Tilting with a lance at a Renaissance Fair.

Jousting is a sport and an entertainment for the rich and noble. It consists of martial competition between two mounted knights using a variety of weapons, usually in sets of three per weapon (such as tilting with a lance, blows with the battle axe, strokes with the dagger, or strokes with a sword), often as part of a tournament.^[1] Joust or Jousting can mean: Jousting, the medieval sport. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2163x1203, 601 KB)Jousting at the Golden Gate Renaissance fair, San Francisco, California. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2163x1203, 601 KB)Jousting at the Golden Gate Renaissance fair, San Francisco, California. ... The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different pole weapons based on the spear. ... An actress playing the role of Mary Queen of Scots in 2003. ... For other uses, see Knight (disambiguation) or Knights (disambiguation). ... The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different pole weapons based on the spear. ... Axe For other uses, see Axe (disambiguation). ... Bold text This article is about the weapon. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a single sport or game. ...

Jousting was just one of a number of popular martial games in the Middle Ages referred to generically as hastiludes. A combat sport is a competitive sport involving the use of punch, kick, throw, joint locks, and/or a weapon for attack and defence. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... A knight receiving a ladys favour at a hastilude. ...

Though the first recorded tournament was staged in 1066, jousting did not gain in widespread popularity until the 13th century.^{[citation needed]} It maintained its status as a popular European sport until the early 17th century.^[2]

Jousting was added to tournaments several centuries after their inauguration. The joust permitted a better display of individual skill and, although dangerous, offered large sums of prize money. Many knights made their fortune in these events, whilst many lost their fortune or even life. For example, Henry II of France died when a shard of his opponent's broken lance went through his visor and into his eye.^{[citation needed]} Tournament by Jörg Breu the Elder 1510s, depicting jousting A Tournament, or tourney (from Old French torneiement, tornei[1]) is the name popularly given to chivalrous competitions or mock fights of the Middle Ages and Renaissance (12th to 16th centuries). ... Henry II (French: Henri II) (March 31, 1519 – July 10, 1559), a member of the Valois Dynasty, was King of France from March 31, 1547, until his death. ...

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

Download high resolution version (1024x1434, 411 KB) The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Download high resolution version (1024x1434, 411 KB) The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Folio 371r shows Johannes Hadlaub Folio 124r shows Walther von der Vogelweide The Manesse Codex or Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift (Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg Library, Cod. ...

Medieval jousting

The skills and techniques used in jousting were also used in combat. In combat, mounted knights would charge at their enemies with weapons to try to kill or disable them. The primary use of the jousting lance was to unhorse the other by striking them with the end of the lance while riding towards them at high speed. This is known as "tilting". Other weapons were also used for jousting.^[1] “Fights” redirects here. ... The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different pole weapons based on the spear. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

War put on hold for a joust

The 1300s document (translated from French) called The Chronicles of Froissart contains many details concerning jousting in medieval times. For example, much can be gleaned from its account of a war put on hold for a joust as it illustrates and documents: Froissarts Chronicle was written in French by Jean Froissart. ...

• the connection between romance and jousting
• the importance associated with jousting
• the nonlethal expectations
• the use of attendants
• the rounds consisting of three encounters with various weapons
• jousting being stopped when the risk of death seemed too great
• the financial rewards of acquitting yourself well
• tournaments contained jousts but jousts were also done outside of tournaments
• jousts contained tilts but tilts were but one type of armed encounter during a joust
• jousting as sport and not war was done between enemies during a war between warring sides, at least this once
• the completion of a joust could be delayed days and finished later
• standards of conduct considered honorable

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, a squire from Beauce named Gauvain Micaille yelled 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." This is what Froissart says happened next: Froissarts Chronicle was written in French by Jean Froissart. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

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 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.^[1]

Equipment

Jousting helmet (Stechhelm), late fifteenth century. Illustration by Albrecht Dürer.

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (670 × 1052 pixel, file size: 80 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Faithful reproductions of two-dimensional original works cannot attract copyright in the U.S. according to the rule in Bridgeman Art Library v. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (670 × 1052 pixel, file size: 80 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Faithful reproductions of two-dimensional original works cannot attract copyright in the U.S. according to the rule in Bridgeman Art Library v. ... Albrecht Dürer (pronounced /al. ...

The lists

The lists, or list field, is the arena in which a jousting event or similar tournament is held. More precisely, it is the roped-off enclosure where tournament fighting takes place.^[3][4] It is mentioned frequently in the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott.^[5] In the late medieval period, castles and palaces were augmented by purpose-built tiltyards as a venue for "jousting tournaments". For other uses, see Ivanhoe (disambiguation). ... For the first Premier of Saskatchewan see Thomas Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott (August 14, 1771 - September 21, 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe. ... A tiltyard (or tilt yard or tilt-yard) was an enclosed courtyard for jousting (also known as tilting). Tiltyards were a common feature of late medieval castles and palaces. ...

The horse

Main article: Medieval horses

The two most common kinds of horse used for jousting were warmblood chargers and coldblood destriers. Chargers were medium-weight horses bred and trained for agility and stamina, while destriers were heavy war horses. These were larger and slower, but helpful to give devastating force to the rider's lance through its weight being about twice as great as that of a traditional riding horse. The horses were trained for ambling, a kind of pace that provided the rider with stability in order to be able to focus and aim better with the lance. Jousting is the most well-known use of horses during the medieval era, but was seen in tournaments more than actual battle. ... Warmbloods are a group of sport horse breeds and the term simply distinguishes this type of horse from the cold bloods (draft horses) and the hot bloods (Thoroughbreds and Arabians). ... War horses are horses specially trained for use in battle or individual combat (see also: Jousting). ... Two pairs of Shire horses and a pair of Suffolk Punches pulling dray wagons decorated with the livery of their home breweries. ... A destrier is an historical term for a knights war horse. ... War horses are horses specially trained for use in battle or individual combat (see also: Jousting). ... Ambling, in horsemanship, is a peculiar kind of pace, wherein a horses two legs of the same side move at the same time. ... PACE may refer to: Planetary Association for Clean Energy Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, in the United Kingdom Academy for Gifted Children in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the acronym PACE stands for Programming for Academic and Creative Excellence Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence...

During a jousting tournament, the horses were cared for by their grooms in their respective tents. They wore caparisons, a type of ornamental cloth featuring the owner's heraldic signs. Competing horses had their heads protected by a chanfron, an iron shield for protection from otherwise lethal lance hits. A groom is responsible for the welfare of their employers horses. ... A caparison is a covering, or cloth laid over a horse or other animal, especially a pack animal, or horse of state. ... Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... A champron. ...

Other forms of equipment on the horse included long-necked spurs which enabled the rider to control the horse with extended legs, a saddle with a high back to provide leverage during the charge or when hit, as well as stirrups for the necessary leverage to deliver blows with the lance. A spur is a metal instrument composed of a shank, neck, and prick, rowel (sharp-toothed wheel), or blunted end fastened to the heel of a horseman. ... Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century, Kofun period, Japan. ...

The armor

Jousting was popular from the Middle Ages until the early 1600s. During that time armour evolved from being chain mail (called simply mail at the time), with a solid, heavy helmet, called a "great helm", and shield. By 1400 knights wore full suits of plate armour, called a "harness". A full harness frequently included extra pieces specifically for use in jousting, so that a light military combat suit could be reinforced with heavier, "bolt-on" protective plates on the cuirass (breastplate) and helmet, and also with jousting-specific arm and shoulder pieces, which traded mobility for extra protection. These extra pieces were usually much stronger on the side expected to take the impact of the lance. Special jousting helmets were sometimes used, made so that the wearer could only see out by leaning forwards. If the wearer straightened up just before the impact of the lance, the eyes would be completely protected. Some later suits had a small shield built-in the left side of the armor. In some cases this was spring loaded to fly into pieces if struck properly by the opponent's lance. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... For other uses, see Chainmail (disambiguation). ... Early great helms had large flat tops that were susceptible to crushing mace blows. ... Gothic armour Plate armour is personal armour made from large metal plates, worn on the chest and sometimes the entire body. ... This article is devoted to the type of armour known as a cuirass. ...

The lance

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. Lances were often decorated with stripes or the colors of a knight's coat of arms. In a real joust, the lances were of solid oak and a significant strike was needed to shatter them. However, the (blunt) lances would not usually penetrate the steel. The harnesses worn by the knights were lined on the inside with plenty of cloth to soften the blow from the lance.

Broken lances are common in full contact jousts. In this picture, airborne fragments of both lances are visible.

Image File history File linksMetadata Broken_lances. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Broken_lances. ...

Modern-day jousting

International Jousting Association knights in historically correct reproduction armour jousting at a tournament in Taupo New Zealand, 2006

Modern day jousting or tilting has been kept alive by the International Jousting Association, [1], which has strict guidelines for the quality and authenticity of jousters' armour & equipment, and has developed the use of breakable lance tips for safety. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Jousting under the IJA rules follows a points system where points are given for breaking the lance tip on the opposing knights shield, note there are no points given for unhorsing an opponent. IJA sanctioned tournaments also include skill at arms where the riders display their horsemanship and weapons handling skills with swords on the Moors Head, they use spears for the rings and spear throw, and use the lance against a spinning quintain. Many IJA tournaments also include a mounted melee with fully armoured riders using padded batons in place of swords for safety. None of the IJA events are theatrically based and they offer the public a chance to observe living history as opposed the Renaissance Fair type entertainment type jousting.

Today, tent pegging is the only form of jousting officially recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. The sport involves using a lance or sword to strike and carry away a small wooden ground target. The name "tent pegging" is derived from the cavalry tactic of causing confusion in enemy camps by galloping though the camps and collapsing the tents by pulling up the tent peg anchors with well-placed lance tip strikes. The actual sport of tent pegging, however, originates in medieval India, when horse cavalrymen would try to incapacitate elephant cavalry by striking the elephants with lances on their extremely sensitive toenails^[6]. Tent pegging (sometimes spelled tentpegging or tent-pegging) is a cavalry sport of ancient origin, and one of only ten equestrian disciplines officially recognised by the International Equestrian Federation. ... This article is about the international equestrian organization. ...

Ring jousting is the official state sport of Maryland, and was the first official sport of any American state.^[7] Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Largest metro area Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 101 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N...

The Italian town of Foligno also holds an annual jousting tournament, the Giostra della Quintana, that dates back to the 1613. The Knights have to spear rings from the statue of the Quintana.^{[citation needed]} Foligno, (Latin: Fulginiae, Fulginium) an ancient town of Italy, in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, at 233 meters (764 ft) above sea-level, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system. ... The Giostra della Quintana is a knight ring Jousting tournement based on a historical event. ...

The Italian town of Arezzo continues to hold an annual jousting tournament, which dates to the Crusades. Jousters aim for a square target attached to a wooden effigy of a Saracen king, whose opposite arm holds a cat-o-three-tails — three leather laces with a heavy wooden ball at the end of each lace. The riders strike the target with chalk-tipped lances and score points for accuracy, but must also dodge the cat-o-three-tails after they have struck the target.^[8] Arezzo (Latin Arretium) is an old city in central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. ... This article is about the medieval crusades. ... Saracens was a term used in the Middle Ages for those who professed the religion of Islam. ...

Lance rest built into 1565 plate armour.

Modern theatrical jousting competitions are popular at American Renaissance fairs and similar festivals, and feature riders on horseback attempting various feats of skill with the lance, which may not always have a basis in history. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1052x800, 666 KB)This Anachrome 3D compatible image can be seen in stereo with simple Red-Cyan paper or plastic glasses. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1052x800, 666 KB)This Anachrome 3D compatible image can be seen in stereo with simple Red-Cyan paper or plastic glasses. ... Image File history File links 3d_glasses_red_cyan. ... An actress playing the role of Mary Queen of Scots in 2003. ...

Several international organisations, such as the Society for Creative Anachronism and the International Jousting Association, promote rules to govern their jousting events.^[9] The Society for Creative Anachronism (usually shortened to SCA) is a historical reenactment and living history group approximating mainly pre-17th century Western European history and culture. ...

Many bicycle gangs participate in jousting at the end of all day parties. ^[10] Two riders mount tall bikes and ride toward one another with a padded lance made of PVC resembling a giant Q-Tip. A modern home constructed tall bicycle A Tall Bike is an unusually tall bicycle, typically built for the purpose of fun and recreation, though with occasional practical use. ... Polyvinyl chloride Polyvinyl chloride, (IUPAC Polychloroethene) commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely used thermoplastic polymer. ... Q-Tip redirects here. ...

Renaissance Fair jousting in Livermore California, 2006.

In Port Republic, Maryland the annual Calvert County Jousting Tournament is held every August on the grounds of historic Christ Episcopal Church. In 2005, the tournament was featured in an edition of ESPN's SportsCenter. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (768x1152, 235 KB) Summary Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (768x1152, 235 KB) Summary Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Port Republic is a small, rural community located in Calvert County, Maryland. ... Calvert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. ... This article is about the Episcopal Church in the United States. ... ESPN, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ... This article is about the American ESPN show. ...

See also

• Accession Day tilt
• Kipper (medieval tournament)
• Tournament (medieval)
• Bem cavalgar
• Tent pegging
• Renaissance Fair

George Clifford attired as the Knight of Pendragon Castle for the Tilt of 1590. ... For the smoked fish, see kipper. ... Tournament by Jörg Breu the Elder 1510s, depicting jousting A Tournament, or tourney (from Old French torneiement, tornei[1]) is the name popularly given to chivalrous competitions or mock fights of the Middle Ages and Renaissance (12th to 16th centuries). ... Bem Cavalgar (Livro Da Ensinança De Bem Cavalgar Toda Sela book on the instruction of riding well on every saddle) is a book written by Edward of Portugal, left incomplete as Edward died of a plague in 1438. ... Tent pegging (sometimes spelled tentpegging or tent-pegging) is a cavalry sport of ancient origin, and one of only ten equestrian disciplines officially recognised by the International Equestrian Federation. ... An actress playing the role of Mary Queen of Scots in 2003. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} The Chronicles of Froissart
2. ^ In England, jousting was the highlight of the Accession Day tilts of Elizabeth I and James I, and also was part of the festivities at the marriage of Charles I; Young p. 201-208
3. ^ Glossary, Society for Creative Anachronism
4. ^ Glossary, Cleveland Museum of Art
5. ^ Ivanhoe
6. ^ "Tent pegging with Unicef Team Canada", retrieved 2007
7. ^ "Maryland Jousting Tournament Association", retrieved 2007
8. ^ Giostra Del Saracino, retrieved February 2008
9. ^ "Society Equestrian Marshal", retrieved 2007
10. ^ EasyBeezie "BiKE KiLL" You Tube. Joust at minute mark 7:39. Uploaded January 14, 2007.

George Clifford attired as the Knight of Pendragon Castle for the Tilt of 1590. ... Elizabeth I redirects here. ... James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scots as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James I. He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567, when he was only one year old, succeeding his mother Mary... Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, King of Scotland and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. ...

References

• Strong, Roy: The Cult of Elizabeth: Elizabethan Portraiture and Pageantry, Thames and Hudson, 1977, ISBN 0500232636
• Young, Alan: Tudor and Jacobean Tournaments, Sheridan House, 1987, ISBN 0911378758

Giostra Del Saracino, Arezzo: http://www.giostradelsaracino.arezzo.it/ Sir Roy Strong is an English arts curator, writer, broadcaster and garden designer. ...

Further reading

• Tales from Froissart excerpts from 1849 edition of the Thomas Johnes translation (1805).
• From Lance to Pistol: The Evolution of Mounted Soldiers from 1550 to 1600 (myArmoury.com article)
• Tudor Joust Game (free, educational, online). British Galleries. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.