Courtly Target Shooting

Shooting competitions became a a popular pastime at the courts of the early modern period, gradually replacing tournaments as the courtly "sport". Initially, crossbows were used to shoot at targets or wooden birds, then increasingly rifles (“Scheibenbüchsen“).

Fixed regulations included the various prize categories. Prize shootings were organised at the Dresden court in the 18th century for example on the day of the Order of the White Eagle (3rd August). Night-time shooting was a speciality: if the target was hit, a firework rocket was set off.