Osprey Elite 17 : Knights at Tournament

Like all warrior classes throughout history medieval knights engaged in military games, partly in preparation for war and partly for pure sport. From their often brutal origins in the 10th to the gaudy pageantry and eventual decline of the 15th and 16th centuries, tournaments were the centre of the knightly life. The image of the armoured and surcoated knight on his caparisoned charger remains the epitome of the chivalric ideal. Christopher Gravett explores the history of the tournament from its chaotic beginnings to its more formal, 'civilised' incarnation, describing the various 'events' and equipment which came into use. With the aid of many contemporary accounts he chronicles the rise to prominence of the formal joust and the evolution of various codes and edicts to regulate behaviour, presenting a clear and absorbing picture of this fascinating aspect of medieval life. The relationship between the tournament and the church is also covered, as is the changing nature of arms and armour, with plenty of accompanying illustrations and museum photographs. This book also contains 12 full page colour plates by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Introduction
• The 12th and 13th Centuries
• The 14th Century
• The 15th Century
• The 16th Century
• The Plates