Knights were popular between 1100 -1300

Knight is a French word that means mounted soldier

trained and equipped to fight on horseback.

***In English it is spelled Cnight***

If one became a Knight, you must pass duties of:

Training commenced at the age of seven

The first step for a boy to become a knight was when he was sent to live with another household before the age of ten, working as a page. In his new home, he learn the skills of horse riding, sword play, reading, writing and court etiquette. All these were training, both physical and mental, for his future role as a squire, and then a knight.Once a boy had reached the age of fourteen, he was considered an adult and could become a squire, for a knight with whom he would work closely, learning as he watched.

The squire was a young servant to a knight and someone who one day hoped to become a knight

himself.

The squire’s job was to maintain and care for all the knight’s belongings, including his horse and armour, a knight’s most important possessions for fighting and jousting.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZrE1mVcB2k&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

After all the steps have been fulfilled

you would prepare for a special ceremony.•You would first fast to humble yourself You would then go to the Priest to confess your sins and ask for forgiveness

Then you would go before the Lord where you would participate in a ceremony/ celebration that would bestow upon him knighthood.He would recite a poem and take an oath of good behavior called the:

The word, "chivalry", comes from the French word, "chevalerie", which means "skills to handle a horse". The ability to handle a horse, especially in combat, was of utmost importance to a medieval knight. As the Middle Ages progressed, the term "chivalry" began to take on new meanings.

By bestowing the title of Christian By bestowing the title of Christian warriors to the knights, the pope warriors to the knights, the pope had begun the evolution of a code had begun the evolution of a code of conduct that all knights were of conduct that all knights were supposed to follow. supposed to follow.

In this code you promised to be:

In this oath you would promise to:

• Protect the feeble•Fight for justice and against evil•Courage•Loyalty•Devotion to God•Politeness•Respect of Women•Protection of the weak and fairness to the enemy

A knights armour was furnished by the Lord as you promise of protect his land…. It consisted of:

Helmet

Sword

Gauntlet

Mesh underlining

In times of peace a knight would perform regular household duties around the manor

He would train to participate in a tournament to find out who was the strongest… called: Jousting started in

France in the 1100

A coat of Arms is used by a person, Families, clans, a city, university, Military establishments, fraternities, sororities, corporations and catholic Bishops as a form of identification.

Over a half Million Coat of Arms have been recorded through the last 7 centuries.

The coat of Arms goes down from father to son. (if the father does not have a male heir. The daughter can take her fathers and combine it with her husbands C of A.)

This combining is called ** impaling**

Blazons is the description of

the coat of Arms.

The Coat of Arms was needed to identify a knight, it began by embroidering emblems of the Knight on a surcoat which went over his armor. The emblem was eventually put on the horse blanket. And soon was put on the shield of the warrior. The knight carried a light wooden shield for protection that was covered with hide and edged in metal.

A young man (Knight) hoped to make his coat of Arms famous by winning many battles. When a Knight would take part in a Tournament he would be announced by a Herald. Heraldry is now known as the recording of the coat of Arms.

if a family occupation was that of a fisherman the symbols on their coat of Arms would be fish. This too is how we get the last names of people today.Example: John the Fishermen or John Fisherman or John's Son Peter would be known as Peter Johnson.

*** Occupation

***Hopes

***Wishes

***Aspirations

Different symbols that were commonly used:

•Wheat was the symbol of Hope • Flower was the symbol of Joy • Cross was the symbol for the Religious or the Supernatural.