Medieval Knights

Medieval Knights

A warrior or nobleman in former times or a person who as been given a royal recognition today is called a Knight. Originally, knights are warriors riding on the back of the horses but eventually, the title became more associated with nobility and social status because of the cost of equipping themselves in the cavalry. However, during the middle ages, the term 'knight' is referred to a mounted and armored soldier. So eventually, knighthood became a formal title bestowed on those nobleman trained for active war duty.

The term 'knight' is connected to the Old English cniht which means 'page boy' or the German knecht, which means 'servant'. But the association of the term 'knight' is more acquainted to the Roman equites.

The female version of the term 'knight' is usually 'dame'

It was generally considered honorable to be dubbed as a 'knight' by the hand of a monarch.

In the late 13th century, a code of conduct and uniformity of dress for knight began taking place. Knights were obliged to wear a white belt and golden spurs as a sign of their status and they were also often requires to swear allegiance to a liege lord.

Knights had their "knightly virtues" which makes them follow a strict set of rules of conduct. These virtues are as follows:

• - Mercy -
• - Humility -
• - Honor -
• - Sacrifice -
• - Fear of God -
• - Faithfulness -
• - Courage -
• - Utmost graciousness and courtesy to ladies - 

The role of the knight was promoted and extolled through highly stylized tournaments that bore little resemblance to the bloody warfare in which the "usual knight" had one participated in -- this happened in the times of peace until the end of 16th century.

But time came when even tournaments went out of fashion and knighthood became less tied to warfare and much more tied with social status.

As of today, the known knighthoods are as follows:

• The United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth countries
• The Netherlands
• Denmark
• Malaysia
• The Holy See

Though we presume that there are still other monarchies that still follow the practice. 

SOURCE: http://www.themiddleages.net/life/knights.html