Tournament
In the twelfth century, tournament was used to train young knights for war (Foss 79). Over the next sequential centuries the training developed into sport and entertainment. The original bloody melee tournament evolved into more a contest of sport and skill in both jousting and standard tournament. The melee battles were matters of life and death for the teams involved. Often the winners would receive gold or silver as a prize, but those who lost the match lost their lives (Cornish 107). Most tournaments, however, involved two teams battling each other on horseback with weapons such as maces or swords. When an opposing knight struck his opponent on the armor, the touched knight would then be out of the match. The winning team would be those who still had remaining competitors. For the premier knights these tournaments were like “courtship pageants” where they could display their skill to the noble female spectators (Cornish 86). Due to the expense, only wealthy nobles held tournaments and this helped to transform tournament into extravagant events. Companies of knights would tend to be separated by nationality and would hold wagers upon their games, such as their horses or armor (Foss 79).
Originally jousting was not part of tournament and was actually deeply condemned by both monarchs and the Church alike. Despite opposition, the tournament was still the gathering point of medieval life. Not only were tournaments the stage for displaying knightly aptitude, but also for winning the attention of ladies along with settling personal disputes (Cornish 96). When two knights decided to settle their quarrels at a tournament they would be at mercy of a king’s judgment. The king would watch upon his knights with honor and referee their match to ensure no blood would be shed. As equipment and regulation improved, jousting became safer and more popular spectator sport. The joust during medieval times was a sport of finesse and excitement. Whichever knight landed a better strike with his lance on to his opponent would be awarded more points. The goal of each knight would be either to land a blow upon the other knights’ head or ultimately shatter his lance upon the other knight. Often times jousts were held separate from the actual tournaments and these events were known as “Round Tables” (Cornish 106).
Works Cited:
Cornish, F.Warre. Chivalry. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1901.
Foss, Michael. Chivalry. New York: David McKay Company, 1975. 77-79.
In the twelfth century, tournament was used to train young knights for war (Foss 79). Over the next sequential centuries the training developed into sport and entertainment. The original bloody melee tournament evolved into more a contest of sport and skill in both jousting and standard tournament. The melee battles were matters of life and death for the teams involved. Often the winners would receive gold or silver as a prize, but those who lost the match lost their lives (Cornish 107). Most tournaments, however, involved two teams battling each other on horseback with weapons such as maces or swords. When an opposing knight struck his opponent on the armor, the touched knight would then be out of the match. The winning team would be those who still had remaining competitors. For the premier knights these tournaments were like “courtship pageants” where they could display their skill to the noble female spectators (Cornish 86). Due to the expense, only wealthy nobles held tournaments and this helped to transform tournament into extravagant events. Companies of knights would tend to be separated by nationality and would hold wagers upon their games, such as their horses or armor (Foss 79).
Originally jousting was not part of tournament and was actually deeply condemned by both monarchs and the Church alike. Despite opposition, the tournament was still the gathering point of medieval life. Not only were tournaments the stage for displaying knightly aptitude, but also for winning the attention of ladies along with settling personal disputes (Cornish 96). When two knights decided to settle their quarrels at a tournament they would be at mercy of a king’s judgment. The king would watch upon his knights with honor and referee their match to ensure no blood would be shed. As equipment and regulation improved, jousting became safer and more popular spectator sport. The joust during medieval times was a sport of finesse and excitement. Whichever knight landed a better strike with his lance on to his opponent would be awarded more points. The goal of each knight would be either to land a blow upon the other knights’ head or ultimately shatter his lance upon the other knight. Often times jousts were held separate from the actual tournaments and these events were known as “Round Tables” (Cornish 106).
Works Cited:
Cornish, F.Warre. Chivalry. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1901.
Foss, Michael. Chivalry. New York: David McKay Company, 1975. 77-79.