Pas d'armes

At the same time, the noble classes began to differentiate themselves, in many ways, including through reading courtly literature such as the very popular chivalric romances of the 12th century.

This romanticised "Chivalric Revival" manifested itself in a number of ways, including the pas d'armes, round table and emprise (or empresa, enterprise, chivalrous adventure), and in increasingly elaborate rules of courtesy and heraldry.

Suero and ten knights promised to "break 300 lances" before relinquishing the pas d'armes, jousting for over a month, as chronicled in great detail by town notary Don Luis Alonso Luengo, later published as Libro del Passo honroso.

[1] After 166 battles, de Quiñones and his men were so injured they could not continue and declared the mission complete.

Suero de Quiñones became legendary, and was mentioned in Don Quixote, the 1605 satire on the notion of romantic chivalry out of touch with reality.

In 1434 on this spot—the bridge over the river Órbigo—Suero de Quiñones and ten of his knights challenged all comers to a pas d'armes , promising to "break 300 lances" before moving on.