When Joust became the most popular tournament event in the exhibitionist culture of Shivalry,

they were forced to find ways of making it safer.

Otherwise too many princes and kings would die trying to prove they were honorable warriors

like the heroes of popular stories.

In the 14th century, to prevent head-on collisions, writers were separated into defined lanes by

a short fence or suspended length of rope called a tilt, likely because it forced lances

to impact at an angle, tilted indirectly at the opposing writer rather than thrust straight

into his body.

From then on, tilting became another term for the Joust.

Special tournament lances were made lighter and more easily shattered by hollowing out

the center of the shaft.

The lead tips were replaced with multi-pronged or blunt ends to dull and spread impact.

Theoretically lowering chances the lance would pierce another knight's armor and kill him.

Some on Shivalry's knights were said to use trick lances, built with a weak safety tip

designed to break off and uncover a sharp reinforced armor piercing shaft.

But even with no subterfuge and all manner of precaution in place, there's no way to

predict how a lance will shatter.

The main cause usually given for the Joust gradual fall from popularity in the second half

of the 16th century is the death of King Auree, the second of France in 1559.

This is definitely the reason knights stopped jousting in France, because King Auree's wife

Catherine de Medici was watching from the stands when pieces of a broken lance flew through

the visor of her husband's helmet and into his brain.

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