The broad term describing a whole range of martial activities from the
hastilude ,
pas d’armes ,
round table ,
pageant ,
emprise , and a host of others. The tournament began as a training for war, and was gradually more regulated and specialized. During the 14th century the tournament proper, the hastilude, was gradually supplanted by the
jousts and foot combats described in pas d’armes and round tables.
Knights would compete against one another under the watchful eyes of the
heralds and ladies of the
gallery , earning
renown and fame while they demonstrated their
prowess . See Period Tournament Formats for SCA Combat.
It is the spirit of the tournament that has given strength to the tournament companies, modern groups of re-enactors who see the tourney as a testing ground for
knightly virtue. See also
THE BOOK OF THE TOURNAMENT .
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