In the 10th century a well-used, popular game and/or battle was created called ‘Jousting.’ One of the main reasons they came up with jousting in the first place was to settle two enemy’s or knight’s differences by a duel. With this new solution the knights increased on their skills with their horseman. Also became greater fighters in combat and/or battle. To enter a duel they obviously wore armor and had a lance. The knights also rode horses while jousting. In medieval times they used jousting as a smart method to prevent battles from occurring and also help solve problems throughout the world. Whether or not was jousting a sport or a method to solve war is yet to be determined.
The man who found or created jousting went by the name of Godfrey de Preuilly. He was born and raised in France. In 1066 the first tournament occurred. Preuilly was the one to hold the medieval tournaments. During the time jousting was created, there was a battle between the English and the Normans. The battle between the two was called ‘The Battle of Hastings.’ The Normans won the battle against the English. They believed they won because of their Feudal System, or in other words they works out their problems.
This system demanded that all the citizens had to have an allegiance with the King, also their superiors. Every man had to prove his worthiness to live on the King’s land. To do this they had to become knights and fight for the King. Rich Nobles hosted the jousting tournaments to help the knights become more skillful for combats.
Some believed that jousting itself made a mockery to battles. Many Kings went against each other on horseback, covered in armor, and charged at their opponent with their lance. This type of jousting was called “Lance ...
... middle of paper ...
... from their king to live on their land. Kind of like how sports get people’s attention, and sports people like getting attention, and their fans want their blessings. So it’s kind of like a jousting, but more of a role model rather the a king. Jousting is a sport in so many ways, seems more like a sport then a war activity.
So in the 10th century it was known as a battle, but it doesn’t seem that way. Another thing to conclude this is its celebrated as a sport now rather than a war activity. So jousting is just a sport with a longer, and more violent history. Also it never seemed like a battle, considering that people barley died. It seemed more of a show off thing. So jousting is a sport in so many ways, rather than a war activity.
There were many Magical/Merlyn moments in the book The Sword in the Stone where Wart was taught many important lessons. One of those lessons was the jousting experience. This event took place in chapter 7. Wart and Kay had been practicing tilting and horsemanship. Wart had taken a break and had begun to talk to Merlyn. After pausing they are able to hear the Master Armourer talking to Kay which leads to Wart letting out a sigh. Merlyn asked what he was grieving about and Wart replied by telling him that he was thinking of becoming a knight. He went on about how sad he is because he won’t become one. Wart went into detail as to why he cannot become a knight and what he would do if he were to become one. Merlyn then
saying, "I come from the court of King Arthur, and still I mean to joust with you.
civility. The court of King Arthur as described in the tale of Lanval by Marie de France shows to
The Song of Roland is typical of the epic poems coming out of the early middle ages. Roland shows very clearly the warrior-based society of the period. It is through, not only the battle scenes that are quite vivid, but also the way the accouterments of battle receive high mention within the poem that this is accomplished. At the start of a battle the author gives the number of forces on each side, while during the individual fights amongst the peers, he gives detailed blow-for-blow descriptions of what occurred. Also, throughout the body of the work the warriors, no matter which side they are on, have significant names for their weapons and war-horses. This holds to the ancient custom that honored weapons with special names as having magical powers that could help its bearer. The battles and heroism of the main characters, as well as the names and details given about their war-horses and weapons, were important to a society that was constantly in a state-of-battle readiness, such as Roland's was.
with special emphasis on courtly manners toward women. Thirteenth century stories that showed the ways a warrior should behave in romance became popular . Churchmen liked the idea of high standards and made the knighting ceremony a religious occasion with a church vigil and purifying bath. Books on the subject soon began to appear.
The joust grew from the chaotic melee of the tournaments that were always taking place. As more and more restrictions were put on man to man combat; a tournament was developed where men rode horses and carried lances. This dangerous form of combat, was an event designed to test the horsemanship and weapons skill of the individual knight. Jousting tournaments caught on quickly because it truly tested every aspect of a chivalric man. Not only did it test the skill a knight had with weapons, but it also tested his skill with of controlling and riding a horse. In a sense, a jousting match could prove or disprove a knights ability to be a truly chivalric knight.
Feudalism is a system of land ownership and duties that were used in the Middle Ages. Under feudalism, all the land in a kingdom was the king's. However, the king would give some of his land to the lords or nobles who fought for him. Rulers in all society wanted to create law and order and ensure that people make good use of the society’s resources. That is why feudalism was created. Monarchs had to accept limits on their own personal power. They also needed to respond to expectations that other groups in society have a say in decision-making. People began to use medieval courts for problems that had previously been solved by trial by combat.
When the Olympic Games first began in 776 B.C. in Athens, Greece, wrestling was the premiere event. It was considered the ultimate test of discipline and strength, in which the world would discover who the greatest warrior is. Wrestling exemplifies the motto of the Olympic Games: Citius, Altius, Fortius. Which means faster, higher, stronger.
The Germanic tribes were by no means idle people. Not content with the quietness characteristic of daily lives built on routine, “for rest is unwelcome to the race” (Tacitus, Germania), the tribes warred with their neighbors. In most cases, the tribes did not engage in voluntarily combat to gain or defend land or to right some alleged wrong against them; they mostly fought for two reasons. They first believed that it was easier to distinguish one’s self in the uncertainty of war, rather than in the predictability of routine. So war became a way for the barbarians to prove their honor, or sometimes expose their shame, as the abandonment of the shield during combat was “the height of disgrace” (Tacitus, Germania).
Tournaments for these sports were used in the 11th century to keep knights ready for battle. Fencing was another popular sport. This sport started on the battlefield as soldiers started using thinner and more flexible swords. As the development of more modern weapons came into play, fencing started to become more of a sport instead of a method of combat (Lee, Austin. "Sports in the Renaissance."). The sport became more widespread as wealthy men took it as an opportunity to show off their fencing attire while dueling. In response to this, rapiers started becoming more popular fashion
Wrestling being the first sport in the Greek games, as well as cave paintings in ancient France from about 17,000 years ago hold water to these claims. Other instances of this age old sport throughout history include a literal Battle of Kings took place when King Francis I of France defeated King Henry VIII of England in an impromptu wrestling match at the Field of the Cloth of Gold pageant.
The social structure of the Middle Ages was based on the practice of feudalism. Feudalism meant that the country was not governed directly by the king, but by individual lords that paid homage to him. These lords: administered their own estates, dispensed their own justice, minted their own currency, levied taxes and tolls, and demanded military service from their vassals. Technically the king was the chief feudal lord, however the individual lords reigned supreme in their territory, doing little more than paying the king’s taxes. The idea of feudalism was built upon a mutual service between vassals and lords. As a vassal one was required to attend at the lord’s court, help administer justice, contribute money, and answer a summons to battle, as well as house and feed the lord when he traveled across his land. The lord was obliged to, protect the vassal, give military aid, and guard his children; this meant that if a daughter were to inherit the fief, the lord would arrange her marriage.
During the medieval time period, life was good for the nobles and knights, whereas the commoners didn’t get much. During this time, commoners barely ate because they never had time or enough money. Most of their clothing were old and worn-out had jobs as maintaining the nobles land and animals. In return, they got a place to stay and protection from the bandits. The commoners like to watch the knights joust in their spare time. On the other hand, the nobles were looked up to and treated better than commoners. The Nobles have feasts and love dancing to their cultural dances. Their clothing is beautiful and new and the knights have battles in jousting and sword fighting to see who’s the best. In A Knight’s Tale, Will was a commoner who pretended
As time progressed the feudal system was created. It was designed to divide the lands and protect from attack. The king first gave a fief or a piece of land to a royal vassal. As proof for this exchange in land a vassal would swear to the lord to be his man all the days of his life and protect him against "all men who may live or die." Next came investiture. Investiture was a symbolic gesture when a King or a lord presented a royal vassal or a vassal a stick, a small rod, or a clod of earth to show that he has given him a fief. Now this royal vassal was in charge of a huge piece of land. In order to defend it he would then divide his land into smaller pieces. He would take these smaller pieces and give them to warriors or who agreed to be his own vassals. Thus, the royal vassal became a lord to other vassals. The vassals now under this lord would now divide their lands and grant fiefs to warriors of their own. Last in the dividing of land was the knight whose parcel of land was too small to be divided.
Men who were vassal saw that they could gain land and privileges from servicing the king. Some of the men who gained higher rank or owned lots of land would end up forcing the king to grant them rights of private justice and immunity from royal interference. As well when men decided to become a vassal’s not only did they pledge their life to service but as well went through an entire ceremony. The ceremony was known as the Homage Ceremony.