The best medieval riders

There used to be knights tournaments in Norway in the Middele Ages, as in other European countries. The last known tournament was held outside the Archbishop’s Palace in Trondheim in 1450. The last years there have been tournaments again during the Olafsfest, and also this year, when I took these photos. I find these chivalrous competitions quite interesting and the participants in the mock fights are very good riders. Among them the group Ordo Ignis who gather knowledge about clothing, weapons, equipment, combat and jousting as it was in Norway about 1200-1500.

Most of the knights are Norwegians, but there are some guests from other countries. The rider on the picture below is Jarosław Struczyński, a veteran from Poland. Jarek led the reconstruction of Gniew Castle from 1992 and since then it has become one of Poland’s leading center for historical re-enactment and culture of ancient traditions. The picture is from this year’s tournament in Trondheim, with the Nidarosdomen cathedral in the background.

In the picture above is the knight Per Estein Prøis-Røhjell, and in the one below, knight Ivar Mauritz-Hansen. Both from Norway. There are more photos in my gallery from the tournament.