Pas d'Armes
Encyclopedia
The pas d'armes or passage of arms was a type of chivalric
hastilude
that evolved in the late 14th century and remained popular through the 15th century. It involved a knight or group of knight
s (tenans) who would stake out a traveled spot, such as a bridge or city gate, and let it be known that any other knight who wished to pass (venans or "comers") must first fight, or be disgraced. If a traveling venan did not have weapons or horse to meet the challenge, one might be provided, and if the venan chose not to fight, he would leave his spur
s behind as a sign of humiliation. If a lady passed unescorted, she would leave behind a glove or scarf, to be rescued and returned to her by a future knight who passed that way.
The origins of pas d'armes can be found in a number of factors. During the 14th and 15th centuries the chivalric idea of a noble "knight" clashed with new more deadly forms of warfare, as seen during the Hundred Years' War
, when peasants armed with longbow
s could cut down knights anonymously from a distance, breaking traditional rules of chivalry; and cavalry
charges could be broken by pikemen formations introduced by the Swiss
.
At the same time, the noble classes began to differentiate themselves, in many ways, including through reading courtly literature such as the very popular chivalric romances of the 12th century. For the noble classes the line between reality and fiction blurred, the deeds they read about were real, while their deeds in reality were often deadly, if not comical, re-enactments of those they read about. This romanticised "Chivalric Revival" manifested itself in a number of ways, including the pas d'armes, round table
and emprise (or empresa, enterprise, chivalrous adventure), and in increasingly elaborated rules of courtesy
and heraldry
.
There are many thousands of accounts of pas d'armes during this period. One notable and special account is that of Suero de Quiñones
who in 1433 established the Passo Honroso ("Pass[age] of Honour") at the Órbigo
bridge in Castile
. This road was used by pilgrims all over Europe on the way to shrine at Santiago de Compostela
and it was June when thousands would pass. Suero and ten knights promised to fight 300 times ("break 300 lances") before leaving the pas d'armes.
He and his men fought for over a month, an account of which is left to us in great detail by town notary Don Luis Alonso Luengo, who kept a detailed first-hand chronicle (latter published as Libro del Passo honroso). After 166 battles Suero and his men were so injured they could not continue and declared the mission complete. Suero de Quiñones became legendary in Spanish history and was mentioned in Don Quixote, the 1605 satire
on the sort of romantic chivalry out of touch with reality.
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
hastilude
Hastilude
Hastilude is a generic term used in the Middle Ages to refer to many kinds of martial games. The word comes from the Latin hastiludium, literally "lance game"'...
that evolved in the late 14th century and remained popular through the 15th century. It involved a knight or group of knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
s (tenans) who would stake out a traveled spot, such as a bridge or city gate, and let it be known that any other knight who wished to pass (venans or "comers") must first fight, or be disgraced. If a traveling venan did not have weapons or horse to meet the challenge, one might be provided, and if the venan chose not to fight, he would leave his spur
Spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
s behind as a sign of humiliation. If a lady passed unescorted, she would leave behind a glove or scarf, to be rescued and returned to her by a future knight who passed that way.
The origins of pas d'armes can be found in a number of factors. During the 14th and 15th centuries the chivalric idea of a noble "knight" clashed with new more deadly forms of warfare, as seen during the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
, when peasants armed with longbow
Longbow
A longbow is a type of bow that is tall ; this will allow its user a fairly long draw, at least to the jaw....
s could cut down knights anonymously from a distance, breaking traditional rules of chivalry; and cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
charges could be broken by pikemen formations introduced by the Swiss
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
.
At the same time, the noble classes began to differentiate themselves, in many ways, including through reading courtly literature such as the very popular chivalric romances of the 12th century. For the noble classes the line between reality and fiction blurred, the deeds they read about were real, while their deeds in reality were often deadly, if not comical, re-enactments of those they read about. This romanticised "Chivalric Revival" manifested itself in a number of ways, including the pas d'armes, round table
Round Table (disambiguation)
The Round Table is the legendary gathering place of King Arthur's knights in the Arthurian legend.Round Table, round table, or roundtable can also refer to:* Round table , a type of table with no sides....
and emprise (or empresa, enterprise, chivalrous adventure), and in increasingly elaborated rules of courtesy
Courtesy
Courtesy comes from old french 'courteis' is gentle politeness and courtly manners. In the Middle Ages in Europe, the behaviour expected of the gentry was compiled in courtesy books...
and heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
.
There are many thousands of accounts of pas d'armes during this period. One notable and special account is that of Suero de Quiñones
Suero de Quiñones
Suero de Quiñones , called el del Passo, was a Leonese knight and author. He gained fame by staging a pas d'armes, the Passo Honroso, at the river Órbigo and describing it in his Libro del Passo honroso....
who in 1433 established the Passo Honroso ("Pass[age] of Honour") at the Órbigo
Órbigo
The Órbigo River is a river in the provinces of León and Zamora, Spain. It begins at the convergence of the Luna River and the Omaña River in the town of Santiago del Molinillo. It flows from north to south through the province of León and ultimately flows into the Esla River below Benavente.How...
bridge in Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
. This road was used by pilgrims all over Europe on the way to shrine at Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
and it was June when thousands would pass. Suero and ten knights promised to fight 300 times ("break 300 lances") before leaving the pas d'armes.
He and his men fought for over a month, an account of which is left to us in great detail by town notary Don Luis Alonso Luengo, who kept a detailed first-hand chronicle (latter published as Libro del Passo honroso). After 166 battles Suero and his men were so injured they could not continue and declared the mission complete. Suero de Quiñones became legendary in Spanish history and was mentioned in Don Quixote, the 1605 satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
on the sort of romantic chivalry out of touch with reality.
List of pas d'armes
- Passo de la Fuerte Ventura (1428)
- Pas de l'Arbre Charlemagne (1443)
- Pas de l'Arbre d'Or (1468)
- Pas de la Belle Pélerine (1449)
- Pas de la BergèrePas de la BergèreThe Pas de la Bergère was a pas d'armes organized in 1449 by René of Anjou in Tarascon, in southern France.The event started on May 1, 1449 and lasted for three days. Noblemen dressed as shepherds had to defend in turns a noblewoman dressed as a shepherdess. The winner received a kiss and flowers...
(1449) - Pas du Chevalier au Cygne (1454)
- Pas de la Dame InconnuePas de la Dame InconnueThe Pas de la Dame Inconnue was a pas d'armes held in 1463 in the presence of Charles the Rash, Duke of Burgundy, and his court....
(1463) - Pas de la Dame SauvagePas de la Dame SauvageThe Pas de la Dame Sauvage was a pas d'armes held at Ghent in 1470 by the Burgundian knight Claude de Vauldray in the presence of Duke Charles the Rash and his court. The "wild lady" of the hastilude was allegorical...
(1470) - Pas de la Fontaine des Pleurs (1449-1450)
- Passo de la Fuerte Ventura (1428)
- Passo Honroso (1434)
- Pas de la Joyeuse Garde (1446)
- Pas de la Pastourelle (around 1445)
- Pas du Perron Feé (1463)
- Pas du Pin aux Pommes d'Or (1455)
- Pas de la Rocher Périlleux (1445)
- Pas de l'Arbre d'Or
External links
- Brian R. PriceBrian R. PriceBrian R. Price is an American author, editor, publisher, martial arts instructor of the Italian school of swordsmanship, reconstructive armorer, and member of the Society for Creative Anachronism...
(1996), What is Pas d'Armes? - Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts (AEMMA), Toronto, Canada.