Tournament of the Saxon electors
16th century
The Electors of Saxony greatly influenced the development of tournaments in the Holy Roman Empire. They had tournaments at their own court and appeard as champions at the courts of other princes. Most of their opponents came from the native court nobility.
John the Steadfast (1467-1532) fought 125 tournaments between 1487 and 1527, with "Rennen and Stechen" in 22 places. In Innsbruck in 1489 he took part in a "German joust" against the Emperor Maximilian, which he lost. In 1502 he met the Saxon Elector Fredrik the Wise (1463-1525) in a "German course" in Torgau.
John Fredrik the Magnaminous (1503-1554) was the Elector who showed the greatest fondness for the joust of war and peace. Between 1521 and 1535 he took part in 99 "Stechen", 38 "Rennen", 8 "Halbierungen" (with one knight equipped for "German course" and the other for "German joust") and in one tilt in the Italian fashion "Welsch gestech".
The Elector Augustus of Saxony (1526-1586) was one of the last princes of the Empire to appreciate the course with sharp lances (das scharfe Rennen). Between 1543 and 1566 he completed a total of 55 such tournaments, including two "Halbierungen".
Very often the tournament took the form of a knock-out competition (eines Gedritts), with the victor in the first contest going on to meet another opponent. The "Rennen" were the climax of courtly festivities during Lent, and also at christenings, weddings and state visits.
In 1566, when the Archduke Ferdinand of the Tyrol visited Dresden as the guest of the Elector Augustus, the two friends tried their strength in a joust of war in which Ferdinand was quickly unseated - "war geschwinde gefallen".
At the coronation festivities of King Fredrik II of Denmark in Copenhagen in 1559, August once again was the illustrious victor in the course with sharp lances which was held afterwards. On many occasions the Saxon Elector lent jousting armour from his well-stocked armoury to other princes. He also placed horses and experienced armourers at their disposal.
New forms of tournament were introduced at the Electoral court of Saxony during the second half of the 16th century, e.g. free jousting on horseback (freie Rossturnier), tilting in the Italian fashion (Welsch Gestech), foot combat and tilting at the ring.
At these events the participants appeared as illustrious knights from past ages and foreign countries, or as gods and heroes of antiquity. The structure of these tournaments, in which different arts were amalgamated, reflected the religious conflicts of the age and the economic policy aims of the Electors.
The Elector Christian I of Saxony (1560-1591) showed ambition and artistic sensibility in emulating his father's example. He had a stables and a stable yard, intended as lists for tilting at the ring, constructed at the palace of Dresden.