Wielding longswords and halberds, more than 750 fighters from 34 countries have descended upon the Czech Republic to compete in the Battle of the Nations on May 6. The medieval-fighting competition, which takes place over five days in Prague, pits national teams against each other in a number of categories, including women's 3 on 3. Blades are blunted as a precaution, but the fighting is full-contact and brutal -- as one would expect to see on a medieval battlefield.
RFE/RL's Photo Blog
Battle Of The Nations
1
A fearsome-looking member of the French team before marching into battle.
2
Spanish contestant Santiago Torres Bejarano makes his way to the battleground with his team's flag.
3
Anna Danilukova, from the Prague band Jagabab, sings a medieval drinking song on the outskirts of the battle.
4
Andrei Serebryakov from the Ukrainian team taking a moment before entering the fray. "I'm a little nervous now but always after the first hit I stop being afraid."
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