The Medieval Tournament As Spectacle: Tourneys, Jousts and Pas D'armes, 1100-1600

by Alan V. Murray (Editor), Cathy Blunk (Contributor), Iason-Eleftherios Tzouriadis (Contributor)

Fresh insights into the development of the tournament as an opportunity for social display. The period from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century witnessed a rapid development of the tournament. Alongside the original tourney - a mass battle fought between opposing armies of knights with minimal and rudimentary regulation - new forms of chivalric military contests emerged, in which entertainment featured alongside the necessity of practice for war. The joust featured individual combats, with increasingly elaborate rules and variations in form and accompanying pageantry, while the passage of arms placed tournaments within theatrical and allegorical formats.
This volume brings together the latest research on the late medieval tournament, demonstrating how such events, particularly at the courts of France, Burgundy, England and the German principalities, were increasingly integrated in wider festivities, ceremonies and diplomatic negotiations. Published in association with the Royal Armouries, it will appeal to all those interested in chivalric culture and medieval warfare.

249 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2023

Reviews

[Magpie6493 · Rating 4 out of 5]

For how technical I thought this was going to be I had a surprisingly interesting and relatively east time reading this.

I don't really know the value of this from an academic standpoint but I cam say if you're interested in Medieval tournaments this is a book that you definitely should pick up.