Tournaments: Jousts, Chivalry and Pageants in the Middle Ages

by Richard Barber, Juliet Barker

A beautifully presented survey of the medieval tournament, revealing lively vignettes of contemporary life as well as looking at the tournament as both sporting occasion and theatre. Lavishly illustrated.

Genres: History, Medieval, Nonfiction, Medieval History, British Literature, Military History, Chivalry

225 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Richard William Barber is a prominent British historian who has been writing and publishing in the field of medieval history and literature ever since his student days. He has specialised in the Arthurian legend, beginning with a general survey, Arthur of Albion, in 1961, which is still in print in a revised edition. His other major interest is historical biography; he has published on Henry Plantagenet (1964) and among his other books is the standard biography of Edward the Black Prince, Edward Prince of Wales and Aquitaine. The interplay between history and literature was the theme of The Knight and Chivalry, for which he won the Somerset Maugham Prize in 1971 and he returned to this in The Holy Grail: Imagination and Belief (2004); this was widely praised in the UK press, and had major reviews in The New York Times and The Washington Post.

His other career has been as a publisher. In 1969 he helped to found The Boydell Press, which later became Boydell & Brewer Ltd, one of the leading publishers in medieval studies, and he is currently group managing director. In 1989, Boydell & Brewer Ltd, in association with the University of Rochester, started the University of Rochester Press in upstate New York. The group currently publishes over 200 titles a year.

Reviews

[Julie Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very dense book and best for people with a deep interest in the subject. Having background is necessary otherwise the people, places and dates just blur together. I did not read the whole thing as I am interested in medieval England & France. [ I could not read chapters 3 or 4, as none of the names were familiar so I simply could not care, and only skimmed 5.] However several chapters (which I will list below) will be worthwhile to anyone with a passing interest in medieval tournaments and armor (plus nice discussion of how tournaments related to warfare & the crusades as well.) Of general interest: the Prologue, chapters 1, 7 & the Epilogue. The long list of names and dates do become a bit eye watering through, which is why I only read some of the chapters. Many Many color photos, worth it just to browse the medieval artwork!!

Prologue
1. The Origins of the Tournament
2. The Tournament in North-West Europe to 1400
3. The Tournament in Germany
4. The Tournament in Italy and Spain
5. The Late Medieval and Renaissance Tournament: Spectacles, Pas d'armes, and Challenges
6. The Dangers of Tournaments: Spiritual Condemnation and Public Disorder
7. Tournament Armour
8. Tournaments as Events
9. Epilogue

Found on: www.openlibrary.org

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more in depth than I'd expected. The authors go into a great detail about tournaments between the 11th and 17th centuries, first by region (France, England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and eastern Europe), and then delving to specifics on assorted types on tournaments, spiritual and legal issues, the evolving technology (armor, mounts, and weapons), and finally the view of tournaments as events and displays beyond merely contests of martial prowess. Well done, but the writers do assume a certain amount of knowledge (about medieval history, politics, and important figures), which may prove a bit off-putting to the general reader. 3.5 stars.

[Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the definitive book about medieval tournaments. The authors provide a thorough coverage of the origins of the tournaments/jousts in many regions of Europe, and follow their evolution over time. I appreciated the wide focus of the book in that it didn't just focus on England and France, but covered all the major regions.

Complete with many illustrations, there was much to learn in this book. I really enjoyed how the authors showed how the relationships between tournaments and religion, politics, and society. I was surprised to learn that the church was strongly opposed to tournaments for several centuries, even going so far as to excommunicate knights who participated.

There were some humorous anecdotes, but for the most part the prose was informative, and a little repetitive at times. It wasn't the most enjoyable book to read, but the sheer amount of information that I learned made up for the reading. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about medieval tournaments or chivalry.

[Pedro Pascoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An invaluable one-volume book detailing the development of the Medieval Tournament, covering different countries, personalties, weapons and armour and, for myself, the tournament as an event, and the planning required to get tournaments happening in times of yore.

Beautifully illustrated with period pieces, that over the course of the book sometimes felt a little repetitive, but always focused and revealing.

In some ways the development of the tournament reflects the development of medieval Europe itself, as the premier entertainment festival of the times couldn't help but do. It reflects the soul of Europe in all its barbaric splendour, and this book illuminates that superbly with insights into the politics and pageantry of, in particular, jousts, but tournaments in general.

[Anna C · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) Would have liked it more if all the plates had been in color. Yes, I know that increases printing costs, but I like nice things!

Also caught one major error: on page 134, "In the middle of a lavish festival given by the mother of the emperor Charles V, Mary of Hungary..." The mother of Charles V was Joanna of Castile, and lest that seem like a trivial mistake, Charles and Joanna's relationship was infamous. He gaslit her, robbed her, and kept her under house arrest for decades, and although she has gone down in history as "Joanna the Mad," we do need some revisionist feminist historians to re-assess that...

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must have for anyone interested in jousting!! a fantastic book with gorgeous photographs! the book is well orangized with handy side summaries so if you're looking for something particular, you can find it right away.
It's all inclusive of everything from armor to horsemanship, to how tournaments were conducted in various countries throughout different centuries.
One of my favorite books on the topic

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most boring books I've ever read. Way too long, way too detailed, way too repetitive. No narrative structure, just a succession of points: this person did this thing in this year in this place. Then this thing happened in this year in this place.

[Konstantinos Mhtropoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

its an amazing book for those who want to learn about tournaments in Middle Ages !! seriously congratulations!!

[Hyarrowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scholarly study of all things tournament-related - that nevertheless manages to be an unputdownable read. It looks at the history and development of the tournament, from its thuggish beginnings to the delicate refinements of its later years, and is illustrated with magnificent contemprary images. The interplay between medieval romances, and their re-enactment as spectacle provided by the great and the good of Europe; the unsubtle economics behind some of the participants' presence, tournament wives - all are covered here. I love it!

[Steven Muhlberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, readable and a good thorough. Introduction to the subject.