The Medieval Tournaments

The earliest medieval tournaments were little more than pitched battles between opposing bands of cavalry, with an emphasis on melee fighting with mace and sword as opposed to jousting with a lance.

In 1241, in Neuss, Germany, 80 Knights and Squires died in a single tournament. In an attempt to alleviate the profligate waste of fighting men killed in tournaments, the Church declared in 1180 that anyone killed at these events would be denied a christian burial.

The 12th century poet, Bertrand de Born, wrote that 'once he has started fighting, no noble knight thinks of anything but breaking heads and arms'.

In later years, tournaments became more controlled and organised, with an emphasis on jousting. Extra points might be awarded for shattering a lance on an opponents armour.

There were also events in sword and mace fighting, where the combatants fought on foot, but the joust was the event that gained a contestant the most glory. Knights could make a fortune from jousting. Squires could also 'win their spurs' and be knighted if they acquitted themselves well at a tournament.

Some scholars believe that the development of chivalry went hand-in-hand with the evolution of the tournament. Knights were expected to treat the ladies of their affections with courtly respect. Some of the finest and most decorative suits of armour ever created were worn exclusively at tournaments.

Perhaps,most importantly, the tournament bred courage and fighting skill, essential to a knight.
Tournaments became so popular that some Barons beggared themselves, staging increasingly grandiose and lavish events.