7.3 Origins

Warriors have staged practice fights ever since antiquity but the medieval tournament probably developed from the cavalry riders of the Franks in the 9th century CE, who famously practised charging each other and performing manoeuvres of great skill. The organised meetings of knights in order to practice specific military skills and engage in mock cavalry battles took two principal forms:

● The tournament - a battle between two groups of mounted knights. Often called a mêlée, hastilude, tourney or tournoi.