Blast From The Past: Renaissance Sports

Over the ages, young men have enjoyed faux sword fighting, going to archery ranges and pretending to be knights in shining armor.  These dreams came alive during a time of Shakespearean plays and ethereal culture- it was the time of the Renaissance and it was thrilling.

These battles originated as means for the men to stay in shape and provide entertainment for the townspeople.  The tournaments started in the 11th Century and included warlike sports such as jousting, archery and fencing.  Knights would enter these tournaments not only to improve their physique, but also for fame and glory.  It allowed them to impress everyone, including the women, with their horsemanship, fighting skills and courage. 

Hundreds of spectators would gather to watch these fearless knights compete, often times witnessing knights fighting until the death.  In fact, jousting tournaments became so popular and dangerous that King Henry II (1154-1189) forbid his knights to enter such tournaments to avoid unnecessary injuries to his army.  This decree was quickly over turned by King Richard I in 1194 and jousting tournaments continued.

Curious how sports in the Renaissance progressed? Here are a few little known facts:
-Fencing became a sport when knights began using thinner swords in order to pierce between the cracks of the enemy’s armor.

-In the medieval period, battles began to die and tournaments became more theatrical.  Knights started to dressed in elaborate armor with their horses decorated in rich fabrics.

-The very first jousting tournament dates back to 1066 and was invented by a French man named Godfrey de Preuilly.

-A team tournament in the Renaissance is called a Melee. Knights would gather in an arena and fight on foot against other teams.

Today many people around the world recreate the medieval experience for the modern world.  On September 14th-15th the 4th annual Renaissance faire, Much Ado About Sebastopol, takes place at Ives Park, Sebastopol.  There's bound to be a lot of sports activities going on!