Joust — Middle Ages

The story behind the answer

Two armored knights charge each other with couched lances down parallel lanes separated by a tilt barrier. Points are awarded for striking the opponent’s shield or helm, with the highest prestige for unhorsing—clearly different from a melee (group free-for-all), a pas d’armes (ritual challenges at a pass), or the broader tournament that hosted many events.

This mounted single combat grew from 12th-century cavalry training into a high spectacle of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. Rules standardized equipment—blunted lance tips (coronels), reinforced helmets, and the enclosed “lists”—and heralds kept score for shattered lances. Beyond martial skill, it displayed chivalry and noble pageantry; yet it remained dangerous, as shown by the fatal wounding of King Henry II of France in 1559, which hastened its decline.