History of Jousting

Jousting began during the Middle Ages (around the 10th century) as knights became the main combatants during battles. Jousting tournaments were a way for knights to practice their skills on horseback as well as their skills with the lance.

Godfrey de Preuilly is credited with having created the sport of jousting and jousting tournaments. The first recorded jousting tournament was in 1066, though it did not gain popularity until the 12th century. The lands of England were divided up in a feudal system. Meaning that everyone who owned land paid allegiance to the King. This meant that noblemen had to fight and protect their king. So, jousting became a form of mock battle to improve upon their skills as well as provide entertainment to the people of the kingdom.

Jousting and the jousting tournaments were dangerous sports. The large amount of knights who would take part in the tournaments always had the potential to be injured during the event. This led to King Henry II (lived: 1133-1189, reigned: 1154-1189) temporarily banning the sport for fear of too many of the knights becoming injured and thus having a depleted army of knights.

When King Richard I (lived: 1157-1199, reigned: 1189-1199) came into power, he reversed the ban on jousting and created a licensing system for jousting tournaments. Under these orders, there were five areas in England where tournaments were allowed to be held. Additionally, you had to pay for the license to be a part of the tournament or to put on the tournament itself.

By 1292, the tournaments became an aggressively charged atmosphere both inside and outside of the jousting area. In order to continue to keep the tournaments going and to prevent the knights from being seriously or mortally wounded, the Statute of Arms was appointed by King Edward I (lived 1239-1307, reigned: 1272-1307) in 1292. The Statute of Arms outlined new rules for tournaments and jousting, and changed the types of lances that were used in jousting. Before the Statute came into the picture, lances were actual lances used during battle. This meant that they had pointed, lethal ends to them. The Statute changed that for jousting and tournaments and stated that all lances should be non-lethal and have a blunt end rather than a pointed or bladed end.

Jousting was also used to settle legal disputes. In a form of duel, the two would joust and whoever came out the winner was declared to be the winner of the legal dispute as well.

Before the 1400s, there was no area to keep the jousters on a slightly steady and straight track. That changed as during the 1400s a piece of cloth was stretched along the length of the field (or list field). The cloth was later changed to wood and it was mean for the knights to ride along opposite sides of tilt toward their opponent without having their horses collide.

The fatal tournament between Henry II and Montgomery (Lord of "Lorges").

Jousting is attributed to the death of King Henry II of France (lived: 1519-1559, reigned: 1547-1559). King Henry II liked to actively participate in jousting and tournaments, and while celebrating the marriage of his daughter to the King of Spain as well as celebrating the signing of the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis. While jousting the captain of the King’s Scottish Guard, the lance of the captain had pierced the eye of King Henry II and, while he was being treated to, died of sepsis two days later in 1559.

Tournaments and jousting were popular forms of entertainments and were used in celebrations by the nobles during celebratory times. They ranged from peace treaties, ends of wars, and marriages.

Jousting began to decline as more modern forms of warfare began to take precedence. The death of King Henry II of France was also another factor in its decline. Additionally, with the renaissance, the form of entertainment changed and jousting and tournaments were replaced with the pastime of live shows and plays. Jousting itself began to transform into the carousel. The carousel was a tournament event in which men on horseback would attempt to spear a ring that was suspended in the air; the ring was connected to a centre pillar that would be rotated by men or a man on horseback. The carousel is still with us today, except instead of spearing a ring, we now attempt to grab the ring.