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Origins of jousting -

Jousting emerged in the late 11th century in France as a mock battle between two horsemen charging each other with leveled lances, each attempting to unhorse the other.

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What does jousting mean? -

The term jousting is in fact derived from the Old French joster, itself taken from the Latin iuxtare, which means to "to approach, to meet."

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A grand European spectacle -

Jousting was the main event in tournaments throughout Europe during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

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Military background -

The sport was based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. Wielding such a cumbersome weapon while riding a horse took considerable strength and great dexterity.

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Horsemanship and heraldry -

Jousting was a very popular sport among the Anglo-Norman knighthood. Besides testing the horsemanship and fighting skills of mounted soldiers, jousting also served as an important opportunity for heraldic display.

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Battles in the field -

Early tournaments saw dozens of knights battle it out in open countryside, often supported by foot soldiers.

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Worth the effort -

The aim of this competition was to capture opposing knights for ransom while providing the opportunity to hone good military skills. And, of course, there was a bit of money to be made into the bargain.

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Standup guys -

In rare displays of exceptional horsemanship, jousts were undertaken by knights standing up in the saddle. In this manuscript illustration, protection for the legs of the riders is integrated into the horse armor.

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Armor-plated -

Competing knights wore thick armor to protect their head and torso. Later, knights wore full suits of plate armor. Even so, jousting remained a dangerous sport, causing serious injury and even death.

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A classic duel -

By the mid-13th century, royal bans on team events in England and France had led to the organization of jousts involving just two opponents—the classic duel.

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Organized tournaments -

Tournaments were held in a designated area known as the list. From the 1400s onwards, the two opposing knights were separated by a barrier or tilt, hence the sport's other name of tilting.

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Pomp and pageantry -

By now, a joust was a grand affair, full of pomp and pageantry. And as a sport, jousting also became known as a hastilude, a generic term used in the Middle Ages to refer to many kinds of martial games.

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Female fans -

Jousting had it female fans, and lots of them. A victorious knight in shining armor attracted legions of aristocratic ladies.

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Winning over the fairer sex -

In fact, a joust offered a knight the chance to impress the fairer sex, women who might show them favor by giving them their scarf or veil.

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The lance -

The business end of the joust was the lance. These were approximately 12 feet (3.5 m) in length (3.5 m) and made variously from ash wood, cedar, or pine.

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Getting ahead -

As it was being used as part of a game, the lance featured a blunted head. In times of war, a sharp steel head was used.

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Size matters -

In the 15th century, lances lengthened to about 14 feet (4 m), tapered in shape at both ends but widened in front of and behind the hand.

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By royal appointment -

In his youth, King Henry VIII was an enthusiastic exponent of the joust. As their monarch, however, his opponents would often deliberately miss him. This infuriated the King, who demanded that only the most skilled jousters challenge him.

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Tough competition -

Henry's insistence on competing against the toughest and most experienced knights nearly cost him his life after he suffered a blow to his head in 1536, which put an end to his jousting career. Some historians suggest this as the explanation behind his tyranny later in life.

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A sinful sport -

Pope Innocent II was no fan of jousting. In 1130, he banned the sport on the grounds that it was sinful and against the teachings of the Church. He even refused a proper Christian burial to those who lost their lives in the field. The ban was lifted in 1192 by King Richard I.

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A famous fight -

One noted jousting champion was the Scottish peer David Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford. In a remarkable duel on St George's Day in 1390, he fought the English champion Lord Welles on London Bridge. King Richard II was among the spectators. Lindsay won the day, knocking his opponent off his horse on the third run.

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German knight tournaments -

The late Middle Ages saw jousting reach the height of its popularity, especially in England and Wales, but also in Germany.

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Death of King Henry II -

In France, however, an incident in Paris on June 30, 1559, saw jousting banned forever in the country. On that day, King Henry II fought Gabriel Montgomery, captain of the King's Scottish Guard. As they clashed, the monarch was wounded in the eye by a splinter of wood from Montgomery's lance. The cut was left untreated and, on July 10, Henry II died of sepsis.

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A shattering blow -

The accident took place at a time when, ironically, jousting lances had generally been shortened. Many were hollow inside or jointed so they would shatter more easily.

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Decline and fall -

Henry's death played a significant role in the gradual decline of jousting as a sport elsewhere across Europe.

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End of an era -

By the time the Middle Ages came to an end, the sun had set on the age of chivalry. With it went jousting. Well, almost.

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Brief revival -

Jousting enjoyed a revival of sorts in the 17th century. But armor was expensive to make, and by then a replacement of sorts had made its appearance: the carousel.

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The carousel -

The cavalry spectacles that replaced medieval jousting included the carousel, which emphasized horsemanship and display. Pictured is the carousel organized in the courtyard of the Tuileries Palace by Louis XIV in June 1662 to celebrate the birth of his son and heir apparent.

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Jousting today -

Jousting can still be enjoyed today as a spectator sport at medieval fairs. Tournaments invoke the pageantry and romance of old. Who said chivalry is dead?

Sources: (Live Science) (World History Encyclopedia) (Britannica) 

See also: Interesting facts about the Middle Ages

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