Abstracts Category : Other

The Tournament and its Role in the Court Culture of Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519)

by Natalie Margaret Anderson

This thesis is an extensive and interdisciplinary study of the tournaments of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519). It draws upon material, literary, narrative, and visual sources to create a holistic view of what the late medieval German tournament looked like in the court of Maximilian. Its scope includes the types of tournaments held, historical context and influences, the network of participants, the environment, the practicalities, and the symbolism. It also invesitagates Maximilians influence on the tournament at this time, and its role in shaping his legacy.At its heart, by examining various narrative sources, this thesis presents a chronological study of the primary tournaments in which Maximilian was involved during his lifetime. Using this study, the thesis explores the various styles of joust practiced at the tournament under Maximilian, and the arms and armour, as well as decorative elements, employed in each. Finally, it explores the role of the tournament specifically as it pertained to Maximilians courtly culture.This thesis makes use of an unprecedented range of sources in presenting its findings. By drawing upon extant Maximilian-related tournament arms and armour, as well as visual depictions of his tournaments, alongside both fictional and real-life accounts of these events, new information may be gathered which brings to light previously unexplored findings and draws connections which have not before been made.This research demonstrates the central role which tournaments played during Maximilians reign. It attempts to categorise and catalogue the numerous styles of joust which the emperor promoted by analysing their distinct features. Further, it reveals his influence upon them and, in turn, theirs upon him, through the crafting of his memory in the form of public spectacle and various literary and artistic works.