Nothing is more medieval than knights jousting in a tournament. Read on and explore the history and the implements of the joust!

Submitted by: Lord-Xetas

Jousting

Jousting is a competition between two knights o­n a horseback and each knight’s goal is to strike his opponent with a lance and knock him off his mount. Jousting was at its peak of popularity in the 14th to 16th centuries. When competing, the knights were often equipped with three weapons; a lance, a sword and a rondel, or dagger.

When a knight is struck by the other knight, his opponent will be declared the winner of the round. If the knight is knocked off his mount, his opponent will win his horse and become the winner. If both knights were knocked off their mounts at the same time, the match will be declared a tie and the knights will engage in a swordfight until o­ne stands victorious.

It was considered that knights could gain honor and fortune by competing in the jousts. In the earliest forms of jousting or the tournai, was a simulated battle for training purposes. Victors in these battles usually won their opponents armor which is the equivalent value of a house in these days. Many knights gained their fortune and honor in this competition as many of the knights lost theirs as well.

Although the origins are unsure, formalized jousting rose to the height of it’s popularity in Europe during the 1400’s. An off shoot of the war games ("Melees") staged by Knights o­n horseback and foot soldiers in open fields, jousting was conducted in colorfully decorated area designated by the nobles for spectator viewing.

Initially these "jousts" served as a way for Knights to hone their fighting skills during times of peace, but quickly became a money making venture as the winning team could hold the losers for ransom accepting their horses and armor as payment.

Surprisingly little is known of the exact detail of the jousts, although the event was o­nce extremely popular.

Jousting scene, by Jörg Breu the Elder (1510s, pen and black ink over black chalk)

Two Primary Types Of Jousts

Jousting "au Plaisance" indicates that the combat is for the pleasure of the combatants and audience of the tournament, and uses a blunted lance tip. Jousting "au Outrance" is typically performed during wartime o­n battlefields and is performed "to the death" using sharpened lance tips. Death and serious injury could and did result from jousting "au Plaisance". The greatest danger was that the visor of the protective helmet of the knight accidentally opened during a run, making it possible for the opponents lance or debris from a breaking lance to hit the unprotected face of the knight.

Depiction of a late 13th century joust in the Codex Manesse

...men often fail to score a hit for lack of sight, poor control of their lance or horses, or lack of determination. As for sight, some close their eyes when they are about to hit, and yet they do not realize this because they are concentrating so hard. Others realize that they close their eyes but cannot stop themselves from doing so...It is important to have someone whom you can ask...

Duarte, King of Portugal, c.1434

Training For Jousting

Training for jousting was firstly done o­n a wooden horse pulled by several men. This way of training was revealed by a number of medieval manuscripts. The trainee had to hit a rectangular board, lined with a thick rope to prevent the lance from slipping away. The board had slit through which the trainer could observe the trainee. When training with a real horse, a target that would rotate when hit would be used.

Sometimes, a practice tournament would be held. It was a small ceremony with a few set rulest. The practice targets used were either a quintain or rings. The quintain was a wooden target mounted o­n a horizontal pole at which the knight aimed his lance. If the target was struck accurately, it would swing harmlessly aside; if struck off center, the weighted arm swung around with enough velocity to unseat the knight. The other form of jousting in the practice tournament was "riding at the rings", the surviving form of jousting with which we are most concerned. A ring was suspended o­n a cord, which was to be carried off o­n the tip of the knight's lance. Both the quintain and the ring joust were exercises that developed accuracy skills. These skills became increasingly important as individual jousts gained popularity.

The Lance

In a real joust, the lances are solid oak and a significant strike is needed to break them. Although the (blunt) lances will usually not penetrate their steel armour, the harnasses worn by the knights are lined o­n the inside with plenty of cloth to soften the blow from the lance.

The primary usage of the Jousting Lance was to unhorse an opposing rider. Typically used in Europe during the Middle Ages, these were usually accompanied by other melee weapons carried by the jouster, depending upon which jousting style is in use, which was determined by the time period in question, by any pre-established tourney format, and/or by the choice of the combatants.

In modern times, jousting is often done for show or demonstration purposes, and the lances used are usually made of light wood and prepared so that they break easily.

A hold o­n the joust by war

The 1300s original source (translated from French) called The Chronicles of Froissart records that, during a campaign in the Gatinois and the Beauce in France during the Hundred Years War between the English and French, the war was put o­n hold for a joust:"During the skirmish at Toury, a squire from Beauce, a gentleman of tried courage, who had advanced himself by his own merit, without any assistance from others, came to the barriers, and cried out to the English,

Is there among you any gentleman who for the love of his lady is willing to try with me some feat of arms? If there should be any such, here I am, quite ready to sally forth completely armed and mounted, to tilt three courses with the lance, to give three blows with the battle axe, and three strokes with the dagger. Now look, you English, if there be none among you in love.

The squire's name was Gauvain Micaille. His proposal and request was soon spread among the English, when a squire, an expert man at tournaments, called Joachim Cator, stepped forth and said,

I will deliver him from his vow: let him make haste and come out of the castle.

Upon this, the lord Fitzwalter, marshal of the army, went up to the barriers, and said to sir Guy de Baveux,

Let your squire come forth: he has found o­ne who will cheerfully deliver him; and we will afford him every security.

Gauvian Micaille was much rejoiced o­n hearing these words. He immediately armed himself, in which the lords assisted, in putting o­n the different pieces, and mounted him o­n a horse, which they gave to him. Attended by two others, he came out of the castle, and his varlets carried three lances, three battle-axes, and three daggers. He was much looked at by the English, for they did not think any Frenchman would have engaged body to body. There were besides to be three strokes with a sword, and with all other sorts of arms. Gauvain had had three brought with him for fear any should break.

The earl of Buckingham, hearing of this combat, said he would see it, and mounted his horse, attended by the earls of Stafford and Devonshire. o­n this account, the assault o­n Toury ceased. The Englishman that was to tilt was brought forward, completely armed and mounted o­n a good horse. When they had taken their stations, they gave to each of them a spear, and the tilt began; but neither of them struck the other, from the mettlesomeness of their horses. They hit the second o­nset, but it was by darting their spears; o­n which the earl of Buckingham cried out,

Hola hola! It is now late. Put an end to it, for they have done enough this day: we will make them finish it when we have more leisure than we have at this moment, and take great care that as much attention is paid to the French squire as to our own; and order some o­ne to tell those in the castle not to be uneasy about him, for we shall carry him with us to complete his enterprise, but not as a prisoner; and that when he shall have been delivered, if he escape with his life, we will send him back in all safety.

On the day of the feast of our Lady, Gauvain Micaille and Joachim Cator were armed, and mounted to finish their engagement. They met each other roughly with spears, and the French squire tilted much to the satisfaction of the earl: but the Englishman kept his spear too low, and at last struck it into the thigh of the Frenchman. The earl of Buckingham as well as the other lords were much enraged by this, and said it was tilting dishonorably; but he excused himself, by declaring it was solely owing to the restiveness of his horse. Then were given the three thrusts with the sword; and the earl declared they had done enough, and would not have it longer continued, for he perceived the French squire bled exceedingly: the other lords were of the same opinion. Gauvain Micaille was therefore disarmed and his wound dressed.

The earl sent him o­ne hundred francs by a herald, with leave to return to his own garrison in safety, adding that he had acquitted himself much to his satisfaction. Gauvain Micaille went back to the lords of France: and the English departed from Marchenoir, taking the road to Vendôme; but before they arrived there, they quartered themselves in the forest of Colombiers."

Modern day jousts

Jousting is a staple entertainment at renaissance fairs.

Modern-day jousting competitions feature riders o­n horseback attempting various feats of skill with a lance, performed at Renaissance fairs and other festivals. Examples range from full-contact combat jousts, to attempting to thread a lance through a ring, or striking another type of stationary target like vegetables or wooden blocks. In the ring version, the rings become smaller as the competition progresses; riders who fail to capture a ring are eliminated until a winner is determined. This version of jousting is the official state individual sport of Maryland. Another variation of this is known as 'Gymkana' or 'tent-pegging', which is characterized by a wooden target placed o­n the ground (i.e. a tent peg). This practice derives from the cavalry tactic of riding full-tilt though enemy encampments and causing their tents to fall down by pulling up their tent stakes with well-placed lance tip strikes to cause confusion and disorder.

Sources: Wikipedia, National Jousting Association

Also check o­ne of the worlds largest medieval fairs: The Landshut Wedding.