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History

 

An introduction to the history of fencing:

 

Fencing Chronology

 
1200 BC

Evidence of fencing competitions in Egypt. 
Even today a form of fencing with sticks dating from this time can be seen in an Egyptian dance known as the tahtib.

300BC

Romans fight with short swords (Gladius) and light spears.

 

European fencing guilds, such as the Marxbruder in Germany, are organised.

 

The fencing master Agrippa defines the four fencing positions ‑prime, seconde, tierce and quarte.

 

1573

The French Fencing Academy is officially recognised by King Charles IX.

 

1573

The French fencing master Henry de St. Didier publishes the first French fencing manual, which begins to classify many attacks and parries.

1599
 
Prefering an English broadsword the English fencing master George Silver publishes his work on duels in fencing.

1599-1601
 
Shakespeare uses the term "foil" for the fleurette trainig weapon.

The Italian masters Vigiani and Grassi describe the lunge.

 

1700s

Rapiers decline in use and the fleuret, or foil, becomes the training weapon of choice.

 

The right‑of‑way conventions are invented, making fencing much safer.

 

1850s

The epee becomes the dueling weapon of choice in Europe. The sabre becomes the national weapon of Hungary.

 

1874

The fencing mask is invented by the French master (epee) La Boessiere. Italian fencing masters develop sabre fencing into a non‑fatal sport. The Hungarians later develop a new school of sabre fencing and dominate the sport until the mid‑20th century.

 

1891

The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers

1900

Men's foil and sabre competitions are included in the first modern Olympic Games.

 

The men's epee competition is introduced at Olympic level.

 

The Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) is founded.

 

With the end of World War 1, dueling declines in popularity. However, the sport of fencing continues to grow.

 

1924

The women's foil competition is introduced at Olympic level.

 

1936

The men's Olympic competition leads to a duel after the Italian team disagrees with the scoring of a Hungarian judge. At the Hungarian border after the Games,  two duels are fought with wounds inflicted, before spectators intervene.

 

1950s

Electric scoring for epee is introduced at Olympic level.

 

1954

Eastern European countries, such as the Soviet Union, Romania and Poland, begin to challenge French and Italian dominance of the sport. An Eastern European style of fencing, relying on speed and mobility, emerges.

 

1956

The last‑known formal duel occurs in France. It ends with a scratch to the arm.

 

1960

Electronic scoring for foil is introduced at Olympic level.

 

1982

Hungarian great Aladar Gerevich wins the last of six consecutive Olympic titles. His dominance of the sabre competition runs from 1932 to1960.

 

1982

Vladimir Smirnov dies at the World Championships in Rome, when a broken blade goes through his mask causing a fatal brain injury. His death prompts a review of safety standards in fencing, which leads to the development of stronger masks.

 

Electronic scoring for sabre is introduced.

 

1996

Women's epee becomes an Olympic sport.

 

1997

Young Ho Kim loses one of the most heroic contests in World Championship history. He is down 11‑3 to Sergei Golubitsky in the final period of the men's foil gold medal bout but scores 8 touches in a row to tie at 11‑all before losing 15‑14.

 

1998

Women's sabre appears in the World Championships as a demonstration sport.

 

2004

Women's individual sabre appears at the Athens Olympic Games.

 

2008

Women's team sabre is included in the programme for the Beijing Olympic Games.

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