[Ravensfort] The Church on Tournaments

[Sher M]

Perhaps it was because they weren't getting a 'cut' of the action...

Lady Runa of the Thundering Herd
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jamesnorthfolke at gmail.com 
  To: Ravens Fort 
  Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 7:04 PM
  Subject: [Ravensfort] The Church on Tournaments


  Browsing through The Study of Chivalry: Resources and Approaches (Howell Chickering, Thomas H. Seiler, eds.) I came upon some text from various Church counsels regarding tournaments; notice the repetitious language:

  Council of Clermont (1130), canon 9

  We completely forbid those detestable fairs or festivals where knights customarily gather by agreement and heedlessly fight among themselves to make show of their strength and bravery, whence often result men's deaths and souls' peril. Should any one of them die on such an occasion, he should not be denied penance and the last rites if he asks for them, yet let him not enjoy Church burial.

  again....

  Council of Reims (1148), canon 12

  We wholly forbid occasion for the heedless audacity of those knights who customarily gather by agreement for detestable fairs or festivals to make show of their strength, whence have often resulted the deaths of bodies and souls. Should anyone be killed or die on such occasion, penitence and the last rites should not be denied him; yet let him not enjoy Church burial.

  maybe if we write it this way....

  Lateran Council (1179), canon 20

  Let there be no tournaments. In adherence to the precedent established by our predecessors, Pope Innocent of blessed memory and Eugene, we prohibit occasion for those detestable fairs or festivals, which are commonly called tournaments, where knights customarily go by agreement and heedlessly fight among themselves to make show of their strength and bravery, whence often result men's death and souls' peril. Should any one of them die on such an occasion, he should not be denied indulgence if he asks for it; yet let him not enjoy Church burial.

  now this is interfering with corporate initiatives....

  Lateran Council (1215)

  ...We are aware that tournaments have been widely forbidden by various councils on pain of certain penalties, but now, because they greatly impede the business of crusade, we prohibit them absolutely, on pain of excommunication, for three years....

  James


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