Tilting is another word for jousting and comes from Old English word tylte or tealt meaning ‘to totter unsteadily.’ The word joust comes from an Old French verb joster, and before that from Latin juxtare that means “to approach, to meet”. Rein Barding: Metal plates or chain mail were sometimes riveted or wrapped around reins so that they could not be cut in battle. These would have been made of metal plates that were riveted to leather or boiled leather that was then treated with beeswax.Ĭaparison: A caparison was sometimes used with barding and was a cloth cover that extended from nose to tail and down to the ground and was often embroidered with a knight’s coat of arms. They were attached to the champron and the peytral that protected the horse’s chest.įlanchard: The flanchard protected the horse’s flanks and attached to either side of the saddle. These articulated lames pivoted on loose rivets one set covered the mane and the other the neck. Today the term crupper is used to describe a leather strap that reaches from the back of the saddle and goes under a tail usually on a rotund pony to prevent the saddle from slipping forward.Ĭriniere: The criniere was a set of segmented plates that protected the horse’s neck. Some knights had a spike attached to the champron between the ears and flanges often covered the eyes.Ĭroupiere: The croupiere originally was made to protect the horse’s hindquarters and could be made from leather, chain mail or plate. In the 12th century the boiled leather version was replaced by metal and might have included hinged cheek pieces. This full armour or bard was made in Germany for the Duke of Saxony- Coburg in 1548.Ĭhampron: Originally the champron or face guard originated in ancient Greece and was made of boiled leather. While often depicted as glamorous with knights riding for the attention of their favourite court ladies, in truth jousting was perilous and often fatal to both horse and rider. Jousting was based on battle attacks with long lances, common in the 14th century, and became popular entertainment in the late Middle Ages. ![]() ![]() If a knight was wealthy or became wealthy he might have multiple horses: some for travelling, others trained for battle charges and more for the dangerous sport of jousting or lists where he could prove his ability in the saddle. Knighthood in the Middle Ages was closely linked with horsemanship and knights had to: “Protect the weak, defenseless and fight for the general welfare of all.” They also had to act in courteous, chivalrous and honourable behavior and the word “chivalry” actually comes from the French word “ chevalier” implying “ skills to handle a horse.” Jousting for Glory and DeathĪ man was granted the honourary title of knighthood by a monarch or other political figure for service to a king or to his country in a military capacity. Putting the whimsy aside, let’s look at the real knights and their horses of the Middle or Medieval ages, that period of European history encompassing the 5th to the 15th centuries. King Arthur and the romanticized tales that surround him and his knights include a lot of fantasy and fiction. The word “knight” conjures up visions of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Mordred, Merlin, Guinevere and the castle Camelot. Jousting was Middle Ages entertainment and often included death.
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