Knights as a Part of Medieval Chivalry Era

During my childhood, I had very little access to the internet, so I mostly spent my time away from the farm watching TV and reading books. This led me to develop an interest in knights, although I had never been able to conduct thorough research on them until this assignment. Knights existed between the 15th and 17th centuries as high-ranked soldiers, much like Roman officers. A notable trait among knights was their loyalty to their castle, representing them during tournaments and battles. However, in the current era, knights symbolize chivalry and receive titles from the king or queen but serve little to no purpose in battle. In this assessment, I will discuss the roles knights played in society and battle, how people obtained the title of a knight, how they fought in battle, the types of weapons they used, and I will illustrate their roles and what made them so respected yet so deadly.

Knights in the Age of Medieval Chivalry

Knights, during medieval times, were considered low-class nobles among the community and were commonly seen as protectors of the people, representing honor and chivalry. Knights were formed to serve as a tool for the king to fight in wars and as propaganda to encourage people to engage in ongoing battles. A popular activity among knights was participating in knight tournaments. Tournaments were a sort of festival where knights competed in melees and jousting. As described by Roger of Hoveden, a medieval chronicler, tournaments were 'military exercises carried out, not in the spirit of hostility but solely for practice and the display of prowess' (Hoveden, 1870, p. 23). These events were a common way to gain popularity and potentially be scouted by a king to aid in battle. Another activity knights engaged in was raids. The goal of a raid was to destroy any and all enemy resources, such as food and weapons, and also to burn crops and kill peasants. When the enemy defended itself, knights would take all the loot they could grab and flee on horseback. Despite this, raids were not seen as contradictory to chivalry; rather, they were another way to combat the enemy. As demonstrated, knights served as a means of sparking interest in fighting wars and were crucial elements in war tactics.

Becoming a Knight

Today, the title of a knight signifies having served a prominent role in society to capture the queen's attention and be knighted. However, in the past, obtaining the prestigious title of a knight was much more complicated. In medieval times, there were two ways to become a knight. The first and easiest was to fight bravely and be acknowledged by a king, lord, or even another knight. The second way was to be born into a noble family. If the parents wanted their child to become a knight, they would send them to a local knight’s household to learn basic formalities such as cleaning, cooking, and the code of chivalry. They would also practice combat with wooden swords and shields. Once the page turned fifteen, he would become a squire, learning more advanced skills such as cleaning the knight's armor, weapons, and horses, practicing with actual weapons, and accompanying his master to battle. He would master these skills over six years, demonstrating prowess and skill in battle until he turned twenty-one and finally became a knight. The final process involved spending the last night in prayer, and the next morning he would attend his dubbing ceremony, where he would be tapped on each shoulder by the king, lord, or knight. In conclusion, becoming a knight was no easy feat, which explains why knights were so proficient and deadly.

Knights in Battle

During their time, knights were a rank of nobility, and many were very wealthy. Despite this, they were always expected to fight in battles with great skill. A commonly known trait among knights was their heavy, chunky armor. Yet, they were formidable in combat. But how did they fight in such armor, and what weapons did they use? During a squire's training, they quickly learned how to fight in heavy armor, mastering the use of multiple weapons. However, what made them so special was their skill in horse riding and using lances. Their roles in battle were primarily as cavalry, meaning they fought on horseback, commonly using lances to stab slower and weaker enemies while staying out of reach from most weapons. If a knight was knocked off his horse or had to dismount, he could still fight. As mentioned earlier, knights were proficient in swordsmanship and could hold their own in battle. However, the weight of the weapons, combined with the heavy armor, could become very exhausting. Nonetheless, the armor provided great defense against most weapons.

The Code of Chivalry

While knights were deadly fighters, they were always bound to a code of chivalry. Today, chivalry is often interpreted as a man having good manners and being polite. However, in medieval times, it was much more complex. Chivalry was known by all, but the code itself changed many times. The first and most well-known version appeared in the poem “The Song of Roland,” which described 8th-century knights, the battles they fought, and most importantly, explained the code of chivalry (Burgess, 1990). The code was extensive, comprising seventeen rules, with at least five focusing on battle, such as never turning your back on a foe and fighting for the welfare of all. The most common entries today are to protect the weak and defenseless and to respect the honor of women, both of which play significant roles in contemporary society.

Conclusion

In this essay, I intended to show what made knights so deadly and how they were respected and popular. A major part of this likely stemmed from their upbringing, as they were taught the code of chivalry and how to be polite from an early age. Once they reached their teen years, the mastery of a vast array of weapons and horse riding was drilled into their heads. The two other factors that made them so well-known in society were their knight tournaments, where people from across the land came to watch the knights showcase their skill and honor in combat, and their deadly fighting capabilities in battle.

References

Burgess, G. S. (1990). The Song of Roland. Penguin Classics.

Hoveden, R. of. (1870). Chronica. H. T. Riley (Ed.).