Jousting had no equal as the epitome of Medieval sport throughout the Middle Ages and even from the end of the 16th Century, knights who jousted were seen as the finest of sportsmen. The rules and ceremonies of jousting tournaments were defined by the same set standards as the chivalry itself; arranged by heralds in the strictest of manners and tended not to differ between countries.
As a show of good sportsmanship, the knights must first ride horseback and touch the shield of the opponent (a common example would be a shaking of hands before commencing). Some knights would offer themselves to any opponent, whereas other would reserve themselves to jousting against chosen opponents.
An array of armour would be used, therefore identifying knights would sometimes be impossible. However, some knights would choose to wear an identifying item in honor of their ladies, i.e. a red embroidered sleeve perhaps. Alternatively, other knights sometimes preferred to remain anonymous, therefore would not wear anything recognizable or just wear arms of all one certain colour. A knight would wear and use armour and weapons commonly used in battle, e.g. swords, battle-axes or lances. Although the earliest of tournaments were fought with primarily blunt objects, the desire for sharper, more dangerous weapons came into battle. This was a sign of the times changing as the knights would want to show a greater bravery and determination by opposing a deadly weapon. They began to be seen as a more worthy way of gaining honour and respect as a knight. This, therefore, changed the tournaments into a real life version of war, instead of friendly competition. The stakes were high in gaining respect, which meant winning.
As the jousting begins, a squire is present to deal with every aspect of the tournament, except the actual participation in the contest: they saw to the horses and their master’s arms would be readily available throughout. After the knights had mounted their horse, they would set their spears in the ‘rest’ (a half ring attached to the saddle-bow). The herald would give the signal to begin charging towards the barrier and each knight would aim to strike either in the head (more effective but needed a good aim) or in the body. Often the sheer force of both knights and their horses would dismount both opponents. Otherwise, both knights would stay sat firm and the lances would quiver or there would be a great possibility that both the knight and the horse would fall. Depending on the type of arms used, ribs or necks could easily be broken in the match.
On the eventuality that both knights remained firm, their lances held steady and aimed directly at the opponent, providing that the horse does not swerve and the lance does not break, mortal wounds would be a probable outcome. If both knights are unhurt and remain seated, the contest will ensue, resulting in another charge with fresh lances, until either or both were dismounted. The combat would then continue on foot with other arms, such as swords.
The jousting contest between two single competitors was seen with less dignity than the proper tournament where knights would meet with swords in the Melee: disorganized forms of close combat, somewhat resembling of war. It was a battle of wills for life or death, closed only by the defeat of one party or by the herals or king giving the word to cease.
At one single tournament, as many as forty-two knights and squires have been reported as being killed at that contest. Edward I on his way from the Holy Land (1274), after stopping in France for some time, was present at the Grand Tournament at Chalons. A knight violently attacked Edward I, but with him being the stronger of the two, retaliated. The other party tried to rescue the knight, but a great fight began, which resulted in many of the knights and their parties present being killed.
Love was one of the main reason and rules of service for knights and jousting being the most romanticized sport of all. The jousting tournament was a way for the knight to show his lady his skills, courage and individual triumphs, all afore her eyes. When the competition ended the victorious knight was rewarded by the lady of the tournament. The rewards varied from a garland of flowers, a war-horse or the love and hand of the Emperor’s daughter. To end the whole contest, a feast would be held where the ladies and their champions; the music of minstrels playing in the background and the songs and tricks of jongleurs. I.e. a wandering minstel, poet or entertainer.
Jousts were sometimes held separately at different times from the tournaments, although, towards the end of the 14th century, the jousting event became the main attraction of a tournament.
Amongst medieval knights, jousting became highly popular. The sporting event was kept alive through royal patronage, increasing in luxury and resplendence. Through the 15th Century, the joust contest continued to be a great sport of the courts and nobility. As the grand display increased, the dangers lessened.
Further on in the century, the object of a jouster would be to splinter the lance and not unhorse the opponent, making the weight of the lance decrease significantly. The joust armour also loses the symmetry it once had, as the side toward the opponent would have a heavier protection than the other. The tilter must be protected, for tilting was the daily exercise. The sport of jousting became just a sport and grew gradually into a past time or a ‘manly exercise’. If a noble was evidently influential, he would put his tilt outside his home in the street.
The final era of jousting was during the Tudor period. A national festival still automatically included a tourney and jousts. The pagaents normally succeeded after events such as : the birth of a prince, a royal ceremony i.e. marriage, the recption of an embass or the agreement of a peace or treaty.
The Tudor period was the century where perfect knights reigned, such as Maximilian I (the german emperor), Henry VIII (King of England) and Francois Ier (King of France). They jousted in superb armours and brought a sense of extravagance and display of colour and attraction to the contests. They threw an illustrious lustre onto the tournaments of that era.
Henry VIII was considered the keenest supporter of the sport of the tournament. As he rose to the English throne in 1509, at the age of 19, few could joust better than him. The medieval knights, jousts and tournaments were very much still around and he continued to make jousting one of his main amusements of his courts. He had his permanent tilts at Westminster, Greenwich and Hampton Court.