Medieval Castles,

Tournaments &

Weapons

Tournaments • Knights had few responsibilities other than warrior training and preparing.

Tournaments were created for entertainment so knights could display

their fighting skills

• It was entertainment for the commoners in a very boring/hard worked life

• In the beginning, tournaments had few rules and were very violent until

the Church placed in rules for protection

• The Manor’s Noble would put on the tournament for a money prize or

land reward

• The Tournaments main events were:

• jousting- knights would need to get permits

months in advance and issues challenges to

other knights. Rivalries formed. Later some Kings

even participated in Jousting

• melee- different teams would charge at each

other until one side was weakened. These were

basically “mock battles”

Banquets • After the tournament, banquets were held to

celebrate. Large feasts and entertainment was

provided

Entertainers

There were many people who provided different types

of entertainment for all classes of people in the Middle

Ages. They included:

Mummers – masked or costumed men or woman.

They were also known as mimes. Mummers did not

speak, but used their hands and facial expressions to

entertain people.

Minstrels – created ballads and poems to perform for

people. Most of their poems were about myths and

legends. They often traveled all over to perform.

Troubadour - were more poetic than the minstrels.

They performed songs and poems about love and

chivalry. They also told stories about history and far

away places.

Jugglers – used their hands and objects to entertain

crowds

Acrobats- performed with their bodies. They walked

tight ropes, did flips and other stunts to entertain

people.

Jester- their only job was used to make the

Noble/Kings laugh

Coat of Arms • Knights began wearing

helmets which covered much of their face making it hard to recognize them. Symbols like lions or other animals were painted on their shield and later on their surcoat (a sleeveless shirt over their armor) which is why it was called “coat of arms”

• It also sometimes included their family name or symbols

Castles

• Castles were used for

protection of a particular

area and usually built on

a hill which could see

invaders from afar.

• The Noble/Lord and

Kings lived in castles

• Castles were not for

looks, but protection.

Castles were dirty,

gloomy and damp

Castle Parts • Moat: river surrounding the castle for protection

• A barbican: a walled defense to protect the gate

(portcullis)

• Arrow Loops: narrow windows so archers could

shoot down onto invaders but was difficult to return

fire

• Bailey: internal courtyard

• Portcullis: a gate moved up and down for protection

• Drawbridge: another gate what can be pulled up or

down as a bridge for the moat

• Keep: people could retreat to the keep for extra

protection. Also included the Great Hall for feasts

• Chapel: a small church held for service

• Battlements: a wall with gaps used for firing

weapons

• Tower: used for defense to give a panorama of the

countryside

Weaponry

• Sword- often made of iron and streel. Many swords were named and handed

down generations

• dagger- close range short knife

• War hammer- for close combat

• lance- a pole or spear used on horseback

• Flail- wooden pole with chain and spiked instrument on end

• Battle Axe

• Mace

• Long Bow- Not used by knights but were used later in battle. An experienced

archer could shoot 18 arrow in 1 minute and could be shot 400 yards

Armor • Mail, or chainmail, made of

interlocking metal rings to

protect vulnerable area.

Weighed about 10-30 lbs

• Full plates of armor- were

extremely expensive and

tailor made to the knight’s

body. Full plates of armor

were about 50 lbs

• Horses also received plated

armor

Chivalry

• Knights had to follow a code of conduct to kept order, was an example for the community and showed a sense of nobility.

• Chivalry included:

• protect his lord, the weak & defenseless

• Have faith in God, believe & protect his Church

• respect & honor women

• never lie

• make war against enemies without mercy

• be generous towards others

LARP

Live Action Role Playing

• Today, there are role-playing games made

similar to medieval life/customs where people

dress up and act out and reenact battles.

Althought, it is often mixed with fantasy ideas