Medieval Knight

Definition

Recruitment: Knights recruited from young nobles.
Apprenticeship:
- Begins early, around 7 years old.
- Starts as a rascal, caring for horses and cleaning stables.
- Becomes a page, learning combat with wooden weapons and serving the master.
- At 14, becomes a squire, assisting the knight, practicing with weapons, and attending tournaments.
- At around 21, a squire can become a knight during the dubbing ceremony.

Definition: Official ceremony to make a squire a knight.
Rituals:
- Purification before the ceremony; the candidate bathes and fasts.
- Takes an oath on the gospels.
- Receives a sword and golden spurs.
- Tapped on shoulders by godfather with the flat of the sword (colée).
- Becomes a vassal to a lord.

Responsibilities:
- Defend the weak, orphans, and widows.
- Live in purity.
- Render justice.
- Protect the church.
- Serve their lord and king.

Church Influence: In the 11th century, the church imposed rules to curb violence (e.g., truce of God).
Knights are to protect the weak and maintain order, avoiding attacks on non-combatants.
Qualities of Knights:
- Loyalty, honor, courage, generosity.

Costs: Becoming a knight requires enough money for horse and weapons.
Steed: A specially selected war horse, capable of carrying over 100 kg.
Weapons:
- Spear: Long, used to charge and unhorse opponents.
- Sword: The knight's primary weapon, typically weighs about 2 pounds.
Armor:
- Hauberk: Metal mesh tunic.
- Helmet and Shield: Protect against blows and display the knight's coat of arms.
- Gambeson: Thick linen garment that softens blows.
- Metal Plate Armor: Emerged in the 15th century, weighing around 25 kg.