Editing Archery (section)

===English 18th century revival as a sport===
[[File:The meeting of the Royal British Bowmen in the grounds of Erthig, Denbighshire.jpeg|thumb|A print of the 1822 meeting of the "Royal British Bowmen" archery club.]] 
Early recreational archery societies in England included the Finsbury Archers and the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers. The latter's annual [[Popinjay (sport)|Papingo]] event was first recorded in 1483. (In this event, archers shoot vertically from the base of an abbey tower to dislodge a wood pigeon placed approximately {{convert|30|m|abbr=on}} above.)<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us - Club History|url=http://www.kilwinningarchers.com/about_us.php|website=Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers|access-date=24 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030330/http://www.kilwinningarchers.com/about_us.php|archive-date=2 February 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Royal Company of Archers was formed in 1676 and is one of the oldest sporting bodies in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Norton|first1=William|title=Royal Company of Archers|url=http://yeomenoftheguard.com/company_of_archers.htm|website=Yeomen of the Queen's Body Guard|access-date=24 January 2017|archive-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331001405/http://yeomenoftheguard.com/company_of_archers.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Archery remained a small and scattered pastime, however, until the late 18th century when it experienced a fashionable revival among the [[aristocracy]]. Sir [[Ashton Lever]], an antiquarian and collector, formed the Toxophilite Society in London in 1781, with the patronage of [[George IV|George, the Prince of Wales]].
[[File:Archers by Adam Buck.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Fashionable female archers, 1799]]
Archery societies were set up across the country, each with its own strict entry criteria and outlandish costumes. Recreational archery soon became extravagant social and ceremonial events for the nobility, complete with flags, music and [[21-gun salute]]s for the competitors. The clubs were "the drawing rooms of the great country houses placed outside" and thus came to play an important role in the social networks of the local upper class. As well as its emphasis on display and status, the sport was notable for its popularity with females. Young women could not only compete in the contests but retain and show off their sexuality while doing so. Thus, archery came to act as a forum for introductions, flirtation and romance.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Johnes |first=Martin |url=https://swansea.academia.edu/MartinJohnes/Papers/127610/Archery--Romance-and-Elite-Culture-in-England-and-Wales--c--1780-1840 |title= Archery, Romance and Elite Culture in England and Wales, c. 1780–1840 |journal=History |year=2004 |volume=89 |issue=294 |pages=193–208 |publisher=Swansea.academia.edu |doi=10.1111/j.1468-229X.2004.00297.x |access-date=2013-03-26}}</ref> It was often consciously styled in the manner of a [[Medieval]] [[tournament]] with titles and [[laurel wreath]]s being presented as a reward to the victor. General meetings were held from 1789, in which local lodges convened together to standardise the rules and ceremonies. Archery was also co-opted as a distinctively British tradition, dating back to the lore of [[Robin Hood]] and it served as a patriotic form of entertainment at a time of political tension in Europe. The societies were also elitist, and the new [[middle class]] [[bourgeoisie]] were excluded from the clubs due to their lack of social status.

After the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the sport became increasingly popular among all classes, and it was framed as a nostalgic reimagining of the [[Industrialisation|preindustrial]] rural Britain. Particularly influential was Sir [[Walter Scott]]'s 1819 novel, ''[[Ivanhoe]]'' that depicted the heroic character Lockseley winning an archery tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/archers.html |title=The Royal Company of Archers |access-date=17 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125050714/http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/archers.html |archive-date=25 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Lieksa.vaakuna.svg|thumb|upright=0.6|An archery in the coat of arms of [[Lieksa]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Suomen kunnallisvaakunat |publisher=Suomen Kunnallisliitto |year=1982 |page=123 |isbn=9517730853 |language=fi}}</ref> based on the 1669 seal of the old town of Brahea.<ref>[https://runeberg.org/tieto/1/0660.html Branea–Brahma - Projekt Runeberg] {{in lang|fi}}</ref>]]