Jousting is a medieval and Renaissance game or sport where two competitors, either on horseback or on foot, engage in combat. It became closely linked to the image of knights in stories and art from the Romantic period.

The word "joust" comes from Old French "joster," which is based on the Latin word "iuxtare," meaning "to approach" or "to meet." This term was introduced into Middle English around 1300, when jousting was a popular activity among Anglo-Norman knights. Another term for jousting, "tilt" (as in "tilting at windmills"), was used starting around 1510.

Jousting on horseback was inspired by how heavy cavalry used lances in battle. It became a specialized sport during the Late Middle Ages and remained popular among nobles in England, Wales, Germany, and other parts of Europe throughout the 16th century. However, in France, jousting stopped after King Henry II died in an accident in 1559. In England, jousting was a major event during the Accession Day tilts held for Queen Elizabeth I and King James VI and I. It was also part of celebrations for the marriage of King Charles I.

By the 17th century, jousting was no longer practiced in favor of other horse-related sports. However, some non-contact forms of "equestrian skill-at-arms" continued. Since the 1970s, there has been a small revival of theatrical jousting performances, and competitive jousting has returned since the 1990s.

History

The medieval joust began as a military practice used by strong soldiers on horseback during the High Middle Ages. By the 14th century, many nobles, including kings, participated in jousting to show their bravery, skill, and talent. Jousting was just as dangerous for kings as it was for knights. From the 15th century onward, jousting became a sport called hastilude that was not directly connected to warfare.

Between the 11th and 14th centuries, when jousting was still used in warfare, armor changed from chainmail (including a heavy helmet called a "great helm" and a shield) to full plate armor. By 1400, knights wore complete suits of plate armor, known as a "harness."

In the early period, a joust was a type of "meeting," meaning a general duel, not limited to using lances. Combatants would ride at each other with lances, but might continue fighting with shorter weapons if they were unhorsed or if the distance closed. Tournaments during the High Middle Ages were rougher and less "gentlemanly" than those in the late medieval era. Rival groups fought to disable opponents and take their horses, weapons, and ransom money.

As chivalric ideals developed in the late medieval period, jousting became more regulated. This change also affected pas d'armes (duels). It became dishonorable to take advantage of an opponent’s weakness, and knights avoided gaining an unfair advantage to earn honor by fighting bravely. This "chivalric revival" was inspired by chivalric romances from the High Middle Ages, which noblemen tried to copy in real life.

The term "knight" (chevalier) originated during this time. Before the 12th century, "cniht" meant a servant. By the 12th century, it referred to a soldier on horseback. A special group of nobles, called milites nobiles, developed as cavalry fighters. By the late 13th century, "chivalry" (chyualerye) described not only cavalry but also warrior virtues. After 1300, "knighthood" (kniȝthod) became a junior rank of nobility. By the late 14th century, the term "knight" was romanticized as an ideal for young noblemen who proved themselves through honorable deeds, such as pas d'armes and jousts. By the 15th century, noble classes of higher ranks also sought "knightly" virtues. The connection between knights and jousts became a historical tradition that developed at the end of the Middle Ages.

The Chronicles of Froissart, written in the 1390s, describe jousting during the years 1327 to 1400. Combat was expected to be non-lethal, and opponents were to yield honorably if defeated. Tournaments were divided into rounds with three encounters using different weapons, including jousting. Jousting became a chivalric sport separate from battlefield fighting. Knights sometimes fought opponents from enemy camps for honor outside of war.

For example, Froissart recorded a duel in 1380 during a campaign in Beauce. A squire named Gauvain Micaille challenged an English squire, Joachim Cator, who accepted. Micaille and Cator fought with lances, battle-axes, swords, and daggers. After the joust, the duel continued with sword thrusts. Micaille was injured and later allowed to return to his garrison with a reward.

Froissart also described a tournament in Cambray in 1385 during the marriage of the Count d'Ostrevant to the daughter of Duke Philip of Burgundy. Forty knights participated. The king jousted with Sir John Destrenne of Hainault for a prize of precious stones, which Sir Destrenne won.

The lists, or list field, was the area where jousting events took place. It was a fenced enclosure for tournament fighting. In the late medieval period, castles and palaces added tiltyards for jousting tournaments. Training used equipment like the quintain.

Medieval jousts occurred on open fields. The word "joust" meant "a meeting" and referred to planned combat, not just lance fighting. A cloth barrier was introduced in the 14th century to separate contestants. This barrier, called "tilt" in Middle English, became a wooden fence by the 15th century. The barrier helped control horses and aimed lances better. It was first used in southern regions and later became standard in Germany by the 16th century, where it was called the "Italian" or "welsch" style. Dedicated tiltyards with barriers were built in England during Henry VIII’s reign.

A knightly duel in this period usually included three jousts and three exchanges with battle-axes, swords, and daggers. By the late 14th century, the number of rounds increased to five, as seen in a 1387 duel between Sir Thomas Harpenden and Messire Jean des Barres. Later, duels could have up to ten or twelve rounds. In the 1387 duel, the first four jousts had no clear winner, but Sir Thomas was unhorsed and revived for the final exchange.

Another event near Nantes, organized by the Constable of France and the Earl of Buckingham, included a foot combat with sharp spears, followed by three jousts. Sir John Ambreticourt of Hainault and Sir Tristram de la Jaille of Poitou jousted three times without injury. A duel then followed between Edward Be and another knight.

Modern revivals

People who act out jousting have been doing this since the 1970s. At the Ulster 71 exhibition in Belfast, a medieval joust was reenacted. A more popular modern jousting show happened in 1972 at the Principality of Gwrych in North Wales near Abergele. Companies like Knights Limited held organized shows with between five and fifty actors.

Other companies, such as Medieval Times, include jousting in their dinner shows. Jousting events are also held seasonally at Warwick Castle and Hever Castle in England. Groups like the Knights of Middle England and Knights of Royal England travel across Britain and Europe to stage medieval jousting tournaments. At the Danish museum Middelaldercentret, daily jousting tournaments take place during the season.

The breakaway balsa wood lance, widely used in competitive jousting, was developed in 1973 or just before by John Waller. From the middle of the decade, the Medieval Society began jousting among themselves using these lances.

In the United States, The Knights of Valour was a theatrical jousting group formed by Shane Adams in 1993. Members of this group started practicing jousting competitively, and their first tournament was held in 1997. Adams created the World Championship Jousting Association (WCJA) to promote jousting as a combat sport. The WCJA held its first tournament in Port Elgin, Ontario, on July 24, 1999. The sport is shown in the 2012 television program Full Metal Jousting, hosted by Adams. The rules are based on Realgestech (also called Plankengestech), a 16th-century German jousting style. In this style, reinforcing pieces were added to armor to create target areas. Instead of using shields, jousters aim for a reinforcing piece on the left shoulder of the armor, called Brechschild (also Stechtartsche).

Many jousting events are held regularly in Europe, some organized by Arne Koets, including The Grand Tournament of Sankt Wendel and The Grand Tournament at Schaffhausen. Koets is one of several jousters who travel internationally to events.

The first modern competitive joust using solid lances and steel coronels took place in 2010 in Australia.