Tournament part II

Welcome back!
Part 2 of the Tournament

Using the knights and knaves rules we set out to learn the basics and make the game play fit the narrative we wanted to express.

The players:



Jess (Scottish Lord) Clans Lambet, Campbell










Mike (Scottish Lord) Clans Braun, Comyn










We organized our forces according to the breakdown laid out in K&K and quickly decided that we would provide three mounted figures each. These "combatants" would range from knight to lord in experience / skill level. The various foot figures on the table would represent our commanders and audience who of course would not be in play.

Turn 1:
The blue knights? Despite the K&K rules being simultaneous / declared action combat resolution we decided to use a initiative roll off to determine who declares actions first. Since jousting was fairly straight forward (Charge an hit the other guy with stick...) we started the joust at a good distance, measured each figures full movement distance (24") and resolved combat in the center. In this case the weapon skills of each knight were so close it came down to a simple D10 roll off. Jess rolled a 9 and Mike rolled a 8, Mike's knight was done for the day.

Turn 2:
Comyn vs. (Red knight): Jess used very generic names for this first attempt at rules exploration. Mike used historical reference to improve gaming experience. Keep this in mind when playing historical campaigns - the more information the better! In this turn - a similar scenario to turn one, the Red Knight de-horses Comyn with a luck die roll. An orange line helps maintain the jousting boundaries

Turn 3:
The Red Knight and Comyn square off after de-horsing to finish the fight. The ladies gasp, the crowd grows silent after the rush of crashing armor. The two skilled swordsmen dance around each other looking for a weak point. Suddenly Comyn strikes out attempting to hit the Red Knights left knee -


with a flash of steel on shield the Red Knight deflects the blow and steps aside, his blunted tournament weapon crashes down on his opponents helm causing a small laceration. The wound is minor but bleeds prolifically. Comyn ceeds the contest to the Red Knight in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Turn 4:
Not to be outdone on his own turf The Bruce challenges Lambet to the final joust. The two impressive lords take their positions on either side of the field.

The two destriers with their erstwhile riders seemed to move in slow motion towards one another.. clouds of mud were kicked up by their hooves and swords came to the ready. The clash was sudden and violent. The riders were locked in combat with their steeds maneuvering to gain advantage. Blow after blow struck home until finally The Bruce was unhorsed. The two knights called a truce and declared Lambet the winner. The host, ever gracious gifted him with the purse and all people there on that great day retired together in peace and merriment to feast on deer poached from an English forrest. Wine and cider flowed freely and dancing continued until the late hours.

A great day indeed.

Next time: the first border skirmish, move to contact, death and taxes.

Tournament

Although officially banned by the Holy Roman Church and most English Kings (in fact an ex-communicable offense) tournaments were popular sport during the Age of Chivalry. England and Scotland were no exception. We used the event to help explore the Knights and Knaves Rules a skirmishing rule set which is available here...

http://www.hisentco.com/Private/Pages/Downloads.html

The teams:

Here we see John Comyn and retinue prepparing for less than lethal combat. Usually combatants used light padded armor and blunted weapons for tournaments.







Of course the possibility of being gravely or mortally wounded is still in play



English Knights present to the tournament. The tournament circuit was a money maker for Knights during periods of peace. In mock combat knights could win a collective purse, take other knights and hold them ransom. Often the ransom was either a horse and set of armor or a sum of money equal to it.

The atmosphere: squires and locals would erect pavilions, the field was left open ended so that the mock combat could include the "thrill of the chase" when enemies broke and ran. Local vendors would be on hand to sell beer, cider and bread. Sporting games of darts, bowling, archery and feats of strength would warm up the spectators while knights prepared. Strange fashions often accompanied the women who attended tournaments - attire that was overly showy and distracting was typical. Dresses that left the breasts bare, overly colorful fashions and promiscuous attire were among the displays that made tournaments banned events and quite popular. When a favorite knight would be injured or killed the tournament could break out into a full riot with horsemen riding down peasants and local magistrates arresting dozens.
See A Distant Mirror and Life in a Medieval Castle for references.



The Scottish Lord and his Knights ride onto the field.

While during the period before the 1st Scottish War of Independence it was more typical to see larger mock combats between groups of chevaliers, it was not unheard of to see jousts between single armed opponents - it was simply more common on the continent. In fact Edward the 1st suffered a wound at the age of 17 from such a tournament.

more to follow soon, coming up: the turn by turn analysis and outcome of the tournament.

The drum beat of insurrection...

The year is 1296...

Queen Margaret of Scotland died six years ago leaving sixteen claimants to the throne, Edward I king of England agreed to mitigate the factionalism preventing legal succession. The rabble was whittled down to two claimants Sir John Balliol and Robert Bruce 5th Lord of Annendale.

Lord John Balliol was named King of the Scots by a majority vote at Scone Abbey, but Edward made it clear that he viewed Scotland as a vassal state.

King John was crowned at Newcastle upon Tyne in December 1293, and swore homage to Edward.

When Edward demanded Scottish troops to fight in France, John was undermined by the Bruce faction who were resentful of English demands.
Edward had betrayed the Scottish nobility by demanding to be recognized as Lord Paramount of Scotland. Edward gave King John until September 1st to provide soldiers and funds.

King John returned to Scotland determined to defy Edward and quiet the Bruce faction. King John's war council consisted of four earls, four bishops and four barons...

King John made a defense alliance with Phillip of France in secret, they also agreed that Edward Balliol (John's son) would marry Jeanne de Valois (Philip's niece) solidifying the pact.

It was not until 1295 that Edward I became aware of the secret Franco-Scottish negotiations. In early October, he began to strengthen his northern defences against a possible invasion. It was at this point that Robert Bruce, 6th Lord of Annandale (father of the future King Robert the Bruce) was appointed by Edward as the governor of Carlisle Castle. Edward also ordered John Balliol to relinquish control of the castles and burghs of Berwick, Jedburgh and Roxburgh. In December, more than 200 of Edward's tenants in Newcastle were summoned to form a militia by March 1296 and in February, a fleet sailed north to meet with his land forces in Newcastle.

Thus begins belligerency between England and Scotland...