⚔️ From Skyrim to Sealand: The Story of Dom Hartin.

Sealand's Newest Knight in Training

Some Sealanders find their sport on a football field.

Dom Hartin found his somewhere between a fencing mask and a 600-year-old German longsword.

Dom is the newest athlete set to represent the Principality of Sealand in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), a rapidly growing sport that combines historical research with modern competitive combat.

And, like many people of a certain generation, his journey began with fantasy adventures.

"I've always liked the idea of it. Probably brought on by being a millennial and growing up with Elder Scrolls, Baldur's Gate and other classic high-adventure games."

We understand completely.

Many of us lost an embarrassing number of hours to Skyrim as well...

The Sword Fighting Birthday Party

Dom first began training in HEMA a little over a year ago with a club in Liverpool.

Then came one of the most Dom Hartin stories imaginable.

After proposing to his partner during a trip to Italy, he returned home looking for a unique way to celebrate her 40th birthday.

Most people book a restaurant.

Some hire a venue.

Dom booked a sword fighting party.

Genuinely.

A HEMA club near Penrith hosted an event for friends and family, combining medieval weaponry with birthday celebrations in a way that somehow made perfect sense.

That club, Northern Fells Fencing, has since become Dom's primary training home.

What Is HEMA?

For anyone imagining people gently tapping each other with foam swords, HEMA is something entirely different.

Historical European Martial Arts focuses on reconstructing and practising real historical fighting systems using surviving manuals and historical sources.

As Dom explains:

"Swords are steel. We use all different types of weapons, swords, daggers, polearms, shields, capes and unarmed grapples and throws."

The equipment is designed to balance realism with safety.

Participants wear reinforced fencing masks and protective equipment while using specially manufactured training weapons.

Among Dom's collection is a Federschwert, a German longsword training weapon designed centuries ago specifically for safe sparring.

"In the 15th century the German smiths were very good, and produced these thin blades that are strong enough to use like a longsword, but flex in the thrust, so you can stab without running your training partner through."

It's a remarkably elegant solution.

And one that has been keeping enthusiastic swordsmen relatively intact for over 600 years.

Fighting in Full Armour

As if steel swords weren't enough, Dom is now moving into one of HEMA's most demanding disciplines:

Harnischfechten- armoured combat.

This involves fighting while wearing full plate armour, recreating historical armoured techniques used across Europe during the medieval period.

His current armour setup weighs approximately 40 kilograms.

That's roughly the same weight as carrying a fully grown Labrador around a tournament.

As Dom puts it:

"I need to get some thinner, harder steel pieces to bring the weight down."

A sentence that very few people ever get to say.

Representing Sealand

Dom is currently in the process of becoming an official e-citizen of the Principality of Sealand and hopes to compete under the Sealand banner in the near future.

"I'll be getting signed up as at least an e-citizen next week, perhaps a knighthood too. I'd certainly want to pick one of those up before competing in Sealand's name, if approved to do so."

Fortunately, approval wasn't difficult.

Dom's passion, enthusiasm, and willingness to embrace the unusual make him a perfect fit for Sealand.

A Small World

This weekend, Dom will be competing at a Scottish jousting event in Perth while preparing for his first official competition representing Sealand in July.

His journey has taken him from South Shropshire to Lancaster, via Runcorn and Liverpool.

In a typically Sealand twist, he also discovered that he once worked just down the road from Sealand's Minister for Sport and Culture without either of them ever knowing.

Sealand has a habit of bringing people together in unexpected ways.

What's Next?

July marks the beginning of a new chapter.

Dom Hartin will step into competition wearing armour, carrying steel, and representing the Principality of Sealand for the very first time.

We'll be following his progress closely and sharing updates, photographs, and competition results as they happen.

Because while Sealand has sent athletes into American football stadiums, cricket grounds, and international competitions across Europe...

This may well be the first time we've sent one into battle wearing plate armour.

From the Sea, Freedom... and Apparently Broadswords

Dom's story is exactly the kind of story Sealand loves.

A unique sport.

A passionate competitor.

A willingness to do things differently.

And a reminder that sometimes the best adventures begin with a childhood fascination and a slightly ridiculous idea.

From the Sea, Freedom.

Apparently also from the Sea, broadswords.

🌍 Join the Sealand Journey

Sealand is more than a place, it’s a growing global community built on independence, creativity, and doing things differently.

From international sport to new ideas and events, this is just the beginning.

If you want to follow the journey, see what’s coming next, and be part of the story:

📲 Follow Sealand Sport

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🪪 Become an e-Citizen or learn more about the Principality

Join the Principality of Sealand as an official supporter and be part of a unique global community:
👉 http://sealandgov.org/?ref=sport