The kings and their hawks pp

Presented by

Kathleen Arvidson

The Kings and Their HawksFalconry in Medieval England

By Robin S. Oggins

Garden of Love, at the Court of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy

[11th-16th Century]

 Q: Why was falconry so popular among Medieval Nobility?

I. SportII. Catching Prey

III. Social DistinctionIV. Youth

Medieval Falconry

Stooping FalconsDramatic HuntsControlling a bird of preyFalcon hunts became a “spectacle”,

with picnics and musicians. 

I. SPORT –The Chase

Frederick II – having the most beautiful and well-trained birds was more important than catching prey.

In the townships Hawks were more prevalent than falcons suggesting that among the commoners hawking was a means of supplying food, not for sport.

II. Catching Prey

To the peasants, Falconry meant the Nobles could trample their crops during the hunt, and their birds of prey often hunted the same birds they

needed to feed their families.

Falcons were used in Royal Tributes, as prizes for winning Tournaments, even as gifts to wedding

guests.

Once a man who found and cared for a Royal Falcon was given the reign of Edward I

III. Social Distinction

Lived in castlesHuntedOwned FalconsNot subject to taxesTraining hawks was delegated to others,

falconers and attendants, it was too time consuming for the Noblemen

Not all who flew hawks were knowledgeable in their care.

Nobility

Upper Class or Commoner?knowledge of hunting termsFalcon hunts fancy Social EventsPrized BirdsBirds wore gilded accessories and a coat of

arms, showing the owners heraldry.

Even if the nobles couldn’t monopolize the sport they were going to show their prominence.

 Royal and upper class women engaged in the sport.

15th Century Falconry

 In the 12th century, hawking became an upper class educational topic

Falconry was referred to several times as an “age of man”

A rite of passage, and a sign of youthIf a man gave up falconry, it was

considered a sign of weakness or despair.

IV. YOUTH

Eagle – Emperor GyrFalcon – Kings/Queens

Falcon gentle – Prince Falcon of the Rock – Duke

Peregrine – Earl Bastard – Baron Saker – Knight

Lanner – Esquire Merlin –Lady

Hobby – Young Man Goshawk – Yeoman

Male Goshawk – Poor man Sparrowhawk – Priest

Musket – Holy water clerk Kestrel – Knave/servant

Julianna Berners - 1486

 Petrus Alfonsi lists the “Seven Knightly Skills” as

Riding, Swimming, Archery, Boxing, Chess, Verse writing, and Hawking

Falcons were so expensive that a Knight would spend half a years wages to buy one

If a man stole a falcon he was punished more severely than if he had stolen a slave.

Knights

Falcons were perched in bedrooms carried by riders in the streets even taken into Churches

Moralists criticized falconry - inappropriate secular sport - worldliness

“Bibles Moralissees”  One of the earliest accounts of falconry in the West was written by a

Bishop, although there were laws forbidden the clergy from participating

  Wealthier members of the clergy often kept birds to hunt, or to sell.

A few even performed miracles by curing the birds.  Bishops learned falconry in school, many did not give up their birds

when they entered the church but hired falconers to fly them.  Monks were barred from hawking but were influenced by secular

borders  

Clergy

16th Centurycrossing social

classesHawks were

depicted on everything from tableware to tapestries

Leaving for a Solitary Hunt