Characteristics of Medieval Western European Knightly Tournaments

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmsd.202412112

Author(s)

Juan Du*

Affiliation(s)

School of History, Culture &Tourism, Sichuan Minzu College, Kangding 626001, Sichuan, China *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

Knightly tournaments emerged in the mid-11th to mid-12th centuries in France. Their origin is closely tied to combat exercises and military training, but with the increasing participation of knights and nobles, tournaments evolved beyond mere military practice. A sophisticated system of competition gradually took shape, giving rise to distinct characteristics of tournaments. During this process, the involvement of the church in knighthood ceremonies lent authority to knights through their prowess. Tournaments provided feudal lords with opportunities to display wealth and strength. For knights, tournaments became not only a part of their daily lives but also a means to display their martial skills and courage, earning both honor and material benefits.

Keywords

Knight; Tournaments; Church; Feudal Lords

References

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