This is important, as arrows will be fired at different areas, and cavalry units will charge the field. Your group leader needs to know exactly where you are to avoid injuries. If you fail to follow the orders of your commander, you may be banned from the field.
  • Non-combatants and light troops may not engage in close combat with anyone. If you find yourself in a situation where this could be the case, fighter units may make a mock “cut down”, where they pretend to cut their targets down. No physical contact whatsoever is allowed, neither with body nor weapons.
  • All weapons (including knives) must follow the weapons regulation stated by the Battle of Wisby crew.
  • It is absolutely forbidden to consume alcohol the same day as a fight or a practice fight (from 00:00 o’clock until the fight is finished).
  • When arrows are being fired at your unit, your commander will shout "Pilar!/Arrows!". When this command is issued, look down into the ground. If you have a shield, raise it. Do not look up until the order "Pilar slut/No more arrows" is issued. Never look up at falling arrows!
  • You are not allowed to fight with your visor down against opponents with open helmets. A lot of people will have open helmets, and if all visors are up, visibility will improve greatly. Furthermore, you will probably be a bit more careful when engaging your opponents. All put together, this means a safer fight.
  • If somebody shouts STOPP or HOLD, all fighting in the concerned units must stop. If an injury has occurred, shout "Sjukvårdare!/Medic!" or "Skadad!/Wounded!". Never shout these words if there isn’t an actual injury.
    - Take care not to step on fallen fighters.

USING YOUR BODY WHEN FIGHTING

You may not take hold of an opponent’s weapon if it doesn’t have a wooden shaft. You may push or trip your opponent if this is done in a controlled, safe way.

THE FORCE OF BLOWS AND THRUSTS

You blows should only be hard enough for your opponent to register them, and never so hard that there is any risk of wounding your opponent. You may not use any force against unarmored body parts, but if your opponent wears a gambeson or chainmail, you may use moderate force. You may hit harder only when your opponent wears plate or the like. 

ALLOWED TARGET AREAS

Thrusts
  • The points of weapons used for thrusting must always be pointed downwards. When you thrust, you are only allowed to hit the torso below the V that is formed from shoulders to chest.
  • Thrusts against neck or throat, hands, joints, groin and feet are forbidden. An accidental hit in these areas will not count as a hit.
  • A thrust should be made horizontally or downwards – never upwards.
  • Try not to hit the upper half of a shield – the weapon might glance and hit your opponent’s face.
Blows
  • The whole body below the neck is considered a valid target area – again, except for neck or throat, hands, joints, groin and feet, which are off-limits. An accidental hit at these areas will not count as a hit.
  • The head is considered an invalid target area by default, but may be allowed as a valid target provided that: 
  • Your opponent’s helmet is designed in such a way, and the angle of your blow is carried out in such a way, that there is no risk that the blow glances off the helmet and hits neck, throat or face.
  • Even if your opponent takes a step back or turns his head, you would still hit the head.

RULES FOR SPECIFIC WEAPONS

Two-handed cutting weapons
Take specific care not to use too much force with these.
Daggers/clubs
Never use these weapons with force – it might severely injure your opponent. 
Axe
You are not allowed to use your axe to grapple clothing, armor or body. If your weapon gets tangled by accident, you must let go of it to avoid injury.

TAKING A HIT

Depending on what armor you wear, you have a different number of hit points. A soldier wearing only gauntlets and a helmet has only one point. If a fighter wears more armor, he will obtain more hit points. The exact amount of hit points will be notified later, but the maximum will range from 3-5 points.
A person equipped with the following will receive the maximum amount of hit points:
  • Legs: Chainmail, splinted leg protection or plate legs.
  • Body: Chainmail PLUS coat-of-plates.
  • Arms: Chainmail.
  • Head: Bascinet with aventail
  • Hands: Plate gauntlets with collar.
Even if you have additional armor compared to the above, you won’t get any bonus on your hit points.
Every hit you take spends one of your hit points. A hit by an arrow spends one point, although ricocheting arrows don’t.
If you withdraw from battle and are well out of harm’s way for 30 seconds (count to 60) all your hit points are restored.
If all your hit points are spent, you will “die” or get “mortally wounded”. We encourage you to act as if you were really dying. Screams and general theatrical behaviour is a great plus and will be appreciated by everyone, your fellow fighters and audience alike!
If you “die” among other fighters, protect your head and lie on one side. Do not fall on anybody else's upper body or head. If you have “died” or if you are “severely wounded”, you will remain on the battlefield until the battle is over, unless someone carries you off the field or you get a order to be "alive" again.
If too few people in a unit “die”, the unit commander may order people to do so, to make the battle more realistic to the audience. 

MEASURES TAKEN IF INJURY SHOULD OCCUR

Immediate measures
  • Make all fighting in the immediate vicinity of the injured person cease by shouting "STOP/HOLD".
  • Make room.
  • Perform first aid.
  • Decide if you need to call a medic to your location, or if the wounded is fit to walk by himself to the nearest medic.
  • If medics are needed, shout "MEDIC", and make sure that your unit commander is aware of what is happening.
  • When the wounded is moved off the field, a comrade must always accompany him. The unit commander must be informed about who is leaving, which type of injury has occurred, and whether the wounded is fit to walk.
  • The overall battlefield commander must be notified as soon as possible.
Investigation following injury or incident
“Incident” means a situation that might have led to injury, but fortunately did not.
After the battle, there will be a follow-up on what happened. When someone is wounded, it is crucial that the person responsible is identified. The overall battlefield commander will appoint three people to perform the investigation.
These three will interview people who saw what happened, including of course the people directly involved.
The investigators will then present a written report. It must contain:
  • Who was put in danger/wounded?
  • Who was responsible?
  • What happened?
  • Why did it happen? I.e. was it an accident or did somebody act carelessly?
The overall battlefield commander will then decide the consequences, which may be any of the following:
  • None.
  • A warning.
  • Battle practice with inspectors.
  • The person responsible for the incident or injury may not take part in any fighting for the rest of the event.
  • The person responsible for the injury may never again take part in fighting among the groups following these rules.
We hope that all participants will behave in a safe manner during the battles.
Thomas Neijman, overall battlefield commander. 

Apply for
participation

Do you want to participate in the project? Apply for participation today and join hundreds of re-enactors in making Battle of Wisby III the grandest event of the year.

Apply for participation

On the link below you will find the form to apply for participation. It is important that you read through the provided information and guides presented on this webpage before applying. 

To make the organizers work efficient and increase the quality of the event, please apply with enough details and fill out the form accordingly. 
One contact person per group apply for participation. This contact person can then go into the web application form several times, at different times, to make adjustments to the application. Login is done with the contact persons Facebook account.

We need your application for the Battle of Wisby event as soon as possible!
April 30th. LAST APPLICATION DATE for those who wish to participate in the event and stay in the camp.

June 30th. LAST APPLICATION DATE for those who wish to participate in the event, but not stay in the camp.

As a participant in the Battle of Wisby event, you are expected to take part in the activities associated with the event.

We would like you to send us a photo of yourself in your Medieval outfit, and a picture of your tent if you are planning to stay in the camp. Please enclose the photos to your application. This goes for all Battle of Wisby participants.  

Why do we need photos? We want your equipment to fit into the context of the Baltic sea region during the mid-14th century. In this matter, we will be very rigid, which means some of your equipment might have to be modified to fit in. The sooner you send us your pics, the better; then you will have more time to make any necessary adjustments to your gear. Read more about this in the equipment rules.

Workshops

Various workshops will be arranged in the BoW camp. We offer classes within different crafts, dancing, cooking and swordfighting etc.

Workshops

Info about the workshops can be found here

https://www.medeltidsveckan.se/sv/battle-of-wisby/workshops
All participants must wear 14th century clothing according to the standards of Battle of Wisby.

Organisers are not responsible for cancelled workshops. 

Camp info

Camp info

The Battle of Wisby camp is located right beside the city wall of Wisby, featuring a stunning view over one of the best preserved medieval scenery in Europe.
The camp will be located in Östergravar outside the walls of Wisby.
CAMP RULES
All camp inhabitants must be registered before they arrive. We are unfortunately not able to accept applications during the event. When you leave your camp site, it must be clean and approved by the Battle of Wisby crew. 
FIRE
If you plan to keep a fire in your camp, you will need a fire extinguisher. Should you lack one, you won’t be allowed to make a fire. Firewood will be provided. 
HYGIENE
There will be water taps in camp and a place to do the dishes in camp. Toilets will be placed in camp. Showers can be found in a nearby school, ca. 300m from camp. 
SLEEPING
We will provide straw for beds. Before you leave camp, please leave straw at apointed place.

Tournament

During the event there will be two tournaments on foot. One for fully armoured noblemen and one for men-at-arms. Armour spanning the years 1300 to 1400 is permitted. Participants will fight with various cold weapons.

Tournament

More information to come. The Tournaments will be official and with audience. 

Schedule

Schedule

Below you will fins the preliminary schedule for Battle of Wisby. The schedule will be updated regularly during the spring.
WEEK 31 
 Friday 2/8 Camp opens for participants 

Sunday 4/8 Medieval week in Wisby opens 11:00- 17:00 Camp opens for public 

WEEK 32 
Monday 5/8 
Tuesday 6/8 
Wednesday 7/8 
Thursday 8/8 14:00 Battle of Mästerby 
Friday 9/8 
Saturday 10/8 14:00 Battle of Wisby 
Sunday 11/8 Camp is closed for the public 

WEEK 33
Mon 12/8 Breaking of camp 

Travel
to Gotland

Gotland is a beautiful island with lots of interesting spots for the tourist and the reenactor both. We recommend that you take a tour around the countryside when you visit the island.

Travel to Gotland

You travel from the Swedish mainland to Gotland by ferry or by plane. Information on ferries and flights can be found online, at Destination Gotland, which also supplies information on accommodation if you don’t plan to live in tents. This late in the year it is beginning to be very hard to find suitable accommodation in Visby during week 32. Don't wait too long to make your reservations! 

FERRY

The ferry departs from three locations – Nynäshamn (about 60 km south of Stockholm), Västervik and Oskarshamn (both on the south-east coast of Sweden). Participants travelling by car from Europe should catch the ferry from Oskarshamn – it is by far the closest alternative. Don't wait too long to make your reservations, especially if you have a larger vehicle! 

FLIGHTS

Gotlandsflyg departs daily from Stockholm/Bromma. The flight takes about 35-45 minutes. You can also catch a plane from Helsinki, Malmö, Gothenburg or several other locations in Sweden. The airport in Visby is located only five minutes' drive from Visby city centre. Another alternative is to fly to Stockholm and then take a bus from Stockholm Central Station to the ferry in Nynäshamn. The bus stops just next to the ferry terminal. Buses are booked with the ferry booking. 

ABOUT GOTLAND

Gotland is a beautiful island with lots of interesting spots for the tourist and the reenactor both. We recommend that you take a tour around the countryside when you visit the island. Gotlands turistförening has lots of interesting information. 

During the event, the so called Medeltidsveckan, (“The Medieval Week”), will take place. It has been an annual event since 1984 and offers loads of seminars, guided tours, shows, a huge market and all sorts of things focused on the Middle Ages. 

A nice venue for medievalists is Kapitelhusgården. Be sure to pay them a visit! 

The museum of Gotland will have an exhibition with focus on the battles of 1361. They have some of the finds from the mass graves from the Battle of Wisby. Most of the finds are preserved at the History Museum in Stockholm. Their exhibition Medieval Massacre focuses on the events of 1361.