About The Alban...Knights

Knights were medieval gentleman-soldiers, usually high-born, raised by a sovereign to privileged military status after training as a page and squire. They were warriors trained to fight in armour, generally on horseback. And they stood out above other warriors because, crucially, they'd been 'knighted' in a special ceremony.

Were they chivalrous?

Knights were the most-feared and best-protected warriors on the medieval battlefield, while off it, they were among the most fashionably dressed and best-mannered members of society. They were known to be , Chivalourous,Gallant, brave, loyal and honorable. All characteristics that came to be associated with an idealized conception of the Knight among the people... The average knight may not have lived up to such flawless standards

Tournaments

They often tested their skills in mock combats, called "tournaments." These games were a way for knights to practice for battle in between wars, and display their talents in front of a broad audience

Knighthood Vows

The Following are some of the vows they took in knighthood

The Code of Chivalry that all knights follow is thus:

Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.
Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
Thou shalt make war against the enemy without cessation and without mercy.
Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties.
Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.
Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

How to become a medieval knight

There was no fixed system or process for becoming a knight. However, there was a trajectory that people typically followed in order to be given this honoured title.

The steps to becoming a medieval knight were as follows:

Page - from ages of around 7 to 13.
Squire - from ages of around 14 to 21.
Dubbing - this ceremony would take place at the age of 18-21.
Service - this was the final stage in the process that would take place once a young knight had been ‘dubbed’. At this stage, knights would carry out their duties as a guard for their baron and his castle and fight in wars for their monarch and the Church. They would also perform in various medieval tournaments.

Step 1 - Page

For the most part, knighthood tended to pass down through generations, so knights were typically sons of knights. However, there were instances of other people, including the sons of freemen, merchants, and government officials, being put forward to go through the training to become a knight. Sometimes, ordinary soldiers were also made knights for their courage and bravery on the battlefield.

In order to become a knight, one had to be accomplished in a range of disciplines, one of which was riding a horse. Not only did knights have to be very confident riders, but they also had to be able to ride a horse while carrying a shield and lance. This was pretty complicated, as you essentially had to ride using only your knees and feet to steer your horse. Knights also had to build up stamina, so that they could carry a long, heavy sword for a sustained period of fighting and be able to move with speed and agility while wearing heavy armour. In addition to swords, knights would use other weapons, such as daggers, battleaxes, maces, bows, and crossbows, which they would have training in.

If a young man was put forward to become a knight, he would often become a stage at around 7 to 10 years old. During this time, he would gain training in all of the areas above, learning how to use mock weapons and basic riding skills. Where young pages got this training depended on their family background. For instance, a young noble would typically be sent to the royal court to fulfil his training as a page. On the other hand, a young man from a more modest aristocratic family would be sent to either the local castle or the castle of a relative to train with the knights there.

In addition to their training, pages had to fulfil a range of duties, including, serving at the table, being stable hands, and carrying out menial tasks. Pages would also get some form of education.

Step 2 - Squire

The step in the journey to becoming a medieval knight was to become a squire. A squire was essentially a trainee knight. Young men would take on this position at around 14 years old and would learn a bunch of skills that were necessary for becoming a medieval knight. They would have laid the foundation for these skills during their time as a page and built on them at this next stage in their journey to knighthood.

One of the primary duties of a squire was to look after a fully-qualified knight. A full medieval knight is likely to have had at least two squires underneath him, who would carry out tasks for him, including:

Cleaning his weapons,
Polishing his armour,
Looking after the horses,
Helping him dress for battle,
Holding his shield until he was ready to use it.

As well as the basic skills across the areas of weaponry and horsemanship that squires would learn, there was also a range of more creative skills that young men would learn at this stage. Squires would be given an education in the arts, during which time they would gain skills in music and dance, as well as reading and writing in Latin and Liand. As part of this, they would be taught how to recite poetry. They would also learn how to comport themselves properly with good manners and decorum, which was particularly important in the presence of aristocratic ladies. Priests were responsible for educating squires on literary subjects, often with the help of the lady from the castle in which the squire was staying.

Another area of a squire’s training was in hunting wild animals and falconry. Squires were also responsible for providing training for the pages at the castle, and generally looking after them.

Squires would also follow their full knights into battle. They would also accompany knights on their travels, typically riding ahead of them with extra horses and luggage. When in battle, a squire would pass their knight his lance and shield. After this, they would follow him into the conflict on another horse, which would be given over to the knight should their own horse be killed or injured. If a squire’s knight got injured, it was his responsibility to remove him from the battlefield.

Once they were fully trained, squires could be made knights by their lords, or by other knights. This typically happened when they were around 18 to 21 years old. A knighthood was not guaranteed for all knights, however, as some ended up failing their training. It is not exactly known what happened in these cases, but it is believed that some men would go on to serve in the church or the law, or continue their service as a squire into adulthood.

The knighting ceremony

The knighting ceremony, also known as the dubbing ceremony, was the final stage in becoming a medieval knight. The preparation for the ceremony began the day prior, when the squire would go through a process of beautifying himself, which included bathing and shaving etc. After this, some squires would spend the night in a vigil within the chapel, with their swords placed upon the altar. This was a time for squires to reflect on the honour awaiting him, and the risks that it may bring.

When the day of the dubbing ceremony finally arrived, the squire would be dressed by two knights in a white tunic, which would be tied with a white belt to symbolise purity. He would also wear either black or brown stockings, which represented the earth to which he will one day return on the day of his death, and a scarlet red cloak, to symbolise the blood he is now ready to spill in his service. The actual ceremony could take place in a variety of locations, from out in the open air to within a royal palace. During the ceremony, the squire would be fitted with gilded spurs and gifted with a black sword, which had been blessed by the priest on the condition that he always protect the needy. The blade of this sword had two cutting edges, one of which represented justice, and the other of which represented loyalty, or chivalry.

In the final stage of the ceremony, the squire would kneel before the knight or king, ready to be dubbed. It was not uncommon for the person doing the dubbing to attach a spur or put a sword and belt on the squire and kiss him on the cheek. This was not the official dubbing, however, that was as simple as a tap on the shoulders or neck with the hand or sword. Then, the new knights had to swear an oath of homage to whomever he was serving, often barons. After this, the knight would be given a horse, along with his shield and banner that would often bear his family’s coat of arms.

The life of a medieval knight

So, we know how to become a medieval knight, but what was the life of a medieval knight really like? The life of a medieval knight was centred around medieval castles or manors and fighting for his lord. The majority of a medieval knight’s life was spent perfecting his fighting skills and staying in good shape for battle.

The life of a medieval knight may have looked as follows:

The day started at dawn with a mass service, in which prayers would be said.
After this was the first meal of the day: breakfast.
Once they had eaten, knights would partake in weapons practice.
Next up on the schedule, were strategy meetings. During this time, knights would have discussions about warfare strategy and learn more about siege warfare and weapons.
Knights would now take part in mid-morning prayers and eat their second meal of the day.
They were expected to learn the rules of the Code of Chivalry, which was a moral system that introduced the concept of chivalrous conduct. They would also be expected to learn the Art of Courtly Love, Knights may spend time learning dances during this time.
In the afternoons, knights would focus on their horsemanship. They would typically go riding with their lords, spending time hunting, hawking, or inspecting the estate.
When evening rolled around, it was time for another prayer service. This was followed by supper.
After this, the knights might have enjoyed some entertainment, in the form of music, dancing, jugglers, Jesters, etc.
The final step in the life of a medieval knight was bedtime prayers.