Highland Broadsword according to Thomas Page
Thomas Page was and English soldier in the Norwich Artillery Company, a unit raised in January 1746 by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk, Sir John Hobart, Earl of Buckingham, for the defence of the city against possible Jacobite invasion during the “Forty-Five” rebellion. Page wrote “The Use of the Broad Sword as it is now in Use among the Highlanders” in order to familiarize his fellow soldiers with the methods of the Highland warriors, whom he feared they would eventually meet in battle. Where he gained his first hand knowledge of Highland swordsmanship is unknown, but presumably Page had been in Scotland prior to 1746, possibly with a previous stint in the Army.
Pages’ method is straight forward and direct, and bears an obvious relationship with other British back/broadsword manuals of the 17th, 18th or 19th century, particularly those claiming the “Highland method” from c.1800. It is, however, perhaps one of the best laid out and explained, and contains many details that indicate a unique Gaelic approach to swordsmanship. In addition, Pages’ material on the Highlander’s use of the Targe is absolutely unique.
The semester 1 course will introduce students to Page’s system of single Broadsword , and lay the foundation for the Broadsword and Targe, which will be taught in Semester 2.