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When used in combat, jousting often involved tilting with a variety of weapons, including lances, battle axes, daggers, or swords. During the Medieval period, jousting in combat became highly controversial politically because of its deadly and uncivilized nature. The Catholic Church also found the practice repugnant and excommunicated jousting, including tournaments. As Gravett (7) writes, "The Church had consistently opposed tournaments, issuing prohibitions in 1131, 1139, 1179, 1193, and 1228." However, Richard I granted licenses for jousting tournaments after the 1193 ban and the one in 1228 had little success. The "papacy disliked the way the tournament promoted activity in a turbulent baronage" (Gravett 7). In the 1300s, one document known as "The Chronicles of Froissart" contends that a war was put on hold so a joust could be held, and that there was a strong connection "between romance and jousting" ("Jousting" 2). Joust |
