Tales of chivalric deeds and honor-bound knights are the subject of much Medieval storytelling. The knightly class was one of military endeavor and of great heroism, a combination that has generated admiration and interest throughout the centuries. Many of these tales involve half-truths, exaggerations, and completely made-up flights of fancy. Young boys dreamed of becoming gallant knights, often embodying their thoughts on the school playgrounds—even today. Imagery of young heroes, battered and bruised from acts of noble valor, is popular in the imagination.
In modern times, knighthoods are awarded for achievements and contributions in various fields as well as service to the country. In the Middle Ages, however, the dynamic was completely different.
So, how did one become a knight back then?
It certainly wasn’t as simple as being a matter of privilege. Years of punishing drills, strict discipline, and major financial investments lay ahead for any young apprentice wishing to couch the lance and charge at the foe.
Setting the Scene for Medieval Knights
Like many periods in history, the Middle Ages saw their fair share of war and horrific brutality, much of which occurred on the battlefield and often in service to nobles jostling for power, territory, and wealth.
Knights were the lowest caste of the upper classes and were a crucial part of the feudal system. While at home, they were integral in maintaining order, and while on campaign, they were the most feared, and often the most effective and respected soldiers on the battlefield.
Thus, it was extremely important in the feudal system to maintain a powerful knightly class, and training new knights was a prominent enterprise.
Birth, Blood, and the Right Connections
To become a knight, from the moment of one’s birth, certain circumstances had to be in place. For a start, the child had to be a boy. And while commoners did sometimes become knights through exceptional circumstances, it was generally a privilege afforded to the nobility. Typically, it was the sons of knights and lords who were selected to follow the path to knighthood.
Those who wished to pursue a chivalric career also had to be wealthy. Becoming a knight was extremely expensive. Training, armor, and horses were prohibitively costly, and those of limited financial means had little hope of affording all the accoutrements needed for knighthood.
As mentioned, however rare, it was possible for commoners to become knights. It was usually the result of military endeavors, such as providing invaluable military aid to a lord, or it was the result of a commoner helping a monarch, as seen in the case of Thomas de Rockby, who led King Edward III of England directly to the Scottish army. Edward had offered a knighthood to anyone who could do so.
Pagehood (Age ≈ 7 – 13): Discipline Starts Early
Typically, at the age of seven, a boy destined for knighthood would be apprenticed to a knight as a “page” for seven years. In this role, the boy served the noble family to whom he was apprenticed. He was expected to run errands, deliver messages, and clean clothing, among other basic chores. Tending to horses and cleaning weapons were of utmost importance, as these things would feature most prominently in his future.
In return for service to the noble, the page received a fitting education, learning basic horsemanship, hunting, and, importantly, combat. He was introduced to the “Seven Points of Agility” that knights were expected to master—horseback riding, swimming, archery, climbing, wrestling, participation in tournaments (particularly jousting), and fencing. Athletics was also a focus.
The page would also be required to engage in less demanding physical activities, and was taught finer subjects such as Latin and dancing.
Squirehood (Age ≈ 14 – 21): A Knight’s Shadow
Around the age of 14, a page became a squire, and his training required him to live side-by-side with his knightly mentor. While retaining the duties of a page, his training focused more on the practical skills needed for knighthood.
A squire mastered weapons by practicing with a pell (a wooden dummy or target post). For jousting, target practice was done through using a quintain, which is a device with a target on one side and a weight on the other, connected via an arm that pivots when the target is struck.
Of course, jousting was of prime importance. Not only was it a sport, but of great significance was the use of the lance in cavalry charges—the shock tactic employed by knights in the Middle Ages. As such, the squire not only had to become proficient with the lance, but he had to have incredible horsemanship. And of course, horses had to be trained as well, and as each horse is different, squires and knights formed bonds with their mounts and got to know their cadence and peculiarities.
The squire, by his close relationship with the knight, also learned effective governance, leadership styles, discipline, obedience, and adherence to the Chivalric codes.
Punishing Training Regimens
To add to the difficulty of the tasks, training was often done in armor. This was typically chain mail or plate armor, or often a combination of the two. A suit of full plate could weigh from 33 to 65 pounds. Knights trained by running long distances in armor and fought with weighted weapons to build stamina and strength.
Other exercises such as stone throwing, vaulting onto horses, and climbing were also common, and were all done in armor. Horsemanship was a crucial skill, and much time was spent training on horseback, improving hand-eye coordination, as well as equine skills. It is fair to say that knights preparing for battle were certainly among the fittest men in the world.
Putting their training to good use off the battlefield, knights were the focal point of tournaments where they could prove their prowess, winning fame and fortune in various martial events, especially jousting, in which knights tested their ability with the lance.
The Dubbing Ceremony: From Squire to Sir
When a squire graduated to knighthood, he would be the subject of a ceremony, which varied according to the time period. During the 10th and 11th centuries, knights were dubbed by their fathers or liege lords. Their sword would be girded on, and traditionally, they would be slapped across the face with a glove, representing the last blow a knight should receive without responding.
As the decades and centuries progressed, however, the tradition changed. The clergy became involved, and the ceremony included religious symbolism and prayers. The knight would symbolically wash away his sins and don robes for the ceremony, which would take place in a chapel or a church. The sword was blessed before being handed to the knight who would recite oaths.
Celebrations followed, especially in wealthy households, in which a great feast would be held. The new knight, in his duties, would be bound by the Code of Chivalry, which prioritized courage, honor, loyalty, and piety.
The Hidden Costs of Knighthood
Being a knight was extremely expensive. One had to be wealthy and come from a fortunate family to be successful in carrying out all the knightly duties that were expected. The very notion of a knight is one of a heavily armored man riding a warhorse. The money involved in affording such things was phenomenal.
A ready-made suit of armor cost several months’ wages, while, as was common for knights, a custom-made suit could easily cost over a year’s worth of wages. To add to this was the maintenance and repair work that would have to be done over the years.
A salient fact is that the knight did not live alone, and he did not operate in a vacuum. Knights had retinues to maintain. This included squires, pages, and servants to run the household and look after horses. These people all had to be fed and clothed. In addition, knights were often accompanied by hired men-at-arms.
Another major expense was the service required of the overlord. A knight was indebted to their superior lord and had to provide military service or serjeantry. The latter could be anything from holding the lord’s banner to providing weapons, or any other number of requests.
In lieu of military service, the knight often had the opportunity to pay a tax called “scutage,” which would absolve them from their obligations to their overlord.
Myth vs. Reality — Hollywood’s Knight Compared to the Medieval Original
There has been much exaggeration and twisting of historical facts for the purpose of cinematic spectacle. The portrayal of knights is no exception, and Hollywood has been directly involved in creating and perpetuating many myths surrounding Medieval knights.
One such example is the idea that armor was so heavy that knights had to be lifted onto their horses with a crane. In reality, while armor was significant in its weight, it was evenly distributed, and the wearer was (and still is) far more mobile than he is perceived in popular misconception. In addition, knights were athletically trained, so armor offered even less of a hindrance than it would to the average untrained man. There is even evidence that some knights could do somersaults while wearing their armor!
Another enduring myth is that knights were all honorable men. It is true that the Code of Chivalry existed; however, there were plenty of knights who were cruel and brutal. Some were little more than bandits, extorting, kidnapping, and oppressing people. Women were often the targets, with forced marriages to wealthy heiresses and widows being a particular trend.
Many Knights also did not stick to their oaths. The Code of Chivalry was often abandoned in favor of personal gain, and many places under the control of knights became disorderly and violent to such an extent that the Church had to enact the Peace of God and the Truce of God, which were initiatives intended to protect common people and restore order. The latter was particularly aimed at knights and was intended to limit warfare.
Knights, like other people, cannot be generalized into a single group, however. There were decent, honorable knights, as well as terrible, violent ones.
The 19th century saw a revival of Medieval knighthood, marked by a resurgence in heraldry, literature, and art. This movement romanticized the Medieval knight and lent itself to the idealized image of chivalry rather than historical accuracy.
Being a knight in the Middle Ages was no easy task. It involved a lifetime of dedication and service that was physically and mentally demanding. Those who took up the mantle, like any human, could be paragons of virtue as well as despicable tyrants. Nevertheless, reverence for the ability of knights on and off the battlefield was well deserved.
