Jousting was all about the skillful use of the lance while riding a fast moving horse. This was in recognition of the mounted knights most formidable weapon, the massed charge of lance equipped armored horsemen. It was this tactic that had defeated the Roman legions, Viking raiders, and just about every foe encountered. These charges sometimes failed, but that was rare. Anyone on the receiving end of these attacks could simply count themselves lucky if …showed first 75 words of 637 total…

…showed last 75 words of 637 total…for display than for protection. Jousting no longer had any battlefield use and while jousts continued, the action was provided by a smaller number of hobbyist jousters than the thousands of professional warriors who had previously provided the participants. The tournaments stressed the other activities, which now include dueling with swords as we know it today, athletic contests, parades, pageants, and entertainers of all sorts. Tournaments evolved into pure entertainment, rather than practice for war.