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INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ELIZABETHAN .ORG
Elizabethan Sports - Elizabethan Fencing Skill in Fencing during the Elizabethan era was a requirement of all Upper class Nobility. The different types of swords ranged from the smallest Broadsword measuring from 30 inches to the Greatswords which measured up to 72 inches. The weight of swords used during this era are usually presumed to be a lot heavier than they actually were. Training in Fencing for Battle Skill in using the sword and to fence effectively took time, practise and effort . A Knight was trained first as a Page from the age of 7 to 14 and then as Squire from the age of 14 to 21. A Knight was therefore usually the age of 21 before would make a formal entry into Knighthood. It was the duty of a Knight to learn how to fight, become accomplished at using the sword as his primary weapon, and so serve their sovereign according to the Code of Chivalry. Almost 14 years of training enabled the knight use the sword with considerable strength and skill. These skills were still required during the Elizabethan era for tournaments. The Art of Fencing The mid 1500s saw the introduction of fencing in personal fighting skills and private self-defense. The use of the sword and the acquisition of fencing arts changed as technology increased and firearms were introduced and used for military warfare. The old Feudal system had ceased and so to had the avenues to settle personal scores. These social changes during the Elizabethan era led to an increase in the popularity of dueling, or fencing, as a means to settle private disagreements especially those concerning reputation and honor. Fencing masters came into great demand. A sword was an important part of a nobles apparel and it was important that he had adequate fencing skills. The wearing of the sword with civilian dress was a custom that had begun in late fifteenth-century Spain. (There is an interpretation to the left.) Elizabethan Tournaments Elizabethan tournaments were a great form of Elizabethan entertainment. Tournaments were enjoyed by both Commoners, Royalty and Nobles, the Upper Class and the Lower Classes. A rich member of the English aristocracy would sponsor a tournament and supply the purse for the prizes. A Elizabethan Tournament was a series of mounted and armoured combats, fought as contests, in which a number of combatants compete and the one that prevails through the final round or that finishes with the best record is declared the winner and is awarded the prize. Tournaments were imported from France during the 12th century and formed an important element of Elizabethan military and social life. The contests in the tournament were fought with blunted swords or lances. However there were still many casualties, as many as 10% were injured, and there were also fatalities. The number of fatalities dropped as the tournaments became better regulated. Elizabethan physicians were always at hand during the tournaments. Knights would fight as individuals but there would also be team events. Elizabethan Entertainment Elizabethan Entertainment was extremely important to people who lived in the Elizabethan era. The lives of Elizabethans were hard, the mortality rate was high due to frequent outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague and life expectation was low. With the many deadly diseases and hardships of life in Elizabethan England, people needed to find a way to relieve themselves of stress. The need for stress relief lead to the development of various games and forms of entertainment. Elizabethan entertainment was popular whenever there was something to celebrate. A betrothal, wedding, victories and festivals. Court entertainment was regular, often a nightly occurrence combined with feasts, jousts and banquets often accompanied by music and dancing. Most of Elizabethan entertainment consisted of large gatherings in which people could interact with each other. But the poor people enjoyed entertainment from acting troupes, tournaments, dancing, trained animals, mummers (dancers), mystery plays, jugglers and strolling players. Tournaments, Games, Sports, Gaming and Gambling also played an important part in Elizabethan entertainment. Types of Elizabethan Entertainment There were many different types of Elizabethan Entertainment many of which are detailed as follows: ~ Feasts - A large, elaborately prepared meal, usually for many persons and often accompanied by court entertainment. Often celebrated religious festivals ~ Banquets - A ceremonial dinner honoring a particular guest ~ Fairs - The Annual Summer Fair was often a bawdy affair ~ Plays - Starting as plays enacted in town squares followed by the actors using the courtyards of taverns or inns ( referred to as Inn-yards ) followed by the first theatres ( great open air amphitheatres built in the same style as the Roman Coliseum ) and then the introduction of indoor theatres called Playhouses ~ Mystery Plays - Re-enacting stories from the Bible ~ Festivals - Celebrating Church festivals ~ Dancing - Elizabethan dances enjoyed by the Upper Classes, Royalty and Nobility included the Cinque-pace, Galliard, Pavane, Roundel, Tordion and the Volta ~ Jousts / Tournaments - A series of tilting matches between knights ~ Games and Sports - Sports and games which included archery, bowling, cards, dice, hammer-throwing, quarter-staff contests, quoits, skittles and wrestling ~ Animal Sports - Including Bear and Bull baiting. Dog and Cock fighting ~ Hunting - Sport followed by the nobility often using dogs ~ Hawking - Sport followed by the nobility with hawks Other Facts About Entertainment in the Elizabethan Era
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