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THE MAKING OF A KNIGHT

There were two ways of becoming a knight

As a result of some act of valor on the field of battle

or

Training for knighthood

Training for knighthood

Step One: Become a PAGEPAGEPAGEPAGE at age five or six

Serve in another household of rank to learn the ways of court

was a personal servant to a person of rank

Training for knighthood

Step Two: Become a SQUIRE at age eight to ten

Serve as a personal attendant to a knight

Duties included:shoveling out stablescare for horsesmaintain/repair harness and tackmaintain knight’s armor and weaponslearn the martial arts of knighthood

Training for knighthood

Step Three: Become a knight around age 17-25

Sons of knights usually became knights

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Ceremony for knighthood

All night religious vigil on the steps of the altar in sack cloth

Ceremonial bath

Dressed in white shirt

Attend Dubbing Ceremony

Puts on armor and golden spursGiven ceremonial sword

Receives the COLEE or BUFFET, usually executed by the father, was a symbolic openhanded whack on the shoulders that normally knocked its recipient off his feet

CHIVALRYCHIVALRYCHIVALRYCHIVALRY comes from the French word “chevalier” (sha VA yeh) meaning “horseman” or “knight”

code of conduct for knights

combined military virtues with those of Christianity

military prowess

valor

CHIVALRYCHIVALRYCHIVALRYCHIVALRY comes from the French word “chevalier” (sha VA yeh) meaning “horseman” or “knight”

loyalty to God and feudal lord

courtesy toward enemies

generosity towards the oppressed, widows, and other disadvantaged people

CHIVALRYCHIVALRYCHIVALRYCHIVALRY comes from the French word “chevalier” (sha VA yeh) meaning “horseman” or “knight”

COURTLY LOVE COURTLY LOVE COURTLY LOVE COURTLY LOVE – romantic devotion for a sexually unattainable woman, usually another man’s wife

the ideal was found in the legends of KING ARTHURKING ARTHURKING ARTHURKING ARTHUR

Broadsword

Maces

Battle Axe

Morning Star

Horse Armor & Lance

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Tournament armor

had numerous

pieces

TOURNAMENTS

Medieval warfare declined in the 1100s

TOURNAMENTSTOURNAMENTSTOURNAMENTSTOURNAMENTS, or mock battles, came into fashion

A lord would invite knights from the surrounding area to compete in contests of fighting skills

TOURNAMENTS

Events included:

JOUSTJOUSTJOUSTJOUST – horse-mounted combat with lancesSwordBattle AxeSpear on footMorning Star or FlailMaceArchery

TOURNAMENTS

The final event of early tournaments was the MELEEMELEEMELEEMELEE, a mock battle between teams of knights

Captured knights were held for RANSOMRANSOMRANSOMRANSOM, payment, which usually was in the form of horses and armor

Early tournaments were as dangerous as real battle with injuries and even death

In time, tournaments acquired more ceremony and ritual