The first tournaments were held in France in the 10th century under Henry I. They quickly became a favourite pastime of the courts, later spreading throughout Europe to the delight of all, regardless of their status. Tournaments were multi-day affairs and were accompanied by many symbolic ceremonies, solemn religious services, banquets, dancing and so on.
Tournaments were held by the nobility to celebrate the culmination of important political deals or special events, such as a coronation, royal wedding or betrothal, oaths of loyalty, peace negotiations etc. The aim was to prove agility and combat technique, to show off to others and, often, to win a sizeable prize. Tournaments ranged from classic jousting, with knights faced off against each other on horseback or on foot, or massed combat, with rival teams battling it out in the tournament arena. In both cases the aim was the same – to knock the opponent to the ground, but not to kill or injure him. Even so, injuries and deaths were not uncommon.
Initially the Church strongly condemned tournaments – only in the 14th century did the Church lift the general ban on participation in tournaments and allowed them to be mounted without sanction.
The first tournaments were held in France in the 10th century under Henry I. They quickly became a favourite pastime of the courts, later spreading throughout Europe to the delight of all, regardless of their status. Tournaments were multi-day affairs and were accompanied by many symbolic ceremonies, solemn religious services, banquets, dancing and so on.
Tournaments were held by the nobility to celebrate the culmination of important political deals or special events, such as a coronation, royal wedding or betrothal, oaths of loyalty, peace negotiations etc. The aim was to prove agility and combat technique, to show off to others and, often, to win a sizeable prize. Tournaments ranged from classic jousting, with knights faced off against each other on horseback or on foot, or massed combat, with rival teams battling it out in the tournament arena. In both cases the aim was the same – to knock the opponent to the ground, but not to kill or injure him. Even so, injuries and deaths were not uncommon.
Initially the Church strongly condemned tournaments – only in the 14th century did the Church lift the general ban on participation in tournaments and allowed them to be mounted without sanction.