THE HISTORY OF FALCONRY

"Falconry is the hunting of wild quarry in its natural habitat with trained birds of prey. 

No one is sure when or where falconry began. Many say it began some 4,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Some say even earlier in the Far East. Authorities in prehistoric studies suggest that man may have even robbed meals from birds of prey.

From at least the 13th century B.C. using trained birds of prey to catch wild game has been in existence. This is documented mostly by reliefs sculpted during these times and a few scattered writings from the people known as the Hittites.

The Hittites were reputed to be a war like people inhabiting much of what we now know as the Middle East. In many areas of the Middle East and North Africa, falconry is practiced today much as it was in the ancient times.

There is no evidence to suggest that either the ancient Egyptians or ancient Greeks practiced or even had knowledge of falconry. In Egypt there are thousands of relief's and statues dedicated to Horus, the Falcon god. Mummified remains of falcons have been found in tombs.

The Romans and early Etruscans practiced falconry. The Japanese were introduced to Falconry in 244A.D. From about 100 A.D. until about 450 A.D. Rome was fighting the Huns of the Steps of Asia Minor and the peoples in what is now Germany and France, as well as the inhabitants of England and falconry began to spread. It is known that one of the more famous of the Huns, Attila was fascinated with hunting hawks and falcons of all species.

About the 4th to mid 5th Century we find evidence of falconry in Western Europe. In the chronicles of the Normans in about 550 A.D., there are several references to falconry. This area of Europe has a rich and colourful history and much of the romantic myths and legends come from this time. Much is noted both in art and in writings about falconry from this period.

We now see some of the first laws and formal writings about falconry. From this point in history it appears falconry is destined to be the sport of kings. It was the nobility that passed and enforced the laws of the land at that time. The common people were subjected to rule by their feudal lords. In the 8th Century we see the laws of Howel Dha. One passage ranks the Master of the Hawks, or the master falconer as fourth in rank to the king.

In the 11th Century, the Book of Saint Albans, lists the birds of prey and the person who may possess or fly such a bird. According to the Book of Saint Albans, only a King or Emperor was allowed to possess or fly an eagle. In the 13th Century the Japanese invoked a law that prohibited the feeding of snakes or turtles to falcons. Killing a trained hawk often cost the offender his life.

De Art Venandi Cum Avibus (The Art of Hunting with Hawks) written by Frederick II, was and still is considered a masterful book about training and hunting with birds of prey. It was written in 1247 and has since been translated into English and German. Many of the illustrations are considered to be some of the finest medieval art in existence today.

One story is how a young prince by the name Temoudjin and another prince, around 1180, had just lost a battle, and were making their way through the semi-desert, without weapons or food and were dying of hunger. They had almost abandoned hope, when Temoudjin saw a wild hawk. The other Prince said. "God is sending us our food, let us chase the hawk away, seize its quarry and then we can eat"...Temoudjin said "No, we will only be given food if we are able to earn it". The two planned to catch the hawk, train it to catch food for them and share with bird. They did and it worked. They were later able (almost 2 years later) to return to their own country. Now suppose if Temoudjin had died of hunger and not trapped and trained the hawk. History would have never known the man Temoudjin was to become Genghis Khan, who traveled to war with 500 falcons and 10,000 falconers.

As with all things, there is change. For over 18 centuries falconry had been practiced in many areas of the world. It was written about, studied and participated in by lower, middle and upper classes.

With the more common use of gun powder, musket and shot in the early 17th century, falconry began to fall from favor and fade into history. Although the art of falconry has never died out, it became more of a quaint tie to the past.

People who had nothing more in common, than their love for the birds began to band together to form clubs as early as the late 1700's. Even though the original clubs no longer exist, Falconers worldwide still band together in associations and local clubs.

Still, in some parts of the world, the traditions remain. The old, time honored, ways of training and hunting prevail in parts of North Korea and Mongolia. They are as ancient as falconry itself, passed from father to son and from Master on down. The same that has been done for centuries.

Source:
http://www.peregrineinternational.com/wildlife/control/falconry/

http://www.i-a-f.org/history.html