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Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, Lancelot, and Joan of Arc the very names ring
with chivalry. The question then is "What is Chivalry?" The word
comes from chevalerie which derives from cheval, French for horse.
And the horse is what set the knight apart.
Remember Richard III's cry in Shakespeare, "My kingdom for a horse."
The Europeans bred the draft type horse up in size and strength to
carry the ever increasing weight of an armour bearing knight.
Stirrups, which had been brought from the east in about the eighth
century, stabilized this armoured, lance-bearing warrior astride his
gigantic steed.
In medieval times jousting was a popular practice amongst nobles. It
was a contest where mounted knights would face off and charge each
other, attempting to knock their opponent to the ground but not kill
them.
While hunting was the favourite sport of the nobility, tournaments
were by far the most avidly attended organized activity of the
period. Basically, a tournament was a series of battles with blunted
weapons. The object was the same as in real combat, to vanquish your
opponent.
While killing your opponent was discouraged (by disqualifying the
perpetrator), non-lethal injuries were accepted as part of the game.
Those who demonstrated their ability in these affairs won enormous
respect from their peers, as well as the adulation of the commons
and the many lovely young ladies in attendance. Perhaps most
important of all, the victors won a lot of money.
Journey Provisions
Camp Site Weapons
Castle Feast
River Crossing
Market Inn
Fair Joist
End
Your on page 11 of 12, please visit the start of
the journey |
