The town as a stage? Urban space and tournaments in late medieval Brussels
Mario Damen
ABSTRACT: This article discusses the material and spatial features of tournaments on Grote Markt, central market square in Brussels, fifteenth first half sixteenth century. It investigates how tournament acquired meaning urban space where it was organized, chivalric event its turn altered that space. These Brussels tournaments, for which both archival, iconographical narrative sources are available, show us dynamics an inherently courtly festival within setting. Recent historiography has stressed these just like other festivals, example joyous entries, demonstrate submission town to ruler. Indeed, prince his household used public Markt facilities hall organize festivities. However, they could not do this their own. They needed government organization logistics hospitality. Moreover, managed put own stamp architecture, permanent ephemeral, emphasizing responsibilities duke had towards town, as well long tradition subservience loyalty duke.
Urban History|Wiardi Beckman Foundation (Wiardi Beckman Foundation)