Hawkwood's Troupe
A Historical Swordplay Guild of Washington
Welcome to the Guild
In Renaissance Europe, there is always a war going on somewhere. Hawkwood's Troupe makes that war their business.
Join us at faires across the Pacific Northwest to experience the thrill of historical martial arts, witness the mastery of Renaissance-era combat, or perhaps, be recruited into our ranks!
Visual Chronicles
Glimpses of our troupe on the field of honor. Explore our campaigns through the eyes of the scribes.
Melee at Midsummer
The Troupe Assembled
Recruit Training
Armor Preparations
Cascadia Showdown
Morning Drills
Upcoming Campaigns
Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire
Snohomish, WA
Join us for live combat demonstrations and interactive swordplay lessons in our bustling guild yard.
Cascadia Ren Faire
Washington
Experience the thrill of Renaissance-era combat as we engage audiences with our talented performers.
Realms Unknown Festival
Woodland, WA
Find the Hawkwood's Troupe amongst the guilds and nightlife. Witness our martial prowess and learn the arts of war!
Allied Guilds & Member Groups
Hawkwood's Troupe is proud to be an ongoing project combining resources from several Oregon and Washington schools of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). Our collaboration allows us to bring a diverse range of historical fighting styles and vast expertise to the public domain.
-
Washington State Fencers
Providing unparalleled expertise in Renaissance rapier, dagger, and companion weapons.
-
Oregon Longsword Academy
Specialists in the Germanic Kunst des Fechtens (Art of Fighting) and longsword techniques.
-
Cascadia Armored Combat
Masters of heavy armor demonstrations and medieval melee combat tactics.
By uniting our efforts, we aim to elevate the standard of historical live entertainment and provide unparalleled educational experiences.
The Legend of Sir John Hawkwood
Sir John Hawkwood (c. 1320 – 1394)
Sir John Hawkwood was an English soldier who served as a mercenary leader or condottiero in Italy. His exploits made him a man shrouded in myth in both England and Italy, serving as the inspiration and namesake for our troupe.
In Italy, he was known as Giovanni Acuto, literally meaning "John Sharp" or "John the Astute" in reference to his cleverness and cunning on the battlefield. It also served as a straightforward phonetic approximation of "Hawkwood" adapted to Italian pronunciation. His name was Latinised as Johannes Acutus.
Hawkwood began his military career in the Hundred Years' War in France under King Edward III, serving as a longbowman. It is widely argued that he participated in both the famous Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.
Following Poitiers, he joined the White Company, an infamous and formidable band of mercenaries. He crossed into Italy with them in 1361 and rose to become their captain by 1363. During his 30 years serving as a captain, he amassed considerable wealth and became one of the most renowned military commanders of the 14th century, demonstrating the harsh realities and complex tactics of Renaissance warfare that our guild strives to recreate.
About Our Troupe
Hawkwood's Troupe is a Pacific Northwest-based Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) group that excels in showcasing Renaissance-era combat as part of immersive live entertainment.
We make the wars of Renaissance Europe our business. Our talented performers and educators demonstrate advanced historical fighting techniques across several distinct styles. We pride ourselves on offering audiences the unique chance to step into the past and learn how to swing a sword like a true mercenary.
Through our free, 15-20 minute hands-on sword fighting lessons and educational demonstrations at regional fairs, we engage the public in a way that is both thrilling and informative.
Our goal is to educate the public about the realities of warfare in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance—and to show just how much fun historical martial arts can be!
Send a Missive
Wish to hire the Troupe for your event, or inquire about recruitment? Send us a message via courier below.