Tournée
has adopted the 14th century and specifically the 1308 Tournament
at Dunstable as the focus for the arms and equipment used in the demonstrations.
A brief description of the political climate at the time will allow
you to more fully understand why this particular episode of British
history is so appealing.
The reign of Edward
the Second is less than a year old and the body of his most noble
father Edward the First, known as Langshanks, Hammer of the Scots
has yet to decay into dust. The country, so long at conflict with
its neighbours, is turning against itself and is on the verge of civil
war.
Power
within Edward's land lies with the Barons, most notably the Marcher
Lords. This handful of men, who defended the realm's borders from
the incursions of the Welsh amass greater wealth and territory with
each passing year. They are technically the Kings subjects but in
truth they answer only to themselves. Each has many men under arms,
a private army held like a dagger at Edward's throat. Now they raise
grievances with the King.
Edward, although not
a great soldier like his father, believed that he alone should control
the country. When the crown is unable to raise even one tenth of
the resources that the Marcher Lords hold then something needs to
be done. To establish a power base the young King, in recognition
of his coronation, raises five hundred men to the rank of Knight.
These he draws from his favourites, the disaffected and the greedy.
With this nouveau nobility behind him the Marcher Lords start to
feel uneasy about the King and their future control of the country.
Rumors about
Edward's preference for the company of men instead of women have
circulated the court for many years. Marriage, on the other hand,
has very little to do with sexual persuasion and Edward has formed
a political alliance with France, by becoming engaged to the Princess
Isabella.
Edward has
departed on a journey to marry his bride, leaving the country in
the dubious control of the regent and Kings favourite Piers Gaveston.
The affair between these two men is well known and this is the final
insult to the Barons' pride. They arrange to meet at the Dunstable
Tournament to determine how this outrage will be addressed.
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