The Tournament—Its Periods and Phases — Reading Notes

The Weight of Evidence

Clephan repeatedly uses specific weights and measurements to ground tournament practice in physical reality. The preface highlights that Henry VIII's foot-combat armour weighs 93 lbs., and a jousting horse carried 340 lbs. of dead weight. These figures challenge romantic depictions of knights charging at full gallop. The author notes that the horse 'could only amble gently along the tilt,' contradicting artistic conventions. This approach extends to the armour itself: the jousting-salade (Rennhut) is forged in one piece, with reinforcing plates over the temples (Stirnplätter) and a thick abdominal plate (Magenblech). The weight and rigidity of such equipment directly shaped the pace and danger of the contest.

Courses and Their Objectives

Clephan distinguishes several tournament forms, each with specific rules and equipment. In the Scharfrennen (or Schweifrennen), the primary goal was unhorsing, though splintering lances also counted in scoring. The jouster who 'sat his horse the longest against the greatest number of splintered lances' was declared victor. The lance was aimed at the opponent's beaver or jousting-shield; hitting the beaver was more difficult but often decisive. The saddle was smaller and lighter than in other courses, weighing just over four kilos, with a low pommel and no cantle—shaped much like a modern British saddle. This design facilitated unhorsing, as the rider had less support. The armour was also lighter, with a shorter back-plate and no motons over the armpits, relying instead on a large vamplate for protection.

Regional and Chronological Variation

The tournament evolved differently across Europe. Clephan emphasises German practices, drawing on sources like the Saxon tourney-books and Freydal. In Germany, the Scharfrennen remained popular into the sixteenth century, while in England, France, and Italy, the joust at the tilt became dominant. The preface notes that by the late sixteenth century, tournaments had become 'a rather dull performance' due to minute regulations and cumbersome equipment. Even Henry VIII's displays are described as predictable: the king invariably won, and the queen could stop the tilting 'when her lord had had sufficient entertainment.' This contrast between earlier, more dangerous contests and later ceremonial forms is a recurring theme, supported by evidence of changing armour weights and saddle designs.

Clephan's work rewards readers who attend to the technical details—the weights, measurements, and material constraints that shaped tournament practice. The book does not offer a romanticised view but a forensic one, grounded in surviving armour, contemporary illustrations, and German-language sources. For those interested in the gap between literary ideal and physical reality, this study provides a wealth of specific, evidence-based observations.

Flipping through The Tournament—Its Periods and Phases, I lingered on how the armored clang fades into pageantry, how rules tighten until the fight becomes a ritual. That softening reminded me of a quieter chronicle I’ve kept nearby, where battles are already memory, noted with careful distance. The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 02 [of 13] — Key Ideas to Explore feels like that same sunset hour, facts preserved before the color fully drains.