1. Knighthood in Medieval Europe

2. A Knight Without Honor Is No Longer Alive

3. Let’s Watch
Video clip

4. Three Underlying Factors In The Role of a Knight
Religion
Military Duty
Love

5. Chivalry
The word, “Chivalry", comes from the French word, "chevalerie", which means "skills to handle a horse".
Related Terms in French:
Cheval = horse
Chevalier = knight
The ability to handle a horse, especially in combat, was of utmost importance to a medieval knight.

6. Medieval Code of Chivalry: The Knight's Rules
Thou shalt…
Believe all that the church teaches & defend the church at all costs.
Perform scrupulously thy feudal duties.
Respect weaknesses & constitute thyself as defender.
Be generous & give to those in need.
Love thy homeland.
Not recoil before enemies.
Never lie & remain faithful to thy pledged word.
Always be the champion of Right and Good against Injustice and Evil.
An honored set of rules sworn by all knights.
Emphasis upon courage, loyalty, devotion to duty. Courtesy toward and defense of women. Protection of the poor, weak, needy

7. Knights in Training: The Young Page
Page Training begins at 7-9
Under the Guidance of the Lady of the Manor
Learn Courtly Manners
How to Read
How to Dance
Completes Chores For Ladies & Knights - running errands, shining armor, cleaning boots, etc
Almost all nobles were knights
Society made up of three groups – nobles, clergy and peasants
and townspeople
Knight’s training:
Began at age 7 as a page
Under guidance of the lady of the manor
- Taught courtly manners, sometimes reading, music, dancing – all
the necessities of a noble
- Ran errands and served her in return
Also began serving the knights performing simple tasks
Became a squire at age 15 and placed under guidance of a knight
- Taught the skills of knighthood, especially horsemanship and combat skills.
- Followed knight into battle and helped him if he was wounded or fell off his horse
If proven to be a good fighter he was rewarded by being made a knight
- Special ceremony known as dubbing
Knights were expected to follow certain rules known as the code of chivalry
Knights trained for war by fighting each other in tournaments
Most popular form of entertainment during the Middle Ages
Popular event was joust 7 7

8. Knights in Training: From Page to Squire
Squire Training begins at 13-15
Under the Guidance of Knight
Learn Horseback Riding
Sword Fighting Techniques
Go Into Battle With Knight
Help Knight With Whatever He Needs
Help Knight If He Is Wounded
Help Knight to Mount Horse – Difficult Task Wearing Armor

9. The King “Dubs” Only The Most Worthy Squires
Squires stay up all night praying and fasting. No sleep. They then put on armor and white cloth to prevent mail from rusting and go to king and then made a grand exit off to fight or find something…

10. Leisure Time For A Knight
Hunting

11. Leisure Time For A Knight
Tournaments
Practice for fighting, very violent, lots of death. Richard I tried to civilize it so had 5 locations where knights had to pay to participate. This became jousting and was more for entertainment…

12. Leisure Time For A Knight
Music

13. Chivalric Literature Chansons de Geste
Epic Poems become songs which tell the story of heroic knights including valiant deeds and love
Sung by Troubadours traveling throughout France
“La Chanson de Roland” –Most Famous French Epic Poem of the Middle Ages

14. Knights spend much time away from home during the Three Crusades of the Middle Ages

15. The Crusades: A Fight For Jerusalem Between Christians & Muslims
The Christians are trying to regain the holy lands from the Muslims overtaking them.

16. Battle Scene of the Crusades

17. Archers Shooting Arrows Against the Charging Knights

18. Modern View of Medieval Knighthood
Typically Romanticized
Based Upon the Ideas of the Code of Chivalry
Influenced By the Survival of Medieval Romantic Writings
Tend to show knights as the chivalrous ideal

19. Heraldry
A coat of arms
Identified a knight when he was in battle