The History of the Knights’ Joust of Sarteano: From Tradition to Renewal
The Knights’ Joust of Sarteano is one of the town’s most deeply rooted traditions, with origins dating back centuries. Initially, the knights competed on behalf of lay companies and churches (non-parochial), giving rise to fascinating challenges and competitions. However, from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, the joust evolved, and the knights began to compete individually, adopting evocative names such as Knight of the Mountain, Knight of the Feather, Knight of the Ram, Knight of the Sun, Knight of the Moon, and others.
Over time, the date of the joust became increasingly fixed around August 15, the feast of the Assumption. This date became symbolic and inseparably linked to the tradition of the Joust. However, everything changed in 1933 when it was decided to establish the five current districts, corresponding to the parishes into which the municipal territory was divided. It was at this point that the traditional costumes of the local folklore were adopted, and the colors that remain unchanged to this day were assigned.
With the introduction of the districts, the knights began to compete in the name of their respective districts, while the Saracino, the central symbol of the competition, displayed a scorecard in place of the ring on its shield. Despite these changes, the procession with the statue of St. Roch was maintained, but the date of the event was moved to the first Sunday after August 15, or the first Sunday of September.
The wartime period brought a suspension of the joust, but in 1947 the tradition was revived. During this period, the districts were renamed with the names of the neighborhoods rather than the parishes, and heraldic badges were introduced to represent each district. However, the most significant renewal came in 1982, after a twenty-year suspension from 1962: it was then that the tradition was revived, returning the district names to those of the parishes, with an additional specification relating to the neighborhoods.
Today, the Knights’ Joust of Sarteano continues to be a symbol of pride for the community, representing not only the history of an ancient tradition but also the evolution of an event that has managed to preserve and renew itself over the centuries. The competition, local traditions, colors, and costumes of the districts have become a point of reference for the people of Sarteano and an attraction for visitors who enthusiastically attend this historical celebration every year.
