Riding Warriors
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Riding Warriors Riding Warriors From about 800 until the 1600s, warriors on horseback fought to protect land and people in western Europe. Who were these brave men? They were called knights. Fashion in Steel Fashion in Steel Early knights wore iron helmets and hooded coats made from mail—a flexible form of armor composed of many small iron rings linked together. Mail However, by the 15th century, knights were dressing in full suits of armor like this one. Although each metal plate served a purpose, the ridges in this armor were just decoration. They were meant to imitate the pleats that were stylish in “regular” clothes at the time. Suit of armor worn in Germany in the early 16th century Becoming a Knight Becoming a Knight Training to become a knight started at an early age. When a boy was only 7 years old, he was sent to live in a nobleman’s house. As a page, he was taught the manners he needed to use at court. At about age 14, training got more serious. A page became a squire and was allowed to serve a real knight. A squire learned how to care for armor, handle weapons, and ride a Page horse. He also practiced social skills—including dancing and carving meat for food. A successful squire became a knight Squire when he was around 21 years old. Arming for the Fight The helmet always went on last. Arming for the Fight A knight’s armor was very important. It weighed about 50 pounds but his squire could get him in and out of the suit in just a few minutes. Even though it looks uncomfortable, a knight wearing armor could do just about anything he could do when he was not wearing it. Good thing—or the knight would be useless in battle! A knight’s padded undergarment had strings to help attach armor. Tools of the Trade Tools of the Trade 15th-century sword A knight’s equipment didn’t stop at the suit of armor. He also needed weapons like swords and axes. And, of course, a horse! A knight had to pay for his own 14th-century ax equipment—including his horse. Believe it or not, armor was made to protect horses, too. But only wealthy knights could afford it. Eyeguard Horse armor Noseguard Knight in Shining Armor Knight in Shining Armor Knights were fighting men. But they were also expected to behave with honor, courage, and courtesy—even toward their enemies. By the 12th century, this strict code of conduct, called chivalry, required knights to show special manners toward women. Medallions like The parade shield you see here this one were shows a knight kneeling before his made to honor lady. The words on the scroll mean special marriages. “you or death.” Many romantic stories were written about “Knights in Shining Armor”. 15th-century parade shield No Need for Knights No Need for Knights By the 17th century, the need for knights began to drop. Full-time professional soldiers took their place on the battlefields. Bullets eventually replaced swords. However, the honor of knighthood lives on. Modern re-enactors recreate a knight’s life. Castles A modern day re-enactor offer tours and tales. plays a knight Believe it or not, the honor of being a knight can still being granted in some countries. For example, England’s queen or king can give the honor to a British citizen for outstanding service to the country. Knights of the Middle Ages Teacher Notes Riding Warriors Riding Warriors Riding Warriors From about 800 until the Under Charlemagne and his descendants, armored horsemen became more and more 1600s, warriors on horseback fought to protect land and people in western Europe. Who were these brave men? important. The Carolingian cavalry had coats of scale armor, helmets, shields, and They were called knights. spears. When the Roman Empire broke up in the ninth century, local powerful lords and their mounted warriors offered protection to peasants, who became their serfs in return. The lords themselves owed allegiance to greater lords, and all were bound by oaths of loyalty. All these lords, and some of the men who served them, were knights—warriors who fought on horseback. Fashion in Steel Fashion in Steel Fashion in Steel Early knights wore iron The main body armor worn by early knights was made of mail, consisting of many small, helmets and hooded coats made from mail—a flexible form of armor composed of many small iron rings linked together. Mail lined iron rings. During the 12th century knights started to wear more mail: their sleeves However, by the 15th century, knights were dressing in full suits of armor like this one. Although each metal plate served a purpose, got longer and mail leggings became popular. A padded garment called an aketon was the ridges in this armor were just decoration. They were meant to imitate the pleats that were stylish in “regular” clothes at the time. Suit of armor worn also worn below the mail to absorb the blows. In the 14th century knights increasingly in Germany in the early 16th century added steel plates to protect their limbs, and the body was often protected further with a coat-of-plates, made of pieces of iron riveted to a cloth covering. By the 15th century, knights were protecting themselves with full suits of plate armor. The armor’s smooth surface deflected the edges and points of weapons. This reduced the impact of any blows but still allowed the armor to be made reasonably light. Plate armor was often made to imitate civilian fashions. Some armors were partly painted black, both to preserve the metal and as a decoration. Or armor could be “blued” by controlled heating of the metal. Some pieces were engraved with a pointed tool, and from the 16th century on, designs were often etched into the metal with acid. Gold plating, or gilding, was sometimes used to embellish borders or bands of decoration and, in some cases, entire armors. Becoming a Knight Becoming a Knight Becoming a Knight Training to become a knight Sons of noble families were sent away at a very early age to the household of a great lord started at an early age. When a boy was only 7 years old, he was sent to live in a nobleman’s house. As a page, he was taught the manners he needed to use at court. or to the king’s court. As a page, they learned a variety of skills. They were trained to At about age 14, training got more serious. A page became a squire and was allowed to serve a real knight. serve a knight, to attend noble ladies, and to learn the art of courtly manners and good A squire learned how to care for armor, handle weapons, and ride a Page horse. He also practiced social skills—including dancing and carving meat for food. behavior. A successful squire became a knight Squire when he was around 21 years old. Squires trained constantly to exercise their muscles and improve their skill with weapons. They practiced with each other and also sometimes with their knightly masters, who also needed to keep in shape. Such training was hard and not everyone could manage it. Those who did eventually went on to become knights. Arming for the Fight Arming for the Fight The helmet always went on last. Arming for the Fight A knight’s armor was very Early armor was quite easy to put on. Mail was pulled on over the head, and a coat of important. It weighed about 50 pounds but his squire could get him in and out of the suit in just a few minutes. plates was buckled at the back, or at the sides and shoulders. Plate armor was more tricky Even though it looks uncomfortable, a knight wearing to put on, but a knight could be armed by his squire in a few minutes and the armor could armor could do just about anything he could do when he was not wearing it. be speedily removed if necessary. After putting on a garment called an arming doublet, a Good thing—or the knight would be useless in battle! A knight’s padded undergarment had strings to help attach armor. knight was always armed from the feet upward, finishing with the helmet. In the 15th century, certain pieces of armor were laced to the arming doublet, but in the following century these pieces were more often attached to each other by straps or rivets. Here a squire is arming a knight in late-15th-century German “Gothic” style armor. Knights of the Middle Ages Teacher Notes Tools of the Trade Tools of the Trade Tools of the Trade 15th century sword A knight’s equipment didn’t The sword was the most important knightly weapon, a symbol of knighthood itself. Until stop at the suit of armor. He also needed weapons like swords and axes. And, of course, a horse! A knight had to pay for his own 14th century ax the late 13th century the double-edged cutting sword was used in battle. But as plate equipment—including his horse. Believe it or not, armor was made to protect horses, too. But only wealthy knights Eyeguard armor became more common more pointed swords became popular, because they were could afford it. Horse armor better for thrusting through the gaps between the plates. Other weapons such as the short Noseguard ax could be used on horseback, too. The horse was an expensive but vital part of a knight’s equipment.