Knights jousting from 15th Century manuscript in the British Library In Chapter VI of Malory's Morte d'Arthur, the King assembles all of his knights and demands that they joust in the meadow before the walls of Camelot. Jousting was the spectator sport of the 15th Century, so it's not surprising that Malory, writing in the same time period gives us stories of the joust. Whilst the melee was nothing but a free-for-all knock down drag out fight impossible to watch without the risk of being killed, the joust was the ultimate in civilized spectator sport. Certainly it was an improvement on the man against wild beasts spectacles so loved by the Romans. Not that the joust was without accidental killing, but there were rules, and killing was not the first objective of the sport, merely an accompanying risk to make the ladies' hearts beat faster.
The Black Knight breaks his lance. LOSER!! Knights fighting in tournaments were perfecting skills rarely used in battle. For a simple comparison consider the difference between the
etiquette of fencing as opposed to fighting to the death with broadswords and axes and other vicious medieval weapons. The joust was a one on one competition and the truest form of the joust ends as soon as one of the riders is knocked from his horse. It is a contest of skill with man and horse working together.
etiquette of fencing as opposed to fighting to the death with broadswords and axes and other vicious medieval weapons. The joust was a one on one competition and the truest form of the joust ends as soon as one of the riders is knocked from his horse. It is a contest of skill with man and horse working together.
"OW" lance in the face. King Edward I and King Edward III were responsible for encouraging
jousts, tournaments and Arthurian themed feasts during their reigns. (1239 - 1307 and 1312-1377). Although these kings were well aware that Arthur had never been king of England, (and may not have existed at all) they encouraged belief in the legends and held Arthur up as an example of a godly king. Edward III went so far as to build a replica of the Round Table. When Thomas Malory published La Morte D'Arthur in 1485 he was drawing on the legends made popular by the two Edwards. Small wonder that stories of King Arthur are as popular today as they were in medieval times. Perhaps we are still looking for the same virtues in our leaders and the same romance in our lives. In Book One of the Excalibur Rising novels, I have explored the possibility that Arthur is not dead, and he will return.
Jousting as a sport died out with the advent of the gun, but it has recently been undergoing a renaissance as a serious competitive sport. Here is a list of jousting events to be held throughout the world in 2016
No Horse? No problem. Over the years people who are determined to attack each other with long pointy sticks have found ways of doing so.
 And the Penny Farthing wins. Knights on bicycles |  This is going to be slow. Knights on Segways |
The start of the Mongol Rally. No rules, do what it takes to win.
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