Course:History 344 Nasty Families/Pastimes/Jousting

Hastilude

The act of Hastilude is a tournament based combat between two or more armored knights. Combat would generally be conducted within a regulated area known as the Lists where all the jousting or foot combat took place. Jousting originated around the eleventh century and ended its popularity as tournament only combat in the eighteenth century.1 The Joust as it is known today is still practiced in medieval fairs and special events. Hastilude would be combined to include the Joust or tilt as well as the Melee.2

Melee

Melee was the early form of what would become the tournament. The melee would take place on a fixed day with two opposing forces meeting in a designated zone. The objective of the Melee was to unhorse the opposing force or to capture and hold ransom a significant individual. The melee lost support as the social disadvantages became greater as high born individuals were susceptible to being humiliated by young upstart knights.3 This lead to the development of the Joust where knights could arrange smaller one on one engagements that posed a much smaller risk to health and reputation.

Joust

The Joust would come into practice in the early eleventh century. It would become a practice ground for Knights to perfect their skills of combat. The joust would focus on horsemanship as well as sword and lance skills.4 With the early stages of the Joust lacking regulation it was a far more dangerous sport to partake in. Until the development of chivalry and regulation the death rate of participants was much greater.5 Jousting would also have a great shift with the development of the musket. Jousting would no longer be a training ground for combat but would become predominately an arena based on ceremony and entertainment.6

Jousting even with strict regulation remained an extremely dangerous practice to partake in. Even though death was reduced in frequency injury was expected. This was seen at the death of Henry II of France. His death was the result of a splinter from a lance entering his eye eventually killing him. Several more prominent figures have been killed during the joust.7 Charles I would host a tournament based joust at his wedding as a source of entertainment.

[BN: This could be made to focus more on the seventeenth-century variety]

�2 Knox, Skip. History of Western Civilization, "Tournaments ." Accessed February 6, 2012. http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/westciv/medsoc/13.shtml.�3 Knox, Skip�4 The Middle Ages Website, "History of Jousting." Accessed February 6, 2012. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/history-of-jousting.htm.�5 National Jousting Association Website. 20 Sept 2007. <http://www.nationaljousting.com> �6 The Middle Ages Website, "Jousting." Accessed February 6, 2012. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/jousting.htm.�7 History of Jousting