How to Raise a Knight in the Middle Ages

How to Raise a Knight in the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, a man could become a knight in one of two methods. The first was gaining the upper hand in combat. A soldier may be knighted by the king, a lord, or even another knight if he fought very valiantly during a battle or war. The second option was to work hard and receive training under a knight in order to become their apprentice.

How to Raise a Knight in the Middle Ages

Who could become a knight?

While many young men in the Middle Ages undoubtedly aspired to become knights, only a select few could afford to do so. A person who could afford a knight’s armor, war horse, and armaments was the first prerequisite for becoming one. Only the very wealthy could afford these expensive products. Those from the noble or aristocratic classes also made up the knightly ranks.

Page

A boy would move in with a knight’s family when he was seven years old, if he—or more likely his parents—decided he wanted to become a knight. He would act as a page for the knight there. He essentially served as the knight’s personal attendant during his early years, taking care of his attire, delivering messages, and serving meals. While employed by the knight’s household, the page picked up manners and appropriate behavior.

The page started learning how to fight as well. He would practice with wooden swords and shields on other pages. He would also begin to learn how to ride a horse with a lance in his hands.

Squire

The page would marry into the squire class at the age of fifteen. The young guy would have new responsibilities as a squire. He would clean the knight’s armor and weapons, tend to his horses, and ride with him into battle.

Squires needed to be prepared for combat. The knight gave them hands-on training with actual weapons and taught them fighting techniques. They needed to be robust and in good condition. Squires kept up their equestrian drills, honing their jousting and mounted combat techniques. For five or six years, the majority of aspiring knights served as squires.

Dubbing Ceremony

A squire would become a knight at the age of twenty-one if he had demonstrated his valor and fighting prowess. He was knighted during a “dubbing” ceremony. He would kneel in front of another knight, lord, or monarch during this ritual, and the knight would then tap the squire on the shoulder with his sword, converting him into a knight.

The new knight would swear an oath to uphold and defend the church and his king during the rite. A sword and some riding spurs would be given to him.

Facts about Becoming a Knight

• Squires often learned about castle and siege warfare from their knight. They would need to know how to defend their own castle as well as how to attack an enemy’s castle.
• The word “squire” comes from a French word meaning “shield-bearer.”
• Wealthy knights would have had several pages and squires to assist them.
• Squires would practice jousting using a wooden dummy called a quintain.
• Not all squires were made knights through an elaborate ceremony. Some were awarded knighthood on the battlefield.
• Before the dubbing ceremony to become a knight, squires were required to spend the night alone in prayer.

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