by Poppy Matt

Created on: September 22, 2011   Last Updated: September 23, 2011

The Tudors undoubtedly encompass one of the greatest periods in English history; it was during this period that the church was reshaped and in fact Britain as a whole was revolutionized. The Tudors also enjoyed a wide range of games among which were fencing, bear and bull baiting, hunting, hawking, jousting and tournaments. The games mirrored the likes of the Tudor royals, for example Elizabeth enjoyed bear-baiting and bear gardens while Henry VIII enjoyed a wide range of sports especially hunting. Although the Tudors enjoyed their leisure time, not everyone was allowed to participate in these games because the government considered it important for the ordinary citizens to work. This article is dedicated to one of the Tudors most enjoyable games Jousting and Tournaments.

What is a joust? A joust can be defined as a fight between mounted knights wearing armor and using lances. The sport of jousting was regarded as one like no other and it was regarded that he who “justed beste if all” was the finest sportsman.  The jousting contests took place at medieval tournaments which provided a venue for the knights to practice various forms of combats to the delight of onlookers including the king and queen. Tournaments were exciting and colorful events which displayed different forms of combat. Jousting itself was an individual event, while “melee” was a team even where knights either fought on foot or on horsebacks. The origins of jousting can be traced back to the Mongols and gladiatorial contests in Europe. There were two types of jousting namely: Joust a plaisance which was a series of elimination contests which were held over several days before a winner could be picked and Pas d’armes also known as the passage of arms jousting event in which a knight would send out a proclamation that he would take on all jousting challengers at a specific time.

Jousting tournaments were normally held in a field close to the castle while people would view from the battlements of the castle or sit alongside the jousting tournament field while the noble men and ladies sat on the grand stand also called the Berfois which was specially built for them. The pavilions were bright, round medieval tents which were built around the area of the jousting tournaments and housed the competitors and surgeons.  Some of the jousting rules included who was sponsoring the tournament, where and when the tournament would be held, the weapons allowed and the specific styles of combats to be used. The tournament would usually start with a noble challenging another followed by Vespers Tourney where a young knight would try to demonstrate their skills before an experienced knight; this is followed by the opening day processions, tree of shields, display of helms, and ceremony of the “chevalier d’honneur”, awards, display of chivalry and then it closes with feasting, dancing and music.

Tournaments were particularly enjoyed in both the Tudor times and ages before them.

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