Winners of the 4th Bauska Castle Fencing Tournament “Ius gladii”, or The Right of the Sword, Announced

On Sunday, 6 August, the fourth Bauska Castle Museum fencing tournament, “Ius gladii”, was held in cooperation with the Latvian Fencing Federation. This year, athletes from Latvia, Russia and Belgium took part in the fencing tournament. It is the only fencing tournament in Latvia held in a historic setting—a castle.

This year, Andrejs Manukhins (Latvia) won the Bauska Castle travelling trophy—a sword—in epee fencing. Meanwhile, Stef De Greef (Belgium) won the Bauska Castle travelling trophy—a helmet—in foil fencing. As every year, the winners’ names will be engraved on the trophies, which will remain with the winners until next year’s fencing tournament. The following year, during a solemn ceremony, the sword and helmet will be passed on to the winners of the next tournament.

Second place in epee fencing was won by Gints Baķis (Latvia), the winner of the 2015 Fencing Tournament, while third place went to Aleksandrs Hudolejs (Latvia). Maksims Kostjins (Russia) took second place in foil fencing, leaving Dmitrijs Srebdoļskis (Russia) in third place.

Oļegs Mļikovs won the crossbow shooting competition at the 4th Bauska Castle Museum tournament, Laima Vincjūne took second place, and Artūrs Bāņukalns finished third. This year, 29 participants took part in the crossbow tournament.

The fencers’ bouts were announced by the herald, who historically served as a ruler’s or knight’s companion, an expert in heraldry, an envoy and an interpreter. The knights fought for the honour of the ladies of “Galms”, the Bauska Castle Museum’s early dance group, who supported them during the bouts with loud applause and, in the event of victory, presented early dance performances. In the intervals between the bouts, the trick artists of “Fire Spirit” and the early music ensemble “Artemisia Absinthium” also performed.

The Bauska Castle Museum Fencing Tournament was held for the first time as part of the “​​Tas Te” festival.

Information prepared by:

Ilva Neimane
Head of Public Relations and Customer Service at Bauska Castle Museum

Contacts:
bauskaspils@bauska.lv
Tel.: 63923793