Knights in the Age of Chivalry
My novel, Grace, Lady of Cassio, The Lovages of
Cassio, Book Two, sequel to Yvonne, Lady of Cassio, begins in the reign of
Edward III. It will be published in October 2021.
At heart I am a historian. My novels are rich in
historical detail which requires intensive research, some of which I am sharing
in this blog.
The Path to Knighthood
At the age of seven a knight’s son served in another
knight’s household, often his maternal uncle’s, where he trained to fight,
first with a wooden sword. At sixteen, he knew knights should be courteous to
each other and had been taught the four cardinal rules of chivalry - piety,
prowess, loyalty, and moderation. Before being knighted, he had learned the
skills necessary for an expert jouster. As a knight his raison d’etre was
to fight.
Prior to being dubbed a knight, a squire bathed him
before he dressed in white clothes and a red robe. At night, he stood or knelt
in front of the altar in the chapel or Church for ten hours in solitude and
silent prayer. At dawn, he attended Mass before presentation to his lord by two
sponsors. The lord presented him with the sword and shield which were on the
altar during the vigil. After an older knight struck him on his neck or cheek
with his hand or the flat of his sword, the young knight swore a holy oath to
dedicate his sword to justice, piety, the orphaned, the oppressed, the church
and the widow.
Tournaments.
In tournaments aristocratic knights fought for fame
and glory.
Jousting was dangerous. A late 14th century
knight wore armour weighing 80-100 lbs. He sat on a high saddle, charging at a
closing speed of 40 miles per hour on a destrier weighing 200 lbs. He bore a
lance with which all the potentially lethal force was concentrated on a steel
tip. Jousts of peace with capped lances were less dangerous although a knight
might fall from his horse, die, or be seriously injured.
A Perfect Knight
Although a knight was a fighting machine, when he
removed his armour, he was expected to be courteous, gentle, devout, and
cultured. John of Salisbury, a cleric, listed some of a knight’s duty. To
defend the Church, to assail infidelity, to venerate the priesthood, to protect
the poor from injuries…to pour out his blood for his brothers (as the
formula of his oath directs him).
Tenants in Chief
Lords who had been knighted held their principal
estates from the king and were called tenants-in-chief. They received a summons
to attend each parliament and constituted the House of Lords. They were bound
to serve the king with their retinues at their own expense for forty days each
year at home or abroad.
Household knights.
Household
knights promised to serve an overlord loyally for life in peace and war,
wherever he was needed. He would serve at his overlord’s expense, be clothed by
him, and provided with a suitable horse.
Clergy. Military Orders
The
Order of the Temple abolished in 1308) and The Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
(Hospitallers) Orders of knights were originally established to protect the
routes to the Holy Land.
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