Have
you ever had the pleasure of witnessing a medieval joust on TV or in person?
Few things can capture the glory and the romance of the knights in their shiny
armor, their steed draped in their kingdom’s colors, and the thundering of
hooves and explosions of lance on shield. Today, you can find many places to
witness real live jousting before your very eyes, and in fact the sport remains
popular (though in an altered form) today. Here are a few facts you may not
have known about this combative act.
1. The
Sport Mimics Actual Medieval Battles
In
medieval combat between two kingdoms, armies were divided into foot soldiers or
infantry, and horse-mounted cavalry. The warriors in the cavalry carried lances
that they would use to pierce their enemies as they rode into battle on their
horses. The joust became a way for these soldiers to hone their skills outside
of the battlefield.
2.
Tournaments were Regulated
Historically,
every tournament was overseen by a Constable and Marshall, although perhaps
this is because both of these people profited handsomely from the event. The
constable received all of the losing knight's armor, weapons, and jewels. While
the Marshall received as payment the knights’ horses and all of the wood used
to construct the arena.
3. The
Scots were Revered Champions
According
to the historical records that exist regarding medieval jousts, the Scottish
knights were revered for their prowess in the arena. In fact, the epic climax
of one French romantic tale that has survived the ages, involves a romance
between a young princess and a Scottish champion.
4. The
Sport was Banned in France
Even
though medieval armies eventually stopped using lances in battle, it continued
as a combative sport in England and Germany. In France however, a tragedy ended
the sport in that country. In 1559, King Henry II died from an injury sustained
while practicing in the sport.
5. The
Sport is Still Practiced Today
Believe
it or not, people all over the western world continue their participation in
jousts. Often, this is just for exhibition, but the sport has been modified to
be safer for participants. In fact, a form of jousting known as tent-pegging is
the state sport of Maine. Participants are required to carefully place their
lances through a small ring hung from a post.
If you
would like to see a historically accurate exhibition of a medieval joust, or
just want to find out more about knights and the medieval period, go to www.MedievalTimes.com now!
