What did it mean to be a Knight in the Middle Ages?

Answer 1

Knights were men (and sometimes women) who could fight as heavy cavalry. They were trained over a long period of apprenticeship. When they were knighted, they usually received a manorial estate so they could provide for the horses, armor, weapons, and assistants they would need. In return for this, they had to provide military support for the king who knighted them. Their title made them a member of the nobility, of greater consequence than most other people, and their estates made them wealthy.

Answer 2

AnswerIn the Middle Ages to be a knight meant a lot. It took years to become a knight. When a young boy (almost always of noble blood) was about 6 or 7 years old he was sent to the castle of his father's feudal lord to become a page. And for about 8-9 years he served his lord carrying messages, fetching things, etc. Then when he was around 14 or 15 he became a squire and was "assigned" (if you will) to a knight. As a squire his job was to fetch and carrying things for his knight and to help him put on his armor. During what spare time he had a squire would do exercises that would help him become a good fighter (such as mock battles with other squires). Then when he was about 17 or 18 he began to fight in real battles. At any point from this time on he could be knighted. Usually a squire became a knight after he had proven his valour in battle. Though sometimes he could prove himself brave in general and then a date would be sent for his "dubbing". The night before he would serve vigil in a chapel. He would neither eat, drink nor sleep during this time but prayed. The next morning he would be brought before his lord to be knighted. Don't let the movies fool you. There was no light dramatic tap on his shoulder. When knighted the lord doing the knighting would take the new knight's sword and give him such a wallop on the shoulder that often the knight would fall over (though they tried not to). After this the knight was giving his shield with his heraldic symbol on it, and his sword. From now on he would be known as "Sir such and such" and would have the right to fight in tournament and to carry a lady's favor. MoreFrom the point of view of a person's place in society, being a knight meant a lot. Knights were at the lowest rank of nobility, but they were nobility, and above most commoners. The younger sons of nobility, who could not inherit titles, were commoners, and if they wanted to be above most of the middle class, they had to do something about that. Becoming a knight usually meant their having a manor, and they became members of the landed gentry, which, while common, was also of the untitled lower nobility.

A person could be of the untitled nobility and a commoner at the same time. If you had to be a commoner, becoming a knight put you into the untitled nobility.

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Answer 3

life for a knight sucked. they were poor and forced to work, as soldiers protecting their country.

Answer 4

they fought in battle to protect them self and their lords.

And also practiced so they could become more skilled and strong.