History of Knights

Like most periods in history, the era of knights evolved gradually. The term "knight"
originates from the Anglo-Saxon name for a boy: "cniht". Indeed, most early knights
were not much more than hired "boys" who performed military service and took oaths
of loyalty to any well-to-do nobleman or warlord offering the most promise of money or
war booty.
In the chaos and danger of post-Roman Western Europe, the population had very little
organized governmental protection from brigands and conquering warbands. Knowing
there was safety in numbers, local lords (who could afford it) gathered around them
young, fighting-age men to fend off rebellious vassals or conquering neighbors. These
men, in turn, were rewarded with war booty for their service and loyalty. Soon, grants of
land were made so the young soldiers could receive an income from those lands and
afford the high cost of outfitting themselves with the accoutrements of war, such as
horses, armor, and weapons. The era of the medieval knight had begun.
It wasn't long before some knights began to treat their land grants as hereditary rights
(usually transferring ownership to the eldest son upon death), thus beginning the rise of
knights as a "landed" class whose importance went beyond simply being a military
"free-agent". Knights soon found themselves involved in local politics, the dispensation
of justice, and numerous other required tasks for their sovereign, or liege lord.
The knight's effectiveness depended greatly on his ability to stay mounted
on his horse during combat. With the advent of the stirrup during the 8th
and 9th centuries, a man could brace himself on horseback as he charged
the ranks of his enemy, transferring the power of man and charging horse
onto his opponent. This "shock" combat by mounted men armed with a
spear or couched lance, and protected with armor, proved a powerful
military innovation.

E
arly medieval Norman knights charging English foot-soldiers at the Battle of
Hastings (1066 C.E.) from the Bayeux Tapestry

Medieval Armor:
Armor of a Knight
Protecting oneself in battle has always been a concern for any soldier, and medieval
knights were no exception. In fact, it was their protective armor that helped define them
as a military unit and social class. Armoring one's self during the Middle Ages was a
great expense that only the wealthy could afford.
Among the earliest metallic armor to be worn by medieval knights was chainmail
armor, consisting of tens of thousands of interlocking rings woven painstakingly by
hand to form a shirt, coif, or leggings. Because of the mild steel produced in medieval
times each ring had to be riveted to keep all the rings from spreading and opening under
the weight of the piece. Underneath the metal armor the knight would wear a padded
garment known variously as an "aketon," or "gambeson." To this defensive equipment
he added a shield, usually made of leather-covered wood, and a helmet (see Knights
And Armor's Helmet Page) . As the medieval arms race progressed and new, more
powerful weapons were developed (such as the longbow and crossbow), chainmail
became ineffective on its own.

Example of chainmail armor

A knight in chainmail armor

Late in the Middle Ages plate armor began to appear (ca. late 13th/early 14th century),
first as reinforcements to vital areas such as the chest and shoulders, and finally as a
complete suit (ca. early 15th century). The medieval "knight in shining armor" that most
people think of is the fully plate-armored knight. Chainmail armor was now relegated to
protecting smaller vital areas that could not be covered with plate armor, such as the
groin and under the arms. The shield became smaller, or disappeared altogether as it
became unnecessary and redundant.

A fully plate-armored knight

Ironically, it was soon after the development of the full suit of plate armor that the
medieval knight's advantage in battle began to wane. With the effective use of
gunpowder weapons (ca. 15th/16th century) the face of combat changed. The
cumbersome armor of a knight proved ineffective and impractical against new weapons
and tactics. The knight and his plate armor were now relegated to ceremonial duties and
displays. These "ceremonial" suits of armor are usually very ornate, featuring extensive
fluting, intricate engravings, and other decorative features more at home in the world of
fashion than battlefield utility.

Weapons of a Knight
The sword was a standard fighting weapon long before the evolution of the medieval
knight. Nevertheless, the medieval knight found the sword to be an effective weapon.
Medieval swords usually were made from a mild steel (low carbon steel). Most swords
were double-edged, and featured a crossguard, hilt, and pommel. Many surviving
examples of medieval swords feature some form of engraving, such as a prayer, or the
sword owner's name. How elaborate the sword was decorated depended upon its
owner's wealth, with some of the more intricate ones encrusted with jewels and fine
engravings.
Apart from the sword another standard weapon of a knight was the lance. Lances were
usually made of wood, with metal tips. In the early Norman period lances appear to
have been little more than spears. As the Middle Ages progressed, lances developed a
stouter appearance, including the addition of handguards and specialized metal tips. As
a weapon, the lance enabled the knight to take advantage of his superior position on
horseback as it provided the length necessary to engage opponents while still mounted.
After the lance became broken or dropped the knight could rely on his sword,
dismounting if necessary.

Remains of a medieval sword (ca. 1250-1350 C.E.)

Other weapons finding use in the hands of the medieval knight were the axe, mace
(metal club), and war hammer. It was, however, the sword and lance that the knight
more often than not depended upon as his chosen weapons.
For the knight's opponents on the ground who had to answer his advantageous longer
reach, they developed assorted long-handled bladed weapons that went by many
different names (pike, halberd, etc.). Archers were always a concern for the knight as
they could hit targets from a distance. Many knights believed archer's methods to be
cowardly, as they did not engage in hand-to-hand combat, but struck from afar.
Nevertheless, archers became an integral part of medieval warfare, and were decisive
factors in famous medieval battles, such as Crcy (1346) and Agincourt (1415).
The weapons of a knight still hold fascination for many people today. Weapons catalogs,
Medieval and Renaissance Faires, and museums continue to draw attention to the brutal
and deadly weapons of the medieval knight.

Life of a Knight
Training for knighthood during medieval times usually began at an early age. Often the
prospective knight was sent to live with a relative or lord who had the resources to train
the young boy in use of weapons and, most importantly, the skills to handle a horse in
combat. A knight-in-training would often serve as a squire (assistant) for an established
knight, attending his needs, helping him don his armor, and making ready his horse and
weapons.
Once his training was completed and he reached "fighting age" (usually around 16-20
years old), he would ceremoniously become a full-fledged knight. The ceremony
became more elaborate as the Middle Ages progressed, until only the richest nobles or a
king could afford to "knight" someone.
The new knight now served his liege lord (which may or may not be the king himself),
bound to offer military service up to 40 days a year in peace time, more, as needed, in
war time. Military duties included castle guard, serving in the lord's "bodyguard", and
participating in battle.
Apart from military duties the knight could also participate in administering justice (as
part of assizes--a medieval form of our modern juries), manage his estates (which was
his prime source of income), and continue to hone his combat skills in tournament.

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, England

The Tournament
The tournament in the early Middle Ages (ca. 800-1200 C.E.) was often a mele,
resembling actual combat in groups that could result in injuries or even death. Men were
taken hostage and held for ransom, horses and armor confiscated by the captors. As
kings and churchmen grew concerned over this senseless loss of life and resources new
regulations and safety measures were put into effect. The mele was replaced by
individual combat events (among them the joust), and new innovations in armor
specifically designed for the tournament made it somewhat safer.

The Crusades
As Islam spread after its inception in the 7th century C.E., the lands held sacred by
Christians fell under Moslem rule. The pope, Urban II, in 1095 C.E. began the pursuit of
reconquering these former Christian lands (particularly Jerusalem), by visiting areas in
Western Europe and preaching the need for a "crusade" against the infidels.
Many nobles and knights went on crusade with the hope of not only reconquering the
holy land, but of carving out for themselves fiefs and kingdoms in this land of "milk and
honey". The first leaders to "take the cross" succeeded in retaking Jerusalem in 1096.
After this initial venture, there followed subsequent crusades which attempted to free
Jerusalem again, but none succeeded like the first crusade. Throughout the next two
hundred years the battle for Jerusalem between Islam and Christianity continued, with
one side gaining ground just to lose it again to the other. Ultimately, Jerusalem fell to
the Moslems in 1244 not to be regained by Christians again during the Middle Ages.

Crusading knight, from a 12th century fresco

In the end the resources needed and the crusading ideal itself fell short of Pope Urban
II's dream of a united Christian holy land. Later crusades were directed not at Islam, but
at Constantinople, pagan peoples of Eastern Europe, and heretics in France, among
others.
Although some critics are quick to write off the crusades as an excercise in futility and
exacerbating religious strife between Islam and Christianity, the cultural interaction that
developed as a result of the crusades broadened the cultural horizons of medieval
Europeans. This exposure to Eastern culture encouraged the development of new forms
of scientific study and allowed access to previously unknown classical literature, thus
facilitating the humanist movement of the Renaissance period.
From the crusades also sprouted the military orders, such as the Knights Templar, the
Knights Hospitaller, and the Teutonic Knights. These "fighting monks" became well
organized armed forces, and accrued large sums of money from the management of
lands they conquered, or given to them for the Christian cause.

Chivalry
The word, "chivalry", comes from the French word, "chevalerie", which means "skills
to handle a horse". The ability to handle a horse, especially in combat, was of utmost
importance to a medieval knight. As the Middle Ages progressed, the term "chivalry"
began to take on new meanings.
It was around the time of the preaching of the first crusade (1095 C.E.) that the
Christianization of knights began in earnest. With the crusades as a "holy war" the pope
needed the support of the nobles and knights of Europe to help him with his agenda of
ridding Jerusalem of Islam, and returning the "land of Christ" to Christian sovereignty.
By bestowing the title of Christian warriors to the knights, the pope had begun the
evolution of a code of conduct that all knights were supposed to follow.
The protection of the poor, women and children, and defense of the church were just
some of the chivalry codes that a knight was supposed to always obey. In combat when
nobles and knights were taken prisoner, their lives were spared and were often held for
ransom in somewhat comfortable surroundings. This same code of conduct did not
apply to non-knights (archers, peasants, foot-soldiers, etc.), who were often slaughtered
after capture.
However well intended this "chivalric code" was, it rarely affected most knights, who
plundered, slaughtered, and looted often when given the chance. Our modern notion of
knights is very much based in the ideas of chivalry, and it is the survival of medieval
romantic writings that tend to show knights as the chivalrous ideal, that sways our view
of medieval knighthood.

Heraldry
Heraldry (symbols identifiable with individuals or families) originated as a way to
identify knights in battle or in tournaments. With the advent of the "great" or "barrel"

helm (ca. early 13th century) an individual's face became concealed. It therefore became
necessary to create a method to distinguish ally from enemy.
Heraldic symbols ranged from simple geometric shapes such as chevrons, to more
elaborate drawings of real or mythological animals. As with the honor of becoming a
knight, heraldic insignia became hereditary, being passed on from father to son, or with
the family name. Eventually heraldic symbols also came to signify kingdoms, duchies,
or provinces as a medieval forerunner to our modern national flags.
Heraldic symbols were often worn on the knight's surcoat (thus the term "coat of
arms"), shield, helmet, or on a banner (standard) that could serve as a rallying point for
knights and others scattered in the chaos of battle. The standard was always to be
elevated as long as the battle continued, and therefore was guarded well. A standard
taken down would signal the allied combatants that the cause was lost and it was time to
flee the field of combat.
Today heraldry is usually associated with individual families' coat of arms. Researching
heraldry has become a hobby for many people. The art and science of heraldry, with its
medieval beginnings, is still alive and well in our modern world.
Free Coat of Arms Search.

Examples of heraldry

http://www.knightsandarmor.com/

Famous Swords

Famous Swords
In the days of chivalry, a knight's horse and sword were his most treasured and carefully
kept possessions, and his sword as well as his horse had its own name. The old
romances, especially those of the Charlemagne and Arthurian cycles, are full of these
names. Below we give a list of the more noteworthy.
Angurvadal (Stream of Anguish), Frithiof's sword.
Ar'ondight, the sword of Launcelot of the Lake.
Azoth, the sword of Paracelsus ( Browning Paracelsus, Bk. v).
Balisarda, Rogero's sword, made by a sorceress.
Balmung, one of the swords of Siegfried, made by Wieland.
Caliburn, another name of Excalibur.
Chrysaor (sword, as good as gold), Artegal's sword ( Spenser Farie Queene).
Colada, the Cid's sword.
Corrougue, Otuel's sword.
Courtain (the Short Sword), one of the swords of Ogier the Dane; Sauvagine was the
other, and they both took Munifican three years to make.
Curtana, the blunted sword of Edward the Confessor.
Durandan, Durandal, or Durandana (the Inflexible), Orlando's sword.
Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur. (Ex cal[ce]liber[are], to liberate from the stone.)
Flamberge or Floberge (the Flame-Cutter), the name of one of Charlemagne's swords,
and also that of Rinaldo's and Maugis or Maligigi's.
Glorious, Oliver's sword, which hacked to pieces the nine swords made by Ansias,
Galas, and Munifican.
Gram (Grief), one of the swords of Siegfried.
Greysteel, the sword of Koll the Thrall.
Haute-Claire (Very Bright); both Closamont's and Oliver's swords were so called.
Joyeuse (Joyous), one of Charlemagne's swords; it took Gallas three years to make.
Merveilleuse (the Marvellous), Doolin's sword.
Mimung, the sword that Wittich lent Siegfried.
Morglay (Big Glaive), Sir Bevis's sword.
Nagelring (Nail-Ring), Dietrich's sword.
Philippan. The sword of Antony, one of the triumvirs.
Quern-biter (a Foot-Breadth) ; both Haco I, and Thoralf Skolinson had a sword so
called.
Sanglamore (the Big Bloody Glaive), Braggadochio's sword ( Spenser Farie Queene).
Sauvagine (the Relentless): see Courtain above.
Schrit or Schritt (? the Lopper), Biterolf's sword.
Tizona (the Poker), King Bucar's sword. See CID.
Tranchera (the Trenchant), Agricane's sword.
Waske, Iring's sword.
Welsung, both Dietlieb and Sintram had a sword so called.
Zuflagar, Ali's sword.
http://life-us.blogspot.com/2007/12/famous-swords.html