King René's Tournament Book

The Emprise of the Black Lion is inspired by the medieval French treatise how to hold a tournament written by René of Anjou, Traictié de la forme et devis d'ung tournoy (c. 1460).

The most accessible way to read this treatise is the wonderful modern translation by Elizabeth Bennett located at http://www.princeton.edu/~ezb/rene/renehome.html

Much in the same way that King René adapted his ideal tournament from "the ancient custom" of France and beyond, the organizers of the Emprise of the Black Lion attempt to adapt as many of the suggestions of King René as possible into a modern SCA equestrian tournament.

For more on how we attempt to do this, see the Vision page.