How a boy became a knight in Medieval Times

How a boy became a Knight in Medieval Times

The Accolade, c.1901

For almost seven hundred years between the ninth and sixteenth centuries knights were the lords of the battlefield, admired and respected for their abilities and their chivalry and courage. So how did a boy in these centuries become a knight?

Becoming a knight was a tradition that changed over the centuries of the middle ages and by around the sixteenth century, with the advent of gunpowder and firearms, had pretty much become just a symbolic title. But there was a commonly accepted normal route that a boy could take in his quest to become a knight during the height of the Middle Ages when knighthood was important.

The Rule of Birthright

The first requirement for a boy to become a knight was the requirement of his heritage. Generally, only boys born to certain men were allowed the opportunity to become a knight. These requirements were usually that the boy be the son of a knight, Lord, a wealthy merchant, or someone who held title and position in the court of the king or a lord.

Where Training took place

Contrary to popular belief, the king did not usually train boys to become knights. This was the responsibility of the king’s lords, barons and knights. Each of these men held stations, titles, lands and manors of his own. And it was to the lord’s manor that the boy would go to train under the knight of the king.

Over the centuries of the Middle Ages what a knight was expected to do changed dramatically and chivalry did not come into the picture until the late middle ages. We will take a look at the traditional picture of what a knight learned in these later centuries.

Training Begins as a Page

At around the age of six or seven a boy, who was of noble lineage, would report to the local lord’s castle or manor to begin his training as a knight. There he would learn a host of basic skills to make him a well-rounded and educated knight. He would learn the fundamentals of court life such as table manners, care and maintenance of armor and weapons, and how to care for a horse. He would also learn how to read and how to appreciate music or even play the lute. His training would begin in the martial arts with his learning how to hunt and how to hawk.

The Page Becomes A Squire

At around the age of thirteen, as the boy is starting to develop the body, mentality, strength and abilities of manhood he is promoted to squire. He is then assigned as the personal assistant to a knight and it is in this time that he focuses on the combat arms of knighthood. He would get intensive training in weapons, armor, tactics and mounted combat. Often times he was allowed to carry a small sword and shield with him as a symbol of his status as a squire or a “knight in training”.

Becoming a Knight – The Ceremony of Knighthood

The ceremony of becoming a knight was something that could often last several days and could include fasting or a Vigil where the knight would engage in prayer and contemplation for a day and a night or longer. Then there would often be elaborate feasts and hardy discussions with lords and knights about chivalry, courage, religion, and the nature of being a knight. During the actual knighting ceremony the knight would swear allegiance to God and to his lord and he would receive presents such as a sword, a pair of spurs, armor, and a cloak. At the end of the ceremony the king would tap the squire on the shoulders with the flat of a sword blade and he would become a knight.

In modern times we have a very romanticized view of what a knight was and for good reason. There is a certain mysterious aura around the idea of knighthood and it is well founded. It was a serious path that a boy embarked on and something that he spent his whole childhood striving for and his whole adult life improving. The life of a knight was a life of constant vigilance in combat and constant striving toward improvement in the eyes of others.

Will Kalif is the author of two epic fantasy novels and an avid fan of all things Medieval.

To learn about Medieval Castles visit his website at:
Medieval Castles

Knights: In History and Legend

The most comprehensive book on knights and knighthood available.

The word "knight" conjures up images of gallant men in gleaming armor astride noble steeds, searching for foes to fight and fair maidens to rescue. In Knights the reality of knighthood is detailed, warts and all. This handsome reference tells the true story of these mounted warriors, who evolved from simple soldiers on horseback to defenders of the faith during the Crusades.

I have lots of interesting articles about knights, their weapons and their organizations right here: Articles about Knights

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