How Did The Knight's Weapons Change Throughout The Middle Ages

By the time of the Crusades in Medieval Europe, Knights were nothing out of the ordinary. A knight's training began at around four or five. It involved them learning how to ride a pony. Around the age of eight, the young trainee would be sent to be a page for a lord or a relative with influence. At this point, they would refine their swordsmanship, improve their horse skills, and would be taught more about their religion. At the age of 14, pages were eligible to become a squire, where they continued their sword fighting skills. They would accompany a knight into a battle, care for him, care for his horses, and would simply hope to be chosen to

To be a knight, his fitness level had to be exceptional enough to last through a long, intense battle. Knights had to face a variety of challenges and were expected to handle them as any knight would. For example, some battles would last long periods of times, so these knights were expected to handle different weather changes, tiredness, and hungriness. The most important qualification that a knight had to have was modeling bravery due to the extreme battles that would be fought. Through these long battles, knights had to stay positive and not give up for what they are fighting for.

Knights are one of the most mistaken figures of the medieval era due to fairytales and over exaggerated fiction novels. When medieval knights roamed the earth, it was known that they were only human and, like humans, had faults. These knights did not always live up to the standards designated by society. However, in The Canterbury Tales, the knight is revealed as a character that would now be considered a knight in shining armor, a perfect role model in how he acts and what he does. Modern day people see them as chivalrous figures instead of their actual role as mounted cavalry soldiers. As time passes, the idea of what a knight is changes from a simple cavalry soldier to a specific type of behavior.

In warfare today weapons have improved in accuracy and ease of use. With the simple pull of a trigger a soldier can take down his/her intended target. Rather than knights trying disarm their objective with a sword. With the ability to shoot long range it removes the necessity to ride horses, while in battle, to move quicker and more efficiently. However, the way one trains to defend for the common good is similar. Comparatively both knights and soldiers have to go through some degree of training to reach their rank. Although, to be a knight the men must have been born into nobility and women could not fight. While anyone over the age 18 can fight in current day. However, to be knight a young boy would start learning at the age of seven and would continue learning up to the age of 21. Where a soldier today will start training and only train for a couple months to possibly a year.

• Age of chivalry emerges as knights become highly valued and respected for their loyalty and military

This also brings with it the idea of being willing to give one’s life for another’s; whether he would be giving his life for a poor man or his lord. Under a better name, it is warrior chivalry. This is thought to be the most achieved duty of chivalry. A knight is not always portrayed as lady killer, but more popularly as a noble warrior. Were knights really as noble as they seemed? The logical of a human really doesn’t allow that to happen. Why would someone want to risk their own life for lives of others? The human mind doesn’t function like that. Knights still fight however, but this is based purely on the fact that there is no way around it. If a knight chose not to fight, treason was the only price. Knights did not have a willing attitude. To appeal to the human mind, why would one desire to throw his body out to a sure death? A man in his sane mind would not do so. This is clearly reflected in the medieval narrative Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The example begins with the knights of the round table all meeting in their hall during evening festivities. A mysterious green knight enters the hall and possesses a challenge. The challenge is that one knight of Arthur’s gets a unresponsive attack at the neck of this giant green knight with his own axe. The only loophole is that in one year and a day

In the beginning, knights usually wore armor made of metal chains. Later on, metal armor became more efficient. The armor was used to protect different parts of the body. The first type of armor used by the knights was chain mail and a helmet. It was then useless when the crossbow was invented. Next, came the suit made of metal plates, it covered the whole body from head to toe. The pieces of the armor included the helmet for the head, the cuisse used to cover the thigh, the greave covers ankle to knee, the visor used to let the knight see, and many other

“At the age of 7, young boys started their knighthood training to become a Page. From the age of seven to fourteen, they were given the role of a Squire. At the age of 21, they officially became a Knight.” (Knighthood Training, 2017, para. 1). His extended period of training prepared him for battle and protecting the lord and his kingdom. There, he would learn horsemanship, swordsmanship, and would learn the chivalric code of conduct. “At the age of 3, they began practising fencing with a wooden sword, a mamorigatana sword for self-defence between 5-7. They then finished their training at age 15.” (Childhood and Samurai Training, 2004, para.1). As compared to a knights training, Samurais were not as skilful as Knight’s due to their short length of training of 15 years, compared to a Knight of 21 years. Therefore, a Knight had more experience due to his lengthier

In the past years, the job of a medieval knight was to fight battles for his lord. They used weapons like daggers, or longswords, and many more. Knights were also referred to as warriors and they are commonly expected to guard a castle. There are a couple of jobs from America today that best relates to the job of a medieval knight. For example, one job that best relates to a medieval knight is a soldier working in the military.

By the 15th century, Knights were protecting themselves with full suits of plate armor. This armor was very deflecting which reduced the impact on blows with a weapon. Unfortunately, this was very big and heavy and sometimes the Knights had to trudge around all the way to battle and they got a heat stroke before they even go to the battle. Armor was made to imitate civilian fashion so the armor always had carved patterns in every area on the plate. Armor wasn't the only thing that Knights brought to battle, the sword was the most valuable weapon to a knight which is a symbols to knighthood itself. Before the 14th century the double edged longsword was used for battle. As plate armor became commonly used, Knights then preferred more pointed swords so they could jab through the armor. Another weapon of choice is a mace which is like a big mallet and can concuss the opponent. These wars were clearly devastating, gruesome and bloody and even today these weapons are still very

Ideas that have been taught in many societies since the first civilizations of Mesopotamia to the world now are duty, loyalty and bravery. No period relied on these ideas more than the Middle Ages time of Europe. The European societies were based on the nature of feudalism. Feudalism worked if everyone in the society did their duty and gave loyalty to everyone above the on the social latter. The knight was the backbone of the feudal society. He was the protector of the heavenly Lord, their lady and the earthly lord. The roles and duties of the knight are quotes as, “the most noble knight under Christ, And the loveliest lades that lived on earth ever, and he the comeliest king, that the court holds.” (P. 26) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight gives a perspective to view life from the courtly aspect of the European feudal

The knights were the warriors of the time period in between the fall of Rome and the beginning of the Renaissance, also known as the Middle Ages. Knights had to undergo years of training starting as a young boy. Though they were well trained, knights still needed protection. To protect themselves, knights would wear complex armor that usually took over an hour to put on, and often needed the help of his squire. In order to fight well, weapons were essential. A knight’s weapons were sharp and durable. Horses were also crucial to the survival of a knight. France, England, and Germany yielded many famous knights throughout history.

The knights were the warriors of the time period in between the fall of Rome and the beginning of the Renaissance, also known as the Middle Ages. Knights had to undergo years of training starting as a young boy. Though they were well trained, knights still needed protection. To protect themselves, knights would wear complex armor that usually took over an hour to put on, and often needed the help of his squire. In order to fight well, they needed strong weapons. A knight’s weapons were sharp and durable. In France, England, and Germany, knights defended their lords

The knights were the third level of feudal society in Europe. Knights were usually vassals who paid protection and loyalty to their lords in return for land. They were warriors in armor who fought on horseback and had to have a good deal of wealth in order to afford a full suit of armor and a horse. Knights wore coats of armor made from metal links called mail and carried swords and shields. A knight’s tactic when fighting in war was that he would charge at his enemies then spear them with his lance. During the time period of AD 700s to AD 1200s, the knights were the most powerful soldiers in Europe.

The medieval era was one full of strict codes and guidlines on how one should live and behave, among these are the Bible, and most importantly knights chivalric code. It was this that a knight valued above all other things, a knight was expected to rather die than be called a coward. This code is heavily satirized in Monty Python. In the film many characteristics of a knight are exaggerated and pointed fun at in various situations.