History Who knights were
Knights were soldiers who fought on horseback in heavy armor. Horses, armor and weapons cost a great deal, so a knight was usually given land in return for serving his lord in war.
A boy from a noble family might start as a page in a lord's household, learning manners and riding. As a teenager he became a squire, looking after a knight's horse and armor. When he was ready, often around the age of 21, he was knighted in a ceremony.
History Armor
Early knights wore chain mail: a shirt of thousands of small linked iron rings. By the 1400s the best-equipped knights wore full suits of steel plates. A full suit was spread over the whole body, so a fit knight could still run and climb in it, as collections like the Royal Armouries in Leeds show.
History Chivalry
Chivalry was the code knights were supposed to follow: to be brave, loyal and generous, to protect the church and people who could not protect themselves. Real knights did not always live up to it, but the idea of chivalry shaped stories and manners for centuries.
Art In this artwork
This statue is the artist's own. In real churches you can see stone or brass figures of knights lying on their tombs.
Look closer
- Look at the shield. Which animal is on it?
- Find the sword.
Think about it
- Which of the knightly virtues matter most to you?
- Why would armor and horses make knights expensive?
- Who do we put up statues of today, and why?
Key words
- Squire
- A young man who served a knight while training.
- Chain mail
- Armor made of small linked iron rings.
- Chivalry
- The ideal code of conduct for knights.
Sources
The history on this page is a short summary based on these sources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Knight" and "Chivalry"
- Royal Armouries, Leeds, collections of medieval armor and the fencing manual MS I.33 (about 1300)
