Types of Tournaments

There were actually several types of tournaments. Basically, any event that included one of more of the following combats would be considered a tournament.

Joust a plaisance- Each participant must run the lists with each other participant three times. Teams may be formed. Prizes are awarded for team and individual performance. This was your standard, peace-time tournament. There might be over a hundred knights, who would participate over several days in elimination type sets. On the final day of the jousts, the survivors would joust each other for the title of grand winner of the tourney.

Joust a outrance- Same as Joust a plaisance, except held with a real enemy, usually before a battle (or in lieu of one) with real weapons and to the death or surrender of opponents. Teams may be used. This form of entertainment was often put together during a siege, to dull the boredom that sieges always brought about.

Pas d'armes- Knights who lived on well traveled routes loved this one. Said knight would establish lists near his home and have servants announce to any other knights passing through that they were challenged to a joust before they could pass. Thus every knight entering the area had to break one or more lances in their runs down the lists before leaving. The host knight usually provided good hospitality as well and would often keep this up for months at a time so that the word would get around and more knights would come by simply to test their skill. The host knight usually had other knights of his "fellowship" there to provide a steady supply of opponents for those coming for a joust. The event usually went on until a certain, previously announced, number of lances were broken. The number might be in the hundreds, making the pas d'armes (sometimes called the pas d'honeur) a lengthly affair, going on for months.

Melee a pied- Teams of knights fighting on foot. A knight defeats an opponent if he makes three hits with his blunted weapons. Judges had a hard time with this one and participants often depended on each other, and their knightly honor, to keep an accurate score.

Melee a cheval- Same as melee a pied except on horseback, using blunted hand weapons rather than lances, although lances might be used for an opening charge.

Bohort- Joust a plaisance organized on the spot.