ORIGINS OF THE JOUST
As far back as military history goes, warriors have practised for war. However, in the late 11th century a new kind of event emerged in north-west France that combined training with spectacle — the tournament. This event saw hundreds of knights fight in two teams in open countryside, often supported by foot soldiers. The name ‘tournament’ was first mentioned in 1114 and derives from the turning or wheeling manoeuvres involved. The aim was to capture opposing knights for ransom, providing money as well as good training.
Individual combats with lances were called jousts, probably from the Latin ‘juxtare’, ‘to meet together’ and Middle French ‘joster’, ‘to encounter’. During this period they sometimes took place before the main battle, reflecting the real-life practice of champions from opposing armies challenging each other. The earliest reference to it is in the preliminary jousting before a tournament at Tournai in 1095 when Count Henry of Brabant was killed. Their popularity grew during the first half of the
