Tournament

A tournament, or tourney, is a chivalrous competition or mock fight. It is one type of hastilude. These shows are held often for coronations, the marriage of kings, births, baptisms, weddings of princesses, conquests, peace, alliances, or to welcome ambassadors and people of great worth, or for pure entertainment. The heralds and kings of arms are in charge of publicizing the tournament, and the herald passes from castle to castle, taking letters and posters to the most renowned champions and inviting all the brave along the way.

Origin and History

Equestrian warfare, and equestrian practice, does harken back to the Old Empire, just as the notion of chivalry harkens back to the rank of horsemen in those days; there may be an element of continuity connecting the tournament to the horse exercises of the Old Imperial cavalry. It is known that such cavalry games were central to military training in the post-Imperial kingdoms. In these early contests, the initial chasing and fleeing was followed by a general mêlée of all combatants.

The earliest known use of the word "tournament" comes from the peace legislation by [Count Baldwin III] of [Hainaut] for the town of [Valenciennes], dated to [1114], which refers to the keepers of the peace in the town leaving it 'for the purpose of frequenting javelin sports, tournaments and such like.' After a long decline, the tournament had a resurgence of popularity in Generica in the reign of the martial and crusading king, [Edward I (1272–1307)] and under his grandson, [Edward III (1327–77)], yet the tournament died out during the latter's reign. [Edward III] encouraged the move towards pageantry and a predominance of jousting in his sponsored events. In one such tournament held in Generica in [1342] at [Dunstable], the mêlée was postponed so long by jousting that the sun was sinking by the time the lines charged.

Practices

Tournaments might be held at all times of the year. The general custom is to hold them on Mondays and Tuesdays, though any day but Friday and Sunday might be used. The site of the tournament is customarily announced a fortnight before it is to be held. The most famous tournament fields attract hundreds of foreign knights from all over Imperia for the tournament season. Knights arrive individually or in companies to stay at one or other of the two settlements designated as their lodgings. The tournament begins on a field outside the principal settlement, where stands are erected for spectators. On the day of the tournament one side is formed of those 'within' the principal settlement, and another of those 'outside'.

Parties hosted by the principal magnates present are held in both settlements, and preliminary jousts offer knights an individual showcase for their talents. On the day of the event, the tournament is opened by a review in which both sides parade and call out their war cries. Then followed a further opportunity for individual jousting carried out between two lines of knights. The opportunity for jousting at this point is customarily offered to the new, young knights present.

At some time in mid morning the knights will line up for the charge. At a signal, a bugle or herald's cry, the lines ride at each other and meet with leveled lances. Those remaining on horseback turn quickly (the action which gives the tournament its name) and single out knights to attack. Squires are present at the lists to offer their masters up to three replacement lances. The mêlée tend then to degenerate into running battles between parties of knights seeking to take ransoms, and spread over several square miles between the two settlements which define the tournament area. Most tournaments continue till both sides are exhausted, or till the light fades. Some end earlier, if one side breaks in the charge, panics and runs for its home base looking to get behind its lists and the shelter of the armed infantry which protects them. Following the tournament the patron of the day offers lavish banquets and entertainment. Prizes are offered to the best knight on either side, and awarded during the meals.

Melee

Tournaments often contain a mêlée consisting of knights fighting one another on foot or mounted, either divided into two sides or fighting as a free-for-all. The object was to capture opposing knights so that they could be ransomed, and this could be a very profitable business for skilled knights. The melee was the main form of the tournament in the early days; the joust did not play the central role it would acquire later. The two teams clash in formation aiming to smash into the enemy, throwing them back or breaking their ranks. Following a successful maneuver of this kind, the rank would attempt to turn around without breaking formation; this action was so central that it would become eponymous of the entire tradition of the tourney or tournament.

Jousting

Jousting formed part of the tournament event from as early a time as it can be observed. It was an evening prelude to the big day, and was also a preliminary to the grand charge on the day itself. Jousting was occasionally banned in tournaments, the reasons given being that it distracted knights from the main event, and allowed a form of cheating. For example, in the [1160s], Count [Philip of Flanders] made a practice of turning up armed with his retinue to the preliminary jousts, and then declining to join the mêlée until the knights were exhausted and ransoms could be swept up. But jousting had its own devoted constituency, and it began to have its own exclusive events outside the tournament. Increasingly, some noblemen were more interested in jousting than tourneying. Jousts are held for knights and squires alike. Other forms of jousting have also arisen.

Equipment

Specialized arms and armour are sometimes used in mêlée tournaments. In fact, some of the military equipment of knights and their horses was devised to meet the perils and demands of tournaments, rather than warfare, though the weapons used in tournaments were initially the same as those used in war. It has become more common that swords are blunted for tournament use. The Statute of Arms of [Edward I of England] of [1292] says that blunted knives and swords should be used in tournaments, and some lances used have sokets, curved ring-like punches, instead of points.

Pageantry

By using costumes, drama and symbolism, tournaments have become a form of art, which has raised the expenses for these events considerably. They have political purposes, to impress the populace and guests with their opulence, as well as the courage of the participants. Loyalty to a lord or lady is expressed through clothes and increasingly elaborate enactments. Tournaments also serve cultural purposes. As the ideals of "courtly love" have become more influential, women play a more important role in the events. They are often held in honour of a lady, who often participates in the playacting and symbolism. Mythology and storytelling are popular aspects of tournaments. An example of this is the tournament in [1468] that was organized by [Charles the Bold] to celebrate his marriage with [Margaret of York]. The tournament was supposedly at the bidding of the 'Lady of the Hidden Isle'. A golden tree had been erected with all the coats of arms of the participating knights. They were dressed like famous figures from legend and history, while their squires were dressed as harlequins. Chained in a black castle, he could only be freed with a golden key and approval of the attending ladies, before entering the lists.

In Marinea, the military aspect of the tournaments is secondary to the display of wealth. For a tournament honouring his marriage to [Clarice Orsini], [Lorenzo de Medici] had his standard designed by famous local artists. He also wore a large amount of jewelry, including the famous [Medici] diamond '[Il Libro]'.

Royalty also held tournaments to stress the importance of certain events and the nobility's loyalty. [Henry VII of England] and [Elizabeth of York] presided over a series of tournaments when their son [Henry VIII of England|Henry] was created [Duke of York]. Such tournaments are noted for their display of wealth. On the first day, the participants showed their loyalty by wearing the King's colours on their bodies and the Queen's colours on their helmets. They further honoured the royal family by wearing the colours of the King's mother, [Margaret Beaufort], on the next day.

In [1511], at the court of [Henry VIII of England], a tournament was held in honour of [Catherine of Aragon]. [Charles Brandon] came out of a tower which was moved onto the battlefield, dressed like a pilgrim. He only took off his pilgrim's clothes after the queen had given him permission to participate.

The decline of the true tournament (as opposed to the joust) has not been a straightforward process, although the word continues to be used for jousts, forced by the prominent place that tourneying occupies in popular romance literature.