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I recently watched Game of Thrones. The show is set in a pseudo-medieval world. I'm wondering whether the sword fights and the swords are authentic representations.

Here're an example:

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    Pretty much all "European" style sword fighting in movies is about as accurate as a cartoon of a kid lighting his fart on fire and blasting off into space. Sources: Hans Talhoffer, Sigmund Ringeck, Johannes Liechtenauer, etcetera.
    – user7080
    Dec 9, 2013 at 6:55
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    So you're asking about the historical accuracy of a pseudo-medieval world on a make-believe planet? :|
    – coleopterist
    Dec 9, 2013 at 7:10
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    @coleopterist Yes. Well kind of. Obviously, the creators were inspired by something. If you have a better way of asking this question, to go ahead and edit it, but your edited title makes absolutely no sense.
    – anon
    Dec 11, 2013 at 12:01
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    @RichardBorcsik In which way does the title not make sense? It asks if the sword fighting is historically accurate, which is what your original question was asking all the time. Of course the show that the question is about is explicitly given in the question's tags.
    – Napoleon Wilson ♦
    Dec 11, 2013 at 12:18
  • Authentic of that time and of that culture? 100% no.
    – Charles
    Jun 9, 2019 at 3:48

3 Answers 3

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Not particularly. While it is, in part, derived from European sword fighting, there are also dashes of Chinese sword theatrics (Wushu) along with exaggerated and dramatic moves designed to film well. As with hand-to-hand martial arts, actual real life fighting is a lot faster, direct and brutal. The downside is that these methods don't film well.

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    Actually, it was much slower... defense and recovery (returning to a defensible position after a failed attack) are integral parts of fencing that usually isn't very "Hollywood." Here's a metafilter thread on the topic, with a couple of linked videos and a very nice explanation.
    – RI Swamp Yankee
    Jun 12, 2012 at 11:30
  • @RISwampYankee - Thanks for the additional info. I was mainly thinking of the attack portion being slowed down for better, more dramatic, filming, not to mention the safety of the actors and stunt people. I didn't consider the defense portion.
    – jfrankcarr
    Jun 12, 2012 at 14:04
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    This video demonstrates realistic longsword techniques: youtube.com/watch?v=tsGU5KI1qJA (courtesy ARMA)
    – Duncan Bayne
    Nov 21, 2013 at 1:19
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It is worth bearing in mind that single handed swords did little against plate armour, they did little against maille and padding unless you landed a good solid thrust. Curved swords have almost no affect against solid armour too.

I have suits of maille and plate and regualarly fight in tournaments wearing them. We have fought at full power with swords and I have never been hurt despite getting hit a lot!

The fight with Ned Stark and Jamie which the OP has provided a link for is a good example of Hollywood fighting. If you watch carefully the head shots and thrusts would normally miss even if the target stayed still but they move or block and with a good camera angle it looks like a close thing but they were never in danger. Slashes to the body are normally swung in when the opposing blade is already in place to block them.

Extra:

I just watched the scene with Jamie and Briene on the bridge. The part just before the actual sword clashes is historically correct as related to 15c fighting manuals. They are taking recognised 15c guards called the ox and the plough. Once the fighting starts the blows are telegraphed and aimed at the weapon rather than the person. There is also a lot more pressing swords together (called binding) than would normally happen for real, if you pressed swords and stood that close you would be punched or headbutted. Jamie mentions that she should not grimace before thrusting, this is correct and is actually a very common bad habit with newer fighters.

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Historically accurate as compared to what? Game of Thrones is a fantasy, not based on history or any historical period, so there is no basis for comparing it to a historical event like the Battle of Hastings, for example. The story, and the style of fighting, is in the minds of the show's creators.

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    I disagree. It was inspired by real historical periods and real territories. There's also an accepted answer so I don't see the point of this "answer". Obviously the sets and the choreographies were not derived from thin air.
    – anon
    Feb 12, 2013 at 10:19

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