Knights were noble men who served their lords well, providing military support to the King. They were great fighters on the battlefield, wielding swords, maces, battle axes or lances.
To become a knight, the man's father would have to be a knight, and the man would have to go through many years of training. It took many years before the man was actually dubbed a knight.
The man's training began when he was just born. The first bit of food that he ate was fed to him from the tip of his father's sword. This was believed to help the young boy grow into a brave knight. The day the boy turned 7, he became a page and began his real training to become a knight. The boy was taken from his home and sent to live in the castle of another lord or noble. There, he was taught manners and how to behave when others were around. The page was taught a variety of things, such as to play an instrument, and was expected to help with the running of the house. He also began to learn about warfare. The page had to undergo a lot of physical training, as well as learning to ride and care for horses, keep hawks and hunt.
When the boy turned 15 he became a squire, and started more serious training. The squire became the knight's personal servant, doing things such as serving him food, cleaning his armour and weapons and helping him on the battlefield. The squire was in charge of guarding captured enemy soldiers, and if they were rich he could hold them for ransom, making the squires knight a lot of money. The squire was also to help his knight on the battlefield, by doing things such as holding their knight's horse when he was fighting on foot, or by killing enemy soldiers. In this way the squire became used to the experience of killing.
When the squire became 21 he could become a knight. The ceremony of knighthood used to be that the squire dressed in his armour, and his knight hit him on the back of the neck with enough force to knock him over, saying "I dub you a knight". Most new knights ended up flat on their face, but taking the pain meant that you were a true knight. This soon changed to the squire kneeling before his king or lord and being tapped on his shoulders with a sword to show that he was now a knight.
Knights were a strong addition to the battlefield and were very noble and honest men. The journey from page, to squire to knight was tough, but with enough determination these men became knights.
To become a knight, the man's father would have to be a knight, and the man would have to go through many years of training. It took many years before the man was actually dubbed a knight.
The man's training began when he was just born. The first bit of food that he ate was fed to him from the tip of his father's sword. This was believed to help the young boy grow into a brave knight. The day the boy turned 7, he became a page and began his real training to become a knight. The boy was taken from his home and sent to live in the castle of another lord or noble. There, he was taught manners and how to behave when others were around. The page was taught a variety of things, such as to play an instrument, and was expected to help with the running of the house. He also began to learn about warfare. The page had to undergo a lot of physical training, as well as learning to ride and care for horses, keep hawks and hunt.
When the boy turned 15 he became a squire, and started more serious training. The squire became the knight's personal servant, doing things such as serving him food, cleaning his armour and weapons and helping him on the battlefield. The squire was in charge of guarding captured enemy soldiers, and if they were rich he could hold them for ransom, making the squires knight a lot of money. The squire was also to help his knight on the battlefield, by doing things such as holding their knight's horse when he was fighting on foot, or by killing enemy soldiers. In this way the squire became used to the experience of killing.
When the squire became 21 he could become a knight. The ceremony of knighthood used to be that the squire dressed in his armour, and his knight hit him on the back of the neck with enough force to knock him over, saying "I dub you a knight". Most new knights ended up flat on their face, but taking the pain meant that you were a true knight. This soon changed to the squire kneeling before his king or lord and being tapped on his shoulders with a sword to show that he was now a knight.
Knights were a strong addition to the battlefield and were very noble and honest men. The journey from page, to squire to knight was tough, but with enough determination these men became knights.