Osprey - General Military - Knight - The Warrior and ... - Brego-weard

hedgerows, barns, hills and the town of Anet itself (although strictly the town was out
of bounds) to launch ambushes and utilize local advantage, just like a real battle.
Unlike a real battle there was no overarching strategic plan; alter lining up opposite
each other the two sides would simply charge, breaking into the individual households,
which seem to have conducted their own individual fights. There was no winning side
either. At the end of the day the great lords might gather together and discuss between
themselves which knight had performed with the greatest prowess; he would then
awarded a prize of some kind, such as the giant pike offered at Pleurs in 1178 or the
live bear that was to be a prize in the tournament planned for Hounslow in 1215.
A more venal measure of victory lay in the capture of opposing knights, whose
armour and mount could be seized and who might be expected to pay a ransom. This
may account for why William spent so much time grappling with his foes; grabbing
bridles and tearing off helmets was a more certain means of ensuring an opponent's
surrender than knocking him from his horse with a lance or bludgeoning him
insensible with the sword. Of course the greater the status of the captive the greater
the prize and the greater the glory and so the princes, nobles and lords were key
targets. Whilst the household might be protecting their lord they would also be looking
for the opportunity to take captives in their own right. The Young King and members
of his retinue seem to have thought that William Marshal was too fond of seeking out
TACTICS AND TRAINING -}=>•
A late medieval joust.
Originally a warm-up
show, by the 15th century
the joust had become the
main event, with
participants scoring points
for breaking lances and the
accuracy of their blows.
Such sport required quite
different skills to the
melee. (The Art Archive)
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