Becoming a Knight

What is a knight? Where and from when did it come about? How did one become a knight?
These are the questions that will be answered upon this page. The age of Knighthood is
over. Though the ideas behind them live on in the form of truth, protection and honor of others.

The Knighthood started in the European middle ages. The Knight thought to be the most significant military figure of this time. The word Knight is derived from an Old English word cntht, the equivalent of the latin word caballarius meaning HORSEMAN.

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This is the beginning of one's Knighthood, a young boy of 7 is taken from his home and sent to the castle of a famous nobleman, sometimes his fathers lord, to begin the first stages of learning to become a knight. There he serves his Lord and Lady as page until he is 14. In recent times we may see this as a form of slavery, but this was not so in the age of knighthood this was a duty that was felt to be a privilege, for they not only served but were also taught many things.

During this 7 years he was to accompany the Lord and Lady at all times. He waited on them at the dinner table, and performed various other duties. He received religious instruction from the chaplain, and training in arms from the Squires. Amazingly enough though he was not taught to honor and protect all women from his Lord but was taught that by his Mistress and her ladies. Also during this time he was taught to play the lute, to hunt and to hawk, above all else he was taught to ride a horse. When he turned 14 he moved another step closer to becoming a knight, as he then became a squire with the first part of his training over.

SQUIRE

He serves as squire until he reaches the age of 21. As squire he now learns to handle the sword and lance and to bear the heavy weight of the armor. In addition to his other duties, he now carves at the dinner table and aids in the training of the page.

Most importantly during this stage of his training, is that he now accompanies his knight to war. He assists him in putting on his armor, and saw to it that the Knightly Sword and other arms were polished until they shone. He stood by to aid his Knight in battle, should his lord be overmatched. He also loaned his horse , should his lord lose his. It is the squire who aids the knight in raising should he fall. It was he who bore away the body of his lord should he be wounded or die in battle.

At the age of 21 after devoting 14 years of his life to serving his Lord and Lady, if he has served them well during his time as a page and a squire he is then made a knight.

The Ceremony of being Knighted will be here soon

The information on this page was researched by Guinevere, if you would like information on my sources, or have any questions or comments email me at the below link.