The Art of the Lance: Jousting’s Medieval Legacy & Modern Revival

When you hear the word jousting , your mind likely flashes to gallant knights in gleaming armor, lances poised, charging toward one another on thunderous steeds. It’s a scene pulled straight from the pages of history—or a Renaissance fair. But jousting isn’t just a medieval relic; it’s a living, breathing sport still practiced today by passionate warriors around the world. A Noble History Jousting originated in the early Middle Ages as both a military training exercise and a chivalric sport among knights. It gained massive popularity in the 12th–15th centuries, especially in England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire. By the time of King Edward III, jousts were grand public spectacles, complete with elaborate pageantry, noble titles, and royal favor. The format? Two armored knights on horseback would charge at one another with wooden lances, aiming to unseat their opponent or shatter their lance with precision. It was as much about honor and showmanship as it was about sk...