KNIGHT  of  AGES
                                                             by
                                                        Syr Edward Keefe ap Michaelss

     Today's perception of a knight is so passionately bound to romance that the first and possibly only image we have of him is a knight in shining armor rescuing a damsel in distress, at least that’s what writer's and movies have lead most to believe.
     But were those rescuers on horseback really the romeos we’ve been told about, or was there more to them than just the valor they were labeled with?
     The concept of Knighthood didn’t arise until the seventh century when the Muslim empire decided to conquer the known world. After their armies swept through France’s larger towns of Bordeaux and Narbonne on their destructive way to Tours and his home town of Pointers, the unknown Frank, Charles 'The Hammer'  Martel, rallied an army to defeat them.   From that defeat he became known as the Savior of Christendom.
     With their town saved he petitioned the church for land grants to reward those who fought, and for that men knelt at his feet, swearing to fight for him where or whenever he demanded, even providing their own sword, shield, and horse to do so.  For his war tactics against the Muslim's he became their ruler beginning the Carolingian Dynasty and whose grandson would be called Charlemagne the great.
     From that one unselfish act the ideals of knighthood took hold, yet decades would pass before Charlemagne would be crowned king and develop the mounted warrior for which it's best known.
     Those first ceremonies knighting a warrior were stark thirty-second occasions normally  held on a field before a battle. A Noble or knight would raise his sword, strike his vassal on the neck with the hilt as he shouted, ‘Thou are knighted!’ Unfortunately, this didn’t change until the 11th century when King Henry I of England knighted his son-in-law, Count Geoffrey of Anjou, in a lavish formal ceremony complete with royal pomp and gifts.
     From Geoffrey’s elaborate anointing warriors were granted more than just a thump and a holler, requiring a longer time period to reach such a sought after goal.
      But how did one become a fully vespered knight in that exclusive brotherhood?
     When a Noble's son reached the age of seven he would begin the first of two long stages of preparation hoping to become knighted at the age of twenty-one, though which king commanded that age for this status to occur is unknown, yet that maturity barometer still continues to this day.
     If fortunate to have a father or relative all ready a knight he would begin training at home, if not, he would be sent to another Royal or Noble household as a paige, and whatever childhood he enjoyed ceased with the next seven years spent in subservient labor to his Knight.
     If he reached his fourteenth season, his small weapons abilities was good, no sickness claimed him, and he found favor with his knight he would be raised to the rank of squire and receive his silver spurs.
     A squire now meant he received heavy weapons training and actual war experience by following his knight into battle.  During the next seven years he would learn how to wield a heavy sword and even heavier shield to build up muscle, while also mastering the battle axe, lance, mace, ball and chain, and perhaps training his own Destrier warhorse to bite, kick and obey. Daily practice of every weapon and horse meant survival, but along with constant practice he was still expected to do the drudgery chores of washing his knight's clothes, caring for the horses, keeping his weapons in good condition, cooking meals, serving his table, and anything else he asked to do. But if his knight had enough land to support other attendants there would be one to care of the horses, one to help him mount and pick him up from the battle field if he fell, and one to guard the prisoners captured for ransom. And if he was truly lucky to become the personal squire to a Royal King or high ranking Noble there would also be several younger paiges to do all the daily chores.
     If knighted, his life then became two separate entities. War he constantly trained for and peace which he endured until another war came along. And though his non-inheritable title was the smallest and lowliest of all ranks his outward display of surcoat, sword, war horse, and gold spurs imbued him with the invisible mantle of an earth bound god that brought him instant homage and respect.
    He would then seek out a Herald to hear his ideas for his armorial bearings. The Herald would then begin a search to compare his idea to the thousand others, and if found unique it would be registered. When the Herald completed the registration the knight received an illuminated shield on parchment to show exactly how his device and exact colors must look when displayed.  That personal identity was added to his surcoat, armor, banner, horse caparison, tapestries, household tabards, even his lady's gown, and anything else that it could be painted or woven on.
     Knighthood had only rank of distinction that of champion, and Nobility paid much to retain these seasoned warriors as royal, personal and protective guardsmen. 
     A Knight Errant or professional soldier roamed the country seeking adventure and renown. They were intense, dedicated, and unyielding men whose fighting abilities were their foremost attributes. Yet, for us today it was the end of their thousand year reign that we find the most appealing. The social etiquette, protocol, and ceremony of the 14th and 15th centuries demanded he also embody all the manners and ideals of chivalry, honor, loyalty. And when merrier times prevailed that he was also more than eloquent in dance and poetry, humble in religious prayers, knowledgeable in court etiquette and intrigue, and more than chivalrous in protecting a Lady from insult or harm.
     As knighthood evolved so did the Catholic church, which was perhaps the most guiding force in christening a man's soul to god while extracting numerous vows to protect it, the king, and those less fortunate. It was the main facet that did more to raise a knight to near saint status than any other during those times.
     With the majority of the populace peasant it was the Royal and Nobleman's money that built the protective stone castles, furnished armies, and held land. And all land and any structure on it belonged to the king, even when large parcels were given to a church to save his soul, or to reward a favorite noble for loyal service. In turn, those feudal lords portioned out smaller fiefs to vassal knights giving them the means to arm themselves for military service and support any followers he could acquire.
     Once he swore fealty he was obligated to provide forty days service to the Kings army each year, or if poor it merely allowed a peasant the privilege of working a tiny plot of land to eat. What neither realized was fealty made them the working class chattel with an  arrangement only favoring  the upper class, leaving them to never see it as anything but a survival tactic given their lot in life.
     The codes that forged knighthood into existence and favored it for well over a thousand years may have also contributed heavily to its downfall. During it's final two centuries it was reclaimed by Royalty saying only their hand could bestow such honor, giving it greater social status that replaced inherited titles such as Duke William of Normandy with that of Sir William, Duke of Normandy.
     It’s quite possible it's final demise came from two equally great forces, the church who continued to levy stricter codes on anyone wanting to gain knighthood, and the fourteenth century itself when the lower classes began to openly rumble for social change. Yet, it can also just as reasonably argued that a knight's usefulness was becoming less and less able to depend upon a Noble or Royals open-door charity. Both royals and noble's alike began to realize is was far easier and less costly to dispatch an Emissary to sooth a misunderstanding or prevent a war than it was to house, feed, and cloth an entire order of knights or standing army.
     So why then is knighthood still coveted to this day?
     The desire to become a knight may not stem from one ideal, but from the allure of many. It may be an inner desire to swear one's allegiance to a person, idea or cause, the need to publicly vow to defend and aid those less fortunate, or simply the desire to breath an oath to uphold their strong faith in God, making mere men saints. And if one does look closely at such defining ascriptions of a knight, each one seems more associated to what we believe a deity should be.   
     Let me remind here that knighthood was not all honor and glory. There were knights who not only ignored their solemn vows, but trampled them mightily, attributing some with doing the worse treachery and most heinous of crimes. The Black Prince was  thought to be one such scourge from his name alone, when in fact he was the most honorable man King Edward the III knew thus granting him the privilege of becoming the first knight in his Order of the Gata/Garter.
     This long past but never-forgotten age is still the most impressive and the most written about. And in today's modern times millions of people return to it through weekend live reenactment groups, reading the never ending supply of books on the subject, or enjoying near-life movies.  For not only did author’s Ramon Lull and Thomas Mallory fantasize knighthood into the god-like glory we enjoy, but that very eras bard’s, poets, clerics, and chroniclers also lifted it up to where they thought it should belong as well.
     So what of today's period writer who omits the harsh reality of those times, or the reenactment society that rewrites history to make play time more fun? Well, for those of us who eagerly read those tales or indulge in such groups, I hope each one continues to feed this thirsty soul for a very long time to come.