Preperations for Jousting and Rules

When preparing for Jousting tournaments one had to be formally planned and prepared, and the preparations are numerous. First a Cry Tournament must arise, this consisted of an announcement sent via heralds to notify nobles that a jousting tournament was to be held at a specific time and place. Then the rules of pas d'armes was published in advance of the jousting tournament. Announcements of the jousting tournaments were made from the castles, and town criers made the announcements in the towns and from the towns the word spread to the villages. The news of a jousting tournaments was always greeted with great excitements and the banners of the knights were hung from the windows where they lodged or by their supporters.

The Jousting Rules were circulated prior to a jousting tournament or pas d'armes. The jousting rules and terms included the following.
When and where the tournament would be held.
Who was sponsoring the tournament.
The specific styles of combat which were expected to be fought.
The weapons allowed.

The ceremony of observed at Jousting Tournaments consisted of a Vespers Tourney. This is a tournament held on the eve of a larger event where the younger knights and squires had an opportunity to demonstrate their prowess before the experienced knights and assembled gallery. Opening day processions where judges and contestants rode in formal procession. The ceremony used to start a tournament or pas 'darmes was called the Invocation. The second day of the ceremony included the display of the helms of knights who had fought in tournaments. The ladies inspected the helms and denounced acts of un-chivalrous behavior. The third day of the ceremony was when the Chevalier d'honneur was chosen, they performed the rule of an umpire. On the last day of the tournament the ceremony for awarding the tournament prize was conducted. The combatants met in the center of the lists, and embraced each other in the true companionship of chivalry. And then after the awards the tournament ended with a feast, music, and dancing.

The Jousting Knights represented their liege lord, or were entering the tournament in order to win the purse, or prize money. In early tournaments the losing knight would forfeit his armor and his horse, which would be claimed by the victor. Fame and Glory were also good reasons for the jousting knights to enter the tournament.