|
Background to Monselice
Springing down the southern slopes of the Euganean Hills,
the natural citadel of Monselice was first fortified
by the Romans and later in 1239 by Ezzelino da Romano,
the cruel tyrant of Veneto.
For two weeks of the year the inhabitants from nine different
parts of this small fortified town come together to take part
in a festival called Giostra della Rocca, which marks
the arrival of Emperor Federic II to Monselice in 1239.
It's a two week long series of challenges and games and the
highlight of the event is a game of human chess.
History of Giostra della
Rocca
Travel back in time to Marostica, part of the Venetian
Republic. The year is 1454. Two noblemen, Rinaldo d'Angarano
and Vieri da Vallonara, are in love with Lionora,
the beautiful daughter of Taddeo Parisio, Lord of the
Manor and Rector of Marostica. As is the custom, the two men
determine to fight a duel in secret for the right to seek
the fair Lionora's hand, but their plans for a bloody resolution
to the eternal triangle are foiled.
The Lord of the Manor, who has spies everywhere and
knows everything that goes on within his fiefdom, gets wind
of the planned duel and forbids it on pain of death. He proposes,
instead, that the matter be determined by a chess match, the
winner of which will wed Lionora, the loser to wed, Oldrada,
Lionora's younger sister. Both men are excellent players and
they eagerly accept Parisio's proposal.
The great day set for the match arrives: September 12th. Lionora
is beside herself, for she is secretly in love with one of
the suitors. Will her man win? What if she is confronted with
seeing her sister married instead to the man she loves? In
the evening there will be fireworks and dancing and feasting
to celebrate the betrothals of his two daughters. The match
will take place in the castle courtyard on a specially prepared
board.
It is dusk: the flares and torches are lit, the courtyard
is aglow with firelight. The pieces are people, costumed in
black and white. They march into the courtyard, led by their
kings and queens, and take their places on the board. Surrounded
by nobles and common folk who have packed into the courtyard
from all the neighboring countryside, the two suitors direct
their human chess pieces to move on the board. Lionora cannot
bear to watch but she cannot bear not to, so she peeks from
a window overlooking the courtyard. She had told a faithful
servant that if her secret lover wins the match, she will
put a candle in the window as a signal to the people so that
they can share in her joy.
At last the game is over. Vieri da Vallonara is the
winner. The Lord of the Manor presents Lionora to him. Together
with Oldrada and Rinaldo d'Angarano, they promenade around
the courtyard to the cheers and applause of the audience,
then all, lord and commoner alike, spend the rest of the evening
in festive merrymaking. A candle burns in the window where
Lionora had watched the game.
What happens at the Giostra
della Rocca festival?
Today, the contest is re-created with great authenticity.
Nine teams play 'live' chess competitively, using people in
costumes to represent the chess pieces. On the Wednesday before
the weekend event the two top teams play secretly in the town,
watched by judges. On the Saturday evening, the winning teams
re-enact the moves watched by thousands of onlookers in the
town square.
The Giostra della Rocca festival takes place from
the 3rd to the 19th September, and the finale of the event
is a procession in Medieval dress of a 1,000 people throughout
the town, and teams of nine contrada, who process with their
own banner flag and reproductions of medieval war machines,
to take place in the Games of the Rocca. In the afternoon,
18 horsemen, two for each contrada, engage in jousting tests
to lance rings held on the arm of the quintain. It's a nail-biting
two hour contest of great skill drawing large crowds. Other
highlights of the festival include relay races, a millstone
race, archery, and a Medieval market.
|
