In Westeros, there are many kinds of martial games, or combat sports. "Hastilude" is a term occasionally used to refer to such games.[1]
Games
Different types of martial games exist. The joust is the most popular, at least in southern Westeros. However, in the North, where knighthood is rare, mêlées are much more common.[2] Knights, squires, and martially-inclined others practice at these games, before entering competitions held at tourneys.
While these games are for fun and entertainment, these contests also train the martial skills of the participants, ideally improving their strength, speed, and accuracy, as well as their proficiency at riding horses. The end goal is to develop skills useful in battle, in peaceful circumstances; for example, the joust uses tourney lances made to break, but in battle, cavalry soldiers wield heavy war lances intended to kill their target.[1]
Though these games are ideally amicable, bloodshed and accidents do happen. In a joust, a splinter from a broken lance could blind or even kill a participant,[1] and concussions or other injuries from falling off horses happen frequently.[3] Mêlées typically use blunted weapons, but serious injuries are not uncommon, and some melees can be so violent that they are barely distinguished from battles.[2]
| Games | Skills | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| The joust (or the lists)[4] | Horse riding Lance handling |
Knocking the opponent off his horse with a lance. |
| Quintain[5] | Striking a stationary object with a lance. | |
| Riding at rings[4] | Passing a lance through a stationary ring while riding a horse. | |
| Horse racing[4] | Horse riding | Riding a horse the fastest way possible. |
| Mêlée[4] | Weapons handling | Knocking opponents down. |
| Archery competition[4] | Bow | Shooting arrows at archery butts. |
| Axe-throwing competition[4] | Axe | Throwing an axe at a target. |
History
King Robar II Royce won the alliance of Lord Hunter by outshooting him in an archery contest. Legend claims that he cheated, however.[6]
In the [[great tourney at Riverrun}} in 28 AC, the sixteen-year-old Prince Maegor Targaryen defeated three knights of the Kingsguard in succession in the lists, and also won the melee.[7][8]
In 55 AC, the tourney for the completion of the Dragonpit consisted of joust, grand melee, and a squire's tourney.[9]
Princess Saera Targaryen and her friends, Perianne Moore and Alys Turnberry, cheered her male favorites—Jonah Mooton, Roy Connington, and Braxton Beesbury—when they rode at rings or crossed swords in the yards.[10]
In 72 AC, the tourney at Duskendale in honor of Lord Darklyn's wedding included a squire's melee in which Prince Aemon Targaryen was the victor, defeating his younger brother Prince Baelon.[10]
During the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, House Tyrell held the tourney of the Field of Roses, which was regarded as the finest tournament in a generation.[11] In the tourney to celebrate the fiftieth year of King Jaehaerys's reign, Ser Ryam Redwyne and Ser Clement Crabb, both knights of the Kingsguard, broke thirty lances against each other before King Jaehaerys proclaimed them co-champions, declaring it to be the finest display of jousting ever seen in Westeros.[12]
Princess Daena Targaryen was an expert horsewoman. She practiced at riding at rings, but was never allowed to ride in a tourney.[13]
In the great mêlée at Last Hearth, held by House Umber at Last Hearth in 170 AC, at least eighteen participants were killed, and at least twenty-seven men were maimed during the contest.[2]
In 200 AC, Lord Baratheon held a hastilude at Storm's End to celebrate the birth of a grandson. In the joust, Prince Baelor Targaryen defeated Ser Arlan of Pennytree.[1]
Ser Arlan of Pennytree taught Duncan the Tall how to tilt at rings and the quintain.[1]
When Duncan the Tall first arrived at Coldmoat, he saw Lady Rohanne Webber and a squire practicing archery, and knights taking turns at a quintain.[14]
The tourney at Harrenhal of 281 AC was the greatest tourney of its time, with five days of jousting, a great seven-sided mêlée, archery and axe-throwing competitions, a horse race, and a tourney of singers.[15]
Harwin rode at quintain with Jon Snow and Robb Stark at Winterfell.[16]
Edric Dayne once won a prize riding at rings.[17]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
The Hand's tourney consists of a joust, melee, and archery contest,[18] which were respectively won by Sandor Clegane, the sworn shield of Prince Joffrey, Thoros of Myr, the drinking companion of King Robert, and Anguy, a mere commoner from the Dornish Marches.[19]
A Clash of Kings
At the tourney on King Joffrey's name day, Prince Tommen Baratheon strikes a quintain so hard that it spins around and knocks him off his pony.[5]
Brienne of Tarth wins a large melee at Bitterbridge of one hundred and sixteen knights.[20][21]
Bran Stark watches squires training in the yard of Winterfell, and notices Big Walder and Little Walder Frey riding at the quintains.[22]
A Feast for Crows
Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, institutes a daily archery drill for the entire garrison of Castle Black.[23]
After the loss of his right hand, Ser Jaime Lannister realizes his days of jousting and riding at quintains are over.[24]
Queen Cersei Lannister disapproves of Ser Loras Tyrell training King Tommen at riding at the quintain.[25]
A Dance with Dragons
For the purpose of gaining the favor of the Meereenese people without re-opening the fighting pits, Ser Barristan proposes to Queen Daenerys Targaryen to hold a tourney, where his orphan squires could ride at rings and fight a mêlée with blunted weapons.[26]
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The North.
- ↑ The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 2, Sansa I.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Seven Kingdoms: The Reach (Highgarden).
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 13, Arya II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.