THE SUNDAY SNAP
Jousting is back after Covid! Plus a look ahead at the week on History, Etc
During the first wave of the Black Death in the fourteenth century, King Edward III tried to keep his English subjects’ spirits up by arranging jousting tournaments. He also proclaimed the foundation of the world’s most exclusive knightly club, the Order of the Garter, to bring likeminded chivalrous warriors together.
In the twenty-first century, however, jousters have been more cautious. The modern-day tournament circuit was ravaged by Covid - even two lance-lengths being deemed to pose an unacceptable risk of infection. Brave knights have been left kicking their heels. Until now.
This picture was taken a few days ago at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England. This year was the first International Jousting Tournament to have been held there since the pandemic began. It looks spectacular - and is on my bucket list for next year. As a spectator, I think, not a participant.
This week on History, Etc, there’ll be a post about vegan peasants and royal feasts, an ‘Ask Me Anything’ thread for subscribers in midweek, and the return of the not-quite-a-podcast audio thingumy we call First Draft.
I look forward to catching up with you all.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Dan x
We have jousts here in the US as part of renaissance festivals - very showy, usually a Mongol in the tournament, everyone is inexplicably eating turkey legs.
You can joust in your car. That's the reason y'all drive on the wrong side of the road.