The most significant military figure of the feudal system of the European Middle Ages was the knight. The word knight being derived from the Old English word cniht, the equivalent of the Latin word caballarius, meaning "horseman."

Riding a powerful 1200 lb. war horse, clad in chain mail and shining metal armor with a heavy iron helmet hiding his deadly thoughts, and a shield on his left arm proclaiming his blood ties; a Knight was an ominous sight on the battlefield. A lance and hand pounded sword were his constant companions—Weapons of his time that are all but forgotten except for during Faire.

Knighthood flourished when battles still were won by hand-to-hand conflicts of heavy-armored knights. Even during times of peace, knights looked for conflicts in which to test their deadly skills. Fighting was almost an everyday occurrence, and the common people, who generally could not protect themselves against an invading foe, looked to these Knights for protection. To secure refuge the poorer folk became the serfs or villeins of more powerful neighbors, and those in turn were the vassals of those still more powerful. The institution of knighthood was a noble and integral part of this feudal system.

Training of a Knight The education of a knight usually began at the age of seven, when he was taken from his home and sent to the castle of some famous nobleman, perhaps his father's lord. Here he learned etiquette and manners by serving the lord and lady as a page until he was 14 years old. His duties, which included serving at the Lord’s table, he considered a privilege and accompanied his benefactors at all times. He received religious instruction from the chaplain and training in arms from the squires--He was taught by his mistress and her ladies to honor and protect women--He learned to sing and to play the lute, to hunt and to hawk. But above all else he learned to ride a horse.

At the age of 14, he graduated to the rank of squire where he learned to handle sword and lance and to bear the weight of the heavy armor. In addition to his other duties, he had now to carve at the dinner table and to accompany his knight to war where he assisted him in putting on his armor. He saw to it that the knights sword as well as other arms were polished until they shone. He stood by to give aid in conflict should his lord be overmatched and to lend his horse should the master lose his own. It was the squire who raised his knight when he fell and who bore his body away if he were wounded or killed in battle.

In the Prologue to Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' is the following description of a squire: "His clothes were embroidered red and white, as it were a meadow of fresh flowers. All the day he was singing or playing upon a lute, he was as fresh as the Month of May. His coat was short, with long wide sleeves. Well could he sit a horse and ride, make songs, joust and dance, draw and write. He loved so ardently that at nighttime he slept no more than a nightingale. He was courteous, modest, and helpful, and carved before his master at table."

The Knighting Ceremony At the age of 21, if he had stood well as page and squire, the young man was made a knight. This was an occasion of elaborate ceremony and solemn vows. After a purification bath, the candidate for knighthood knelt or stood all night in prayer before the altar on which lay the precious armor he would don on the morrow. In the morning there was a religious ritual, with perhaps a sermon on the knight's duty to protect the weak, to right wrongs, and to honor women. Then in the courtyard in the presence of the assembled knights and fair ladies, a knight's armor was buckled on, piece by piece, a sword was girded about his waist, and spurs were attached to the candidate's feet. He then knelt to receive the accolade. This was a blow upon the neck or shoulder, given by the officiating lord or knight with his fist or with the flat of a sword. As he gave it he said, "In the name of God and St. Michael and St. George, I dub thee knight; be brave and loyal." The ceremony was followed by exhibitions of the young knight's skill in arms. Into the Great World of Adventure After the festivities attending the conferring of knighthood, the young knight was free to go where he pleased. Usually he rode forth in quest of adventure, armor on his back, his spurs on his heels, and with sword, shield, and lance ready to hand.

As a knight-errant he sought a fair maiden in need of a champion or a strange knight with whom to joust. Sometimes he stationed himself at a bridge or cross road to challenge to combat any knight who happened by. He was usually sure of hospitality at any castle to which he came. After a time he might return to his father's castle or join the following of some great lord or become one of the multitude of crusaders who journeyed to rescue the Holy Sepulcher. Whenever or however he went he took with him the three watchwords of a knight: Religion, Honor, Courtesy. The ideal knight is thus described by the poet Chaucer: "And though he was valorous, he was prudent and as meek as a maid of his bearing. In all his life he never yet spoke discourteously but was truly a perfect gentle knight."

With the rise of the longbow and the crossbow carrying wounds or death from a distance, and the invention of gunpowder and cannon rendering useless the feudal castle, the knight in armor passed out of existence. Knighthood then came to be merely a title of honor for persons who served the king or country. During the Middle Ages, several orders of knighthood were founded. Among these orders was the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, known generally as the Knights Templar's.

The orders that were formed during the Crusades had a religious origin. There were also a number of purely secular orders of knights founded by various monarchs in Europe. Some of these orders have persisted into the 20th century; membership is bestowed upon citizens who have made outstanding contributions to society in the arts, sciences, politics, and the military.

Perhaps the best-known order is that of the Garter, established by Edward III of England about 1348. Other orders of the British Empire are that of the Bath, founded by George I in 1725; the Order of St. Michael and St. George, founded by prince regent, subsequently King George IV, in 1818; the ancient Scottish Order of the Thistle, thought to have been founded about 787 and revived by James II in 1687; the Royal Victorian Order, founded by Queen Victoria in 1896; and the Order of the British Empire, founded by George V in 1917. The Irish Order of St. Patrick was founded by George III in 1783.

Other countries had organizations of knights as well. In France the Order of the Golden Fleece was founded in 1430. It later became the principal knightly order of both Austria and Spain. Portugal had the Order of St. Benedict of Avis. In Germany there were the orders of the Black Eagle and of the Red Eagle. Russia had three orders: St. Andrew, St. George, and St. Nicholas. The Danish Order of the Elephant was founded in the 15th century and revived in 1693. The Norwegian Order of St. Olav was not founded until 1847. In the Far East, Japan had two orders: the Chrysanthemum and the Rising Sun. In countries that are no longer monarchies, the best-known modern order is the French Legion of Honor which was established by Napoleon in 1802. Other republics have similar orders of merit to award civilian and military honors.