Tradition and History

St. Margaret's Church is part of the history and fabric of the Annapolis community. Established in 1692, St. Margarets is older than America. The joust is a venerable part of the St. Margaret's tradition.  St. Margaret's hosted its first joust in 1860.  St. Margaret's has not held the joust every year since 1860, but the 2007 St. Margaret's Joust and Country Craft Faire marks the 10th anniversary of the Modern Era of jousting at St. Margaret's.  Come and enjoy this milestone.

Jousting Rules Written 1066 

Tournament jousting has a rich history dating back to 1066, when Geoffori de Pruelli created the first written guidelines. At that time jousting was an often deadly "sport." de Pruelli himself was killed at the tournament for which he made the rules.

Due to attrition in the ranks of knights, jousting gradually became more of a sport of skill and coordination between man and horse. "Running at the Rings" or "Riding at the Rings" dates to the time of James I in England. 

Jousting has declined in popularity in Europe, but in the U.S. interest has steadily built and has culminated in a recent revival both in interest and in participation in jousting. The history of jousting is still being made, and it is made largely at community events like St. Margaret's Joust.

From Arisocrats to Everyone

Jousting began as a competition between knights, who were members of the nobility.   Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert, introduced jousting in the "colonies," and jousting remained a sport of the gentry in the southern states, primarily Virginia and Maryland, in the 18th and 19th centuries.  

Jousting began as a competition between knights, who were members of the nobility.   Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert, introduced jousting in the "colonies," and jousting remained a sport of the gentry in the southern states, primarily Virginia and Maryland, in the 18th and 19th centuries.  

The aristocratic families of the American South developed a chivalric code of behavior in the 18th century. An important aspect of gentility was proficiency in certain things such as equestrian sports.  The late 18th and early 19th centuries brought the Romantic Movement to society.  Vestiges of chivalric romance remain in jousting in the modern era, and they provide an important link to the past.   Jousting today, however, is a sport enjoyed by women, children, and men from all backgrounds.  

There are no restrictions on the type of horses riders must use, or upon the horses' tack or the riders' attire, and relatively little is needed in terms of other equipment.  These characteristics make jousting more accessible to people of different walks of life than most other equestrian sports