Knights

The word knight comes from the Old English word cnight, which means a household retainer. English people used the word to describe French mounted soldiers who first came to England after the Norman conquest of 1066. These knights were merely warriors equipped and trained to fight on horseback. Knighthood carried no social distinction, and any man could be a knight. Many lords had knights, who performed household duties in peacetime and fought in time of war. The lord provided armor and horses for his knights. Between 1100 and 1300, most knights became vassals (servants to lords) and received some land. As the cost of armor and a war horse increased, only wealthy men could equip themselves to fight as knights. Thus the knights became a class divided from the rest of the community. Entry to their ranks became a mark of honor and distinction. Any man could be made a knight, but most new knights had fathers who were knights or who belonged to the nobility. The age of knights and knighthood is often called the age of chivalry. The word chivalry comes from the Old French word chevalerie, meaning horse soldiery. But the term came to mean the code of behavior and ethics that knights were to follow. Knighthood grew up as part of the feudal system of the Middle Ages. It lasted as long as wars were based on heavy cavalry and combat between individuals. Knights became less important in warfare by the 1400's because of changing military tactics and the introduction of gunpowder. In the United Kingdom, knighthood is now an honor bestowed on individuals by the king or queen in recognition for outstanding merit or service. It no longer has any military meaning.

In the Middle Ages, a young boy in training to be a knight spent the first years of his life chiefly in the care of the women of his family. During this time, he learned to ride a pony and care for horses.

In the 1100's, a knight wore a sleeved undertunic of linen or wool, reaching below the knees. Over this was a sleeveless tunic, open at the sides and fastened with a belt. He had a cloak fastened at the shoulders, and wore long stockings and leather shoes. In the 1200's, the undertunic reached to the ankles, and the knight also wore a fur-lined surcoat, which had long sleeves and a hood that covered his head.

Clothes in the 1300's became more colorful and elaborate. The undertunic covered only the torso, and buttoned down the front. The sleeves buttoned tightly from wrist to elbow. The trousers also fit tightly. Jeweled felt hats and decorated capes became popular.

Fashions in the 1400's went to extremes of decoration and display. The surcoat was pleated, edged with fur, and fastened at the waist with a belt. Shoulder padding and stiffening over the chest created an exaggerated waistline. The sleeves were long, full, and stiff. Shoes became so pointed that the front was often curled up and fastened to the knee with a small chain. From the 1200's to the 1400's, knights dressed colorfully and carefully followed changes in fashion.

The early knight wore a conical helmet with a projection to cover his nose. He also wore a long garment of padded fabric or leather covered with interlaced metal rings, called mail. In the 1300's, a stronger helmet covering the entire head of the wearer replaced the conical helmet. Patches of plate armor were added to protect places the mail did not adequately defend. Strips of plate were designed to protect the elbow, the arm, the knee, and the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle. Plates of metal, called pauldrons, covered the opening in the armor at the junction between the arm and the body. The shield became much smaller and could be shifted to protect the face and head. The lance was the knight's principal weapon, but he also used a sword, mace, and battle-ax. His sword hung on his left side, and a dagger on his right.

In the 1400's, plate armor covered the knight's body completely. A mail collar covered the gap between the helmet and the top of the body armor. A visor, fitted to the helmet, protected the face. The knight wore metal gloves, called gauntlets, as well as iron shoes. Strips of mail covered the arms and legs. Swords became lighter and less cumbersome.

Gunpowder appeared on the battlefield in the early 1300's. The new armor, designed to protect against gunfire, was so heavy that the knight had to be lifted on his horse by a crane. If he fell off during battle, he could not get up without help, and often lay at his enemy's mercy.

The coat of arms provided the only recognizable feature of a knight when his face was covered. It was painted on his shield and on the surcoat that he wore over his armor. Horses often wore cloth trappings with the coat of arms. Every knight's coat of arms was different, and knights became very good at identifying each other at a glance.