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BACKGROUND ESSAY: Knighthood - 1
on horseback
This phase will enable you to understand that the knight was a major
component of the feudal system. (The word knight comes from an Old
English word, meaning "household retainer.") Originally, knights were
simply warriors who fought on horseback and held no social distinctions. In fact, any man could be a knight who had the courage to be one.
However, by the 1100s the cost of armor and horses had increased,
leaving only wealthy men able to equip themselves to fight as knights.
Thus, knights became a prestigious class, separated from the rest of
the community. Becoming a knight became a mark of honor and
distinction, an honor usually reserved for the sons of nobility.
Clad in armor
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Knights in battle wore suits of metallic armor which were often made
in Milan, Italy. Armor consisted of a helmet, a breastplate, arm and
elbow pieces, a gauntlet, leg and knee pieces, and a chain mail jacket.
Although armor was uncomfortable, it was the safest dress for battle.
A knight might be wounded in battle, but rarely was he killed. However,
there was another reason beyond the armor that often
saved his life: a live knight could earn a greater ransom
than a dead one! Because knights were dressed for
combat on horses, the horses were also outfitted with
armor. If the horse was killed, however, it left the
poor knight practically defenseless because the
heavy armor limited his mobility.
Code of chivalry
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Knights lived by an ideal called chivalry, a code
which expected them to be loyal to their church
and lord, to be just and fair to all, and to protect
women and the helpless. However, even the
bravest of knights was sometimes unable to
live up to such a code. When this happened,
the knight was held in public disgrace. A
knight who had broken his vows might have
his shield hung upside down, have his body
smeared with paint, or have his armor cut off
of him piece by piece. A 'fallen knight" could be
laid in a coffin even if still alive and then be
dragged to church, where a priest would perform
his funeral. Thus, a disgraced knight was truly
"dead to honor."
CHRISTENDOM 4:7
BACKGROUND ESSAY: Knighthood - 2
This knight is wearing
a full set of armor
created in the famous
Missaglia workshops
in Milan, Italy, during
the mid-15th century.
CHRISTENDOM 4:8
BACKGROUND LECTURE OVERLAY:
Knighthood
A toigbt without honor is nolonger alive,
Role of a knight
most important member of feudal army
• main •>>l t^lll was fighting
his master
• defended Christianity
Code of chivalry
•an honored set of rules sworn to by all knights • emphasis upon courage,
loyalty, devotion to duty •oxirtesytowanj and defense of women
• protection of the poor, the weak, and the needy
Stages of knighthood
• page (age sevenon) ... teamed to ride horse ...teamedmanners ... had
instruction ... and trained in music and dance (taught by ladies of the casfle)
• squire (age 12-13) ... assisted knights ... became lord's devotedattendant ...
took care of armor and weapons and terame skiled in their use ... helped
tournaments • 1>VfeS<tf* AlrW0r 0H
knight (wr-en qualified) ... usually knighted by the king ...sometim
took place on tie battlefield (particularly after a braveact thatsaved
Heraldry
• also cafed a coat ofarms
• used as identification ona knighfs shield during battle
CHRISTENDOM 4:11
BACKGROUND LECTURE NOTES:
Knighthood
Role of a knight
Code of chivalry
Stages of knighthood
m
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$
I
Heraldry
CHRISTENDOM 4:10
Armor
Suits of armor used to protect the body in times of war or combat go back thousands
of years. It was, however, during the Middle Ages that armor reached its highest point
and also its decline. In the early Middle Ages armor consisted of a helmet and hauberk, a
kind of shirt made of chain mail, which protected the body from the neck to the knees.
The invention of the crossbow made the armor of chain mail ineffective, and a suit of
metal plates was added. In time the entire body was encased in a suit of armor. Armor
was very expensive and was worn only by knights and sometimes squires. Common
soldiers, being horseless, did not wear heavy armor. They wore instead those pieces
they found on the battlefield, provided that they were not too heavy. Sometimes foot
soldiers wore steel caps and shirts of mail.
In time, armor became so complicated that it took two men to dress a knight. A suit of
armor was made up of a number of small steel plates strapped onto the knight's body.
The large number of plates was necessary to enable the knight to move as freely as
possible. After the main pieces were in place, the smaller pieces were attached by
hooks and buckles. Because knights in armor were dressed for combat on horses, the
horses
too
were
outfitted
with
armor,
lest
they
be
killed,
leaving
the
knight
almost
defenseless.
Although armor was used well into the seventeenth century, its use declined rapidly
as military tactics changed, demanding rapid movement; and the use of gunpowder
became widespread. Today suits of ancient armor can only be seen in museums and
such places, but modern day soldiers still wear helmets for protection and policemen
sometimes wear bulletproof vests, two items of bodily protection originally invented
many centuries ago.
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v.
t
•
Match the parts of a suit of armor on the following page to the descriptions fcelow by
placing the correct letters in the numbered spaces.
1
Helmet (hell-met). The headpiece or head covering in a suit of armor.
2«
Cuisse (kwis). This word is taken from the Latin word coxa, meaning hip. It is
the piece of armor that covers the thigh.
3._
Greave (greeve). This term comes from the Old French word greve, which
refers to the part in the hair. It is the part of the armor that protects the leg
from the ankle to the knee.
i
4.
. Gauntlet (gont-let). This word comes from the Old French word gant, which
means glove. Gauntlets were the armor gloves that protected the hands.
5
Coat of mail (male). Taken from the Latin word maculata, which means spotty,
mesh or net, it refers to a coat made of metal rings or links which was worn
under the armor.
6
Visor (vi-zer). The moveable part of the helmet in front of the eyes. It comes
from the French word for face, vis.
7._
Shoulder piece.
8.
Elbow piece.
9
Knee piece.
10
Gorget (gor-jet). A piece of armor that protects the throat It comes from an
Old French word gorge, meaning throat.
11
Tasse (tass). This term comes from the Old French word fasse, which means
pocket. It is a series of overlapping plates which together form a short skirt.
12.
Cuirass (kwi-ras). A breast plate from the neck to the waist. It was originally
made of leather and comes from a Latin word corium, which means leather,
13
Sabaton (sab-a-ton). Taken from the French word sabot, a wooden shoe. It is
the part of a suit of armor that covers the foot. -*
14.
Brassard (bras-sard). This is the armor that protects the arm. Brassard comes
from the Latin word bracchium, which means arm.
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Armor
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Armor