Jousting tournament

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Tournaments were usually organized by noble feudal lords, kings, or major lords for special occasions: weddings, name days, the birth of an heir, military victories, or religious holidays. Before the event, a site was designated for the tournament, several pavilions were erected, stands were built, and everything was decorated with coats of arms and decorations. Luxurious platforms were for the nobility, while stands were for ordinary spectators. Tournaments could be held on five strictly designated lists located in uninhabited areas. Knights arrived in advance to register and spent the night in inns or spacious tents (marquees) specially pitched for them. They could be accompanied by a retinue of relatives and assistants, servants, and squires. They purchased special knightly armor in advance and brought it with them. Knights used special tournament armor, which was more durable to ensure the tournament was safe. They were very difficult to move in, and the oars were even heavier. Typically, the armor, weapons, and the horse itself were elaborately decorated. The weapons used were blunt and not combat-grade. The tournament lance was the primary weapon in horse fights. Its key feature was a coronel (crowned spearhead) with 3-4 prongs. This shape distributed the force of the blow over a wide area, reducing the risk of fatal injury. The tournament lasted a month. The opening competition was usually held between the most noble participants. Courting a lady at knightly tournaments was not simply a display of affection, but an entire ritual closely linked to the ideals of courtly love. Tournaments provided the ideal venue for demonstrating valor and receiving favors from or for a lady. During a tournament, a lady could give a knight her handkerchief, ring, brooch, or even a ribbon from her dress as a token of her affection or blessing. A knight could accept this gift and typically affix it to his helmet, weapon, or armor. A knight could dedicate his participation in the tournament to a particular lady, and if he won, he could award her the title of "queen of love and beauty" and/or send her the horse and armor of his defeated opponent as a trophy.

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Event Procedure:

1. The invitation to the tournament arrives six months before the event. Two to three weeks before, the tournament venue is selected, usually a field or area away from populated areas, and the main participants register there. Registration takes place with a special person called a herald. (Heralds professionally memorized the radologia, coats of arms, and histories of famous tournaments. They filtered the participants and were responsible for the ceremonial portion.) Each participant was required to pay a tax: 20 silver marks for a count, 10 for a baron, 4 for a knight with a landed estate, and 2 for a landless knight.

2. The day of the tournament. The judges are announced. There may be several if the participants come from different countries (for example, one judge is English, one is French, and so on). Typically, there are two.

3. The ceremonial announcement of the participants in the competition. Noblemen participated, sometimes lesser aristocrats, if they had the money for weapons and armor for the tournament.

4. The main part consisted of duels. Lance combat. Two knights galloped at each other, attempting to unseat or break the other's lance. The winner advanced through the tournament bracket, competing against other knights until only one remained.

5. After the main part, the winner was chosen by judges, the audience, and the tournament results. The winner was then awarded by the event organizer (usually the king or queen). As a reward for their victory, they could receive the title of knight (if they hadn't previously held one), money, a horse, or new armor. The winner of the tournament had the opportunity to choose any woman from the stands and crown her "the queen of love and beauty." The knight rode around the stands, carrying a crown or wreath on the tip of his lance. When he stopped his horse in front of the chosen woman, he presented her with this symbol. The chosen queen placed the crown on the knight's head, who knelt before her.

6. Afterwards, a grand celebration ensued. The tournament was attended by musicians, jugglers, noblewomen, commoners, merchants, and so on. Nobles could typically come from distant lands, while commoners typically flocked from nearby settlements (as such an event was both profitable and spectacular).

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Tournament Rules:

1. Non-nobles are not permitted to participate in the tournament, nor are those who fail to present proof of their military rank.
2. Any nobleman convicted of treachery is also not allowed to participate.
3. Anyone who says anything contrary to the honor of the king, their sovereign, is not allowed to participate in the tournament.
4. Anyone who uses violence or insults, even verbally, the honor of a lady or maiden will be expelled.
5. Anyone who forges their own or another's seal, or swears a false oath, or steals anything from a monastery, church, chapel, or any other sacred place, or who oppresses a poor person, widow, or orphan and forcibly takes their property, shall be punished and expelled from the tournament.
6. Any drunkard or quarrelsome person was banished from the company attending the tournament.
7. The number of retinues each knight or baron could bring was limited depending on their status. Participants were strictly required to use specially blunted weapons, not combat weapons. Special tournament armor, heavier and safer, was also worn. Knights purchased both weapons and armor themselves.