Tuesday 27 August 2013

Jousting At Carisbrooke Castle

A few days ago, Sharon and I went to Carisbrooke Castle and this post will show you the jousting contest that was on display that morning.  It was very exciting and the crowd all joined in shouting in favour of their Knights.  There were 4 Knights having different colours, red, blue, gold and green and they were introduced and arrived separately and after the jousting contest ended, they all left together.








Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two horsemen and using lances, often as part of a tournament. The primary aim is to strike the opponent with the lance while riding towards him at high speed, if possible breaking the lance on the opponent's shield or armour, or unhorsing him.



The term joust is derived from Old French joster, ultimately from a Late Latin iuxtare "to approach, to meet". The word was loaned into Middle English around 1300, when jousting was a very popular sport among the Anglo-Norman knighthood. The synonym tilt dates ca. 1510 and is the barrier between the 2 horses.


















Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. It transformed into a specialised sport during the Late Middle Ages, and remained popular with the nobility both in England and Germany throughout the whole of the 16th century (while in France, it was discontinued after the death of king Henry II in an accident in 1559).   In England, jousting was the highlight of the Accession Day tilts of Elizabeth I and James I, and also was part of the festivities at the marriage of Charles I.




Jousting was discontinued in favour of other equestrian sports in the 17th century, although non-contact forms of "equestrian skill-at-arms" disciplines survived. There has been a limited revival of jousting reenactment since the 1970s.






The joust became an iconic characteristic of the knight in Romantic medievalism and hence in the depiction of the Middle Ages in popular culture. Jousting matches were notably depicted in Ivanhoe.

 
  







  




  

I hope you were able to catch the flavour and excitement of this event.  No horse or Knight was injured, in fact I spoke to one of the Knights and he had never been injured.  Although I did not show you, each Knight had his own tent and helpers and we were able to watch  as they dressed in their armour.  I do not know how they did not die of heat exhaustion as that day was a very hot!

Below is a video taken from the beginning to the end of the tournaments but heavily edited down and I hope you will enjoy it.  I had to make it in 2 parts so the first part can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/HxDacLV1vms

If  there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.



Part 2 can be accessed at http://youtu.be/x9CSKGiOP2Y

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.



Thanks you for visiting today and I hope you will return soon.

26 comments:

  1. Wow, very very interesting game! looking fabulous..
    Such a great post with wonderful photographs...
    thanks for sharing...

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    1. HI ER Travels Many thanks foryour kind comments and I am glad you enjoyed the event.

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  2. Hot and hard work for knights and horses alike. Thank you - this is something I have read about, but never hoped to see photographs, let alone videos, of modern day events.

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    1. Hi EC I am so glad you got to see this post because one does not come across jousting too often. Thanks for your comments.

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  3. This is great, something I've never seen before.

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  4. Hi Adrain Yes it was however I only saw it through my viewfinder!! I can appreciate it better how that I see the videos. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for comments. I have just left me friend Sharon to the ferry on her way back to N.Ireland but on my way to see Eileen (birder from I.O.W.) for lunch. It is very hot here!

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  5. so much gear and hard work put into that competition.

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  6. Wow that looks terrifying, wouldn't fancy taking part that's for sure.

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    1. I think it is not for the faint hearted! That's for the comment.

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  7. Just a week or two ago there was a jousting contest here, and I missed it!!! I had really wanted to go, so thanks for taking me along with you! It looks so very exciting, and also just like medieval times. The horses are dressed beautifully too. But it IS a wonder that then men did not get heatstroke!

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    1. HI Ginny Well isn't that wonderful you were able to see it ad it didn't even cost you any money!! Glad you liked it.

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  8. It puts football in a league. Beautiful photos Margaret.

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    1. HI Bob thanks for comments and glad you liked the photos. I didn't understand the football gag!

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  9. Hi Margaret, great shots of a very interesting event.

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  10. Hi Gunilla Many thanks for comments and glad you found it interesting.

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  11. My grandsons would LOVE to see this!! Thanks for sharing your adventure, Margaret. blessings ~ tanna

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    1. HI Tanna Yes I think there may belots of grand children that might like to see the videos. Thanks for comment.

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  12. A fabulous spectacle and great example of horsemanship.

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    1. Yes Frank I have toagree with you especially as the horses and Knights moved backwards into their staring position. Thanks for comments

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  13. This looks like a wonderful event to see. It looks very exciting.

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    1. HI George Yes it asvery exciting. The crowd really got behind thier Knoght for encouragement.

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  14. What fun Margaret! The photos are great and those costumes are colorful, and the horses are great too. Wonderful video!

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  15. HI Denise Yes, all in all a great outing with lots of fun.

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  16. Wonderful post catching all the excitement, colour and atmosphere of the event. We went to a jousting event once at Warwick Castle when the children were little - they loved it :)

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    1. HI RR I am sure you enjoyed it all those years ago and perhaps my post brought back happy memories. Thanks for comments

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