This page is deitcated to Knights of the fantasy world and real world. I found some facts on knights so if you want to know where I got them , I will list the author's at the bottom of the page. This page is about the knights, armor and weapons.

1) Knights : Knights of our day and age are different then that of the Middle Ages. But at one time there was knights and they lived in Europe from 1100 to 1500 A.D., also the known as the Age of Knights. Knight's entire way of life was based on warfare. Knight's went by different names in different countries such as these : Ritters(Germany), Chevaliers (France) and caballeros (Spain) these were fearless warriors who pledged their loyalty to their kings, queens. or lords. They agreed to fight their ruler's enemies whenever called apon. In exchange, they were given large plots of land and the right to rule over the peasants who lived and worked under them. This system is called the feudal system.

2) Steps of knight hood : It takes alot of years to become a knight. First, at age seven a boy must become a Page. Until he is in his teens, he has served his master, who was already a knight, as well as his master's family. From his master, the page learns how to fight with swords and to hunt useing falcons and hawks. In order to improve his abilities, he played games of skill and strategy. Next the page becomes a squire. A squire practices handling weapons and becomes a skilled horseman. Squires continue to ride by his master's side in battle. After years of training and practice, the squire is ready to become a knight. A knight couldd grant knighthood to a squire by saying"I dub thee Knight" at a special ceremony. Some squires were knighted on the battlefield as recongnition for great bravery during battle. As a new knight he was given his weapons and sword by his master or ruler. From then on the title Sir was placed in front of his name.

3) Castles : The most powerful knights ruled over the nearby counrtyside from huge stone castles. They were surrounded by high walls and deep moats filled with water, these castles were called fortresses that provided refuge and protection during the times of war . There was many parts of the castle such as Gate,tower,stables,inner curtain wall, main castle, keep, castle yard and outer curtain wall.

4) Coats of Mail (armor) : Only knights could afford to keep several horses and wear full armor. The earliest knights wore coats of "mail" that weighted about 15kg (33lb). Mail was made from thousands of iron rings,each one linked to four others, and closed by a tiny rivet. From the twelfth century,knights wore long mail sleeves that went over the hands like mittens, and mail leggings. The mail had to be very flexiable so that the knights could move easily.

5 ) Helmet : At first the only armor made from solid steel plates was the helmet. This was usually conical, with a noseguard to protect the face from slashing blows. But about 1200, some knights were using helmets fitted with a face mask. These developed into the "helm,"which covered the whole head, and had slits for the eyes and breathing holes. Around the fourteenth and the early fifteen centuries,knight's wore a kind of helmet called a "basinet". Because of it's weird shape this helmet was also known as "hound's hood."

6 ) Weapons : Knights used sharp weapons in battle but found out that they tended to skid off the other's armor, so weapons with spikes were used to pierce the metal. Heavy iron clubs(maces)were used to cruch or crack the armor, and sometimes they used the deadly battle-ax. Then cannons, handguns appeared on the scene in the fourtheenth century, by the seventeeth century these would drive the knight from the battlefield forever. Another weapon the knight used was his lance and sword. He used the lance on horseback. The lance was pointed at his opponent and rode toward him as fast as he could. The knight used this weapon to kill or knock his enemy off his horse, with a single blow-before the enemy did the same to him.

7) Sheild : Another part of the knight's armor was his shield. Back then a knight carried a light wooden sheild. It was usually covered in leather and edged in metal, it was also decorated with the knight's emblem, or a coat of arms. The emblem's were of an eagle, bear,dragon,lion or anything the knight wanted on there. A knight became famous by showing his coat of arms at times of battles.

8) Horse : A knight's horse was probably his most valuable possession. The success of the knight's battle rested as much on the strength, quickness, and bravery of his horse as much as the knight's bravery. Knight's gave their horses special names and considered them companions-in-arms. Some wealthy knights used their best horse for jousting. These were called "destriers". A good destrier could cost 800 times more than a carthorse. As the knight did , so did his horse have armor, CRINET - covers the back of the horse's head. SHAFFRON - to protect it's head. PEYTRAL - protects the chest from blows.

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