Becoming a Knight in Medieval Times

In the Middle Ages, there were two methods for a man to become a knight. The first was gaining the right through combat. A soldier might be given knighthood by the king, a lord, or even another knight if he displayed particularly valiant combat during a battle or war. The second option was becoming a knight’s apprentice and obtaining the title by toiling diligently and receiving training.

Who is eligible to be a knight?

Undoubtedly, a lot of young men in the Middle Ages wanted to be knights, but only a select few had the financial means to do so. A person who could afford a knight’s armour, weapons, and war horse was the first condition for becoming one. Only the extremely wealthy could afford these products since they were so expensive. In addition, knights belonged to the noble or aristocratic classes.

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 that he desired to become a knight. He would act as the knight’s page there. He essentially served as the knight’s butler when he was a young page, delivering messages, washing his clothes, and serving meals. The page gained manners and proper behaviour while serving the knight’s household.

The page started to prepare for battle as well. He would practise using wooden swords and shields with other pages. Additionally, he would begin to learn how to mount a horse while holding a lance and riding without hands.

Squire

The page would mature into a squire around the age of fifteen. The young guy would have new responsibilities as a squire. He would tend to the knight’s horses, polish his gear, and ride behind the warrior to combat.

Squires needed to be prepared for battle. The knight imparted fighting techniques and allowed them to practise with actual weapons. They needed to be robust and in terrific form. Squires kept up their equestrian drills, honing their jousting and mounted combat techniques. For five or six years, the majority of future knights served as squires.

Ceremony for Dubbing

A squire would become a knight at the age of twenty-one if he had demonstrated his bravery and combat prowess in battle. He was made a knight during a “dubbing” ceremony. He would bow before another knight, lord, or king during this ritual, who would then touch the squire on the shoulder with his sword, promoting him to the rank of knight.

The new knight would swear at the ceremony to uphold and defend his king and the church. He would be given a sword and a set of riding spurs.

Facts Worth Knowing About Becoming a Knight

Squires frequently learnt about siege warfare and castle defence from their knight. They would have to understand both how to defend their own castle and how to assault an adversary’s castle.

The French term “squire” that became the English word “squire” means “shield-bearer.”

Rich knights would have had a large staff of squires and pages to help them.

Squires would practise jousting with a quintain, a wooden replica.

Not all squires were elevated to the rank of knight in a formal ceremony. Some received knighthood while fighting.

Squires were forced to spend the night by themselves in prayer before to the dubbing process to become a knight.