Knights in Medieval Europe Essay

bucks were the about advanced trash unit of the Middle Ages. Developed mainly by Charles Martel, they were horsemen, armoured and delivering swords. By definition, a Knight was a mounted warrior in the service of his liege-lord (Snell, Defining the Knight, Knight Life, Internet). He they would generally receive a fief in exchange for their services. But Knights alike became authorized as a symbol of honor, splendour (in the moral sense of the word), and loyalty towards the sovereign.Who could become a Knight? They were oftentimes sons of nobles, but could also be mercenaries. The traditional Knights, those who fought for their Lord and for pride and King and Country etc. often despised the mercenary nicknames (MacDonald, 7), who would advantageously switch allegiances to whoever would pay the most.These noble sons would be sent to an otherwise Knights court for a long period of time, usually when they were 6 or 7 years old. Before that, they would rescue been playing war games with other boys, which was important to induce a fighting spirit (MacDonald, 11). They would then become a page there until they reached puberty. A pages duties included all of the most menial tasksrunning messages rough the castle, helping the servants wash the dishes and clean clothes, and other such things. Once the boy reached puberty, he would become a squire.As a squire, his duties would include maintaining his master Knights armor, and accompanying him on horseback (one of the branch skills the young squire would translate) everywhere he went. He would carry the baggage, and maintain the armor and weapons when on campaign, or at tournaments. During this time he would also be taught the arts of swordsmanship, archery, horseback riding, and other knightly skills (Encarta, Chevalerie). He would also learn how to put on and wear armor, and to be comfortable with it. Most knights even had to learn to do handstands in their armor, because they needed to learn to be agile (MacDonald, 10).They would also practice jousting and using projects at the quintain, which was a tall pole with a pivot on top. The pivot had another piece of timberland on it, on one typeface of which was a dummy wooden shield, and on the other side a heavy counterweight. The charging knight (or squire) would have to gain ground the dummy shield hard enough with his lance that the counterweight went all the way around, yet fast enough that it couldnt come around and hit them in the head. This and all sorts of other training would continue until the squire was 21 years old.For the squire to ammonium alum to the status of Knight, he must be accepted by another knight (usually the one to whom he has been first page then squire). This ceremony, contrary to common belief, is nothing more than either a hard punch to the squires face from the Knight, or a good smack with the flat of the Knights sword. The squire has then become a Knight as headspring, and may Knight other squires or become vassal to a liege-lord, or accept vassalage from another lord. He also gained the title of Sir before his name, and could generally be called Sir Knight by those who didnt know his name. Knights didnt ever so become nobles or hold land, but they generally did because it enabled them to pay for the expensive costs of obtaining and maintaining armor, horses, weapons, and servants as well as the training of squires and pages.With the status of Knight came the morals and responsibilities that went with it. Knights were hypothetical to be honorable, chivalrous, and courageous. There were also supposed to be gentlemen, well-behaved, educated and intelligent. However this was more of an ideal than fact, and most knights did not live up to these gritty standards. However, many did try to have good ethics and keep good morals, and took as their example of the most chivalrous knight Sir Lancelot, from the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.The weapons that a Knight would use differed, but they generally consisted of a sword and a lance. The sword was for close range fighting, either for hacking at other Knights and foot-soldiers from horseback, or, if the knight was knocked glum of his horse, to swordfight. Indeed, good swordsmanship wasgenerally what would save a knights life (Salariya, 16), and was almost as important as good horsemanship. And a knights horse was indeed a weapon.The horses were bred especially to carry heavy loads and run not necessarily extremely quickly, nor be extremely agile, but to be powerful and to put a lot of force behind the knight. The horses were also intelligent, and were trained to kick at enemy foot-soldiers, and to consciously trample them. They were very effective weapons, and good horses were prized as much as the knights themselves (Encarta, Chevalerie). fit out was the next most costly piece of equipment after a horse, and was also very necessary to a knight. Armor varied widely in style and type, but around 1400 it was generally all carapace armor. This was because plate armor defended better against not only swords, but the heavy blows of lances and maces. Chain mail armor (which had been common in the 1300s) could not be cut through, but was not rigid enough to preserve the breakage of bones, and arrows could also pierce through it. Armor was generally custom-made, and was very expensive. A full instance of plate armor could weigh over 30 kg, yet a knight (as stated before), would have to learn to be fully mobile in it.Aside from warfare, tournaments and jousting were an essential part of a knights life. They were the way to fame and fortune, as well as finding a liege-lord from whom to obtain land. Those who were successful were often picked out by wealthy knights to become their vassals. The jousting tournaments were also a way to the ladies, who often came and watched.Knights were a probatory part of the feudal system, and constituted the main body of most armies. They were also an important moral looking of the middle ages. Knights are a part of our past that has been glorified, and they will always be remembered as undischarged figures on great warhorses in shining armor.Works CitedThe Salariya Book Company LTD. So you want to be a Medieval Knight? Hove,England MacDonald Young Books, 1999Chevalerie. Microsoft Encarta De Luxe CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation, 1998Snell, Melissa. Knights Life Issues 1-7, Knights Life. 2002. http//historymedren.about.com/library/blknighttoc.htm, February 3, 2002