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Becoming a Knight

Acheiving the Order of Knighthood

Apr 28, 2009 Andrew Meeres

The knight was one of the most romanticized figures to emerge from the middle ages. For 600-800 years the knight dominated European military history.

In almost every European language the word for knight means warrior on horseback. Even today images of knighthood and chivalry live on in art and literature.

The Beginning of Knighthood

The institution of knighthood first emerged at the beginning of the ninth century when a piece of land, or fief, was given to a man. This man was called a vassal and swore an oath to his overlord to perform certain agreed upon tasks. In the ninth century, the most important of these duties was fighting on horseback.

By the beginning of the tenth century the picture of the traditional knight had begun to emerge. The knight became a member of a noble and elite group. Initiation into knighthood gave a place in societal class and brotherhood for its members. It also meant assuming responsibilities and privileges that those outside the orders were denied.

A Knight's Duties

A knight's behavior was governed by the code of chivalry, which stated that his responsibilities were:

to defend the Catholic Church
to be a governor
to support and defend both his liege lord and God

Steps to Achieving Knighthood

Because combat equipment was so costly (in the ninth century a horse could cost up to six times more than a cow), those who were knighted were usually nobles. Until he was seven, a boy was attended to by women who taught him manners and a few basic letters.

From the age of eight to fourteen he was sent to work as a page to a neighboring lord to perform personal services. In return the page was taught to ride, fight, play games, read, and write, and was schooled in romantic arts such as singing.

At 14 or 15 the page became a squire, a word from Latin scutiger, meaning shield bearer.

In this time, training for battle intensified. He was schooled in the use of the lance, sword, and other deadly weapons. He was also expected to know the rules of heraldry and jousting.

It was also the squire's job to lead his lord's war-horse into battle and hold it when fighting took place on foot. When a squire had proven his bravery in battle, he would be considered for knighthood and, if deemed worthy, would participate in a knighting ceremony.

Sources:

R. Rudorff, Knights and the Age of Chivalry. [New York: The Viking Press, 1974]

R.W. Southern, The Making of the Middle Ages. [London: New Haven and London University Press, 1975]

Reader's Digest, How Was It Done? The story of human ingenuity through the middle ages. [Montreal: The Reader's Digest Association Limited, 1995]

The copyright of the article Becoming a Knight in Medieval History is owned by Andrew Meeres. Permission to republish Becoming a Knight in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.