Steps To Become A Knight Essay Example
Steps To Become A Knight Essay Example

Steps To Become A Knight Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (748 words)
  • Published: November 23, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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Knights are renowned for their strength and nobility. But how does one become a knight? The path to knighthood involves two stages: pagehood and squireship. Typically, individuals born into noble families are selected for this esteemed honor.

Between the ages of 6-8, a young boy is sent to a Lord's castle to commence his training as a page. During this stage, the boy engages in activities such as playing "chicken" (a game involving sitting on someone's shoulders and attempting to knock them down) to develop strength for combat. The boy gains knowledge about armor and weapons, while also honing his riding and jousting skills using either injured or elderly horses.

Later on, the page would have the opportunity to ride an actual horse. The page would strengthen their muscles by striking a sword against a wooden object, while

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also practicing combat using wooden and dull weapons. Additionally, they would learn the art of hunting and handling hawks and falcons. Pages were also expected to assist knights and lords during mealtime, which involved learning how to properly carve meat.

In addition to combat training, a knight also needed to be courteous. The lady of the castle was responsible for this task. She instructed the page in manners and proper behavior. She also taught him how to sing, play instruments, and dance.

Sometimes, the lady would also educate him in reading and writing, while priests would provide the page with religious training. Eventually, as the page grew older, he would be taught how to charge at a rotating wooden target, which was intended to knock down those who were weaker. In actual combat, the wooden target would be replace

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by an actual opponent. It is astonishing to think that children had to depart from their homes at the tender age of 7.

Perhaps the purpose behind this was to foster their physical resilience and courage. Although it may be deemed acceptable if one possessed a horse and the ability to read and write, unlike the majority who were illiterate. By the age of 14, the page would progress to become a squire, shadowing and acquiring knowledge from an actual knight.

The squire would accompany and defend the knight in battle. Additionally, the squire would assist in preparing the knight for battles and tournaments, ensuring that his armor and weapons were well-maintained. Moreover, the squire would become proficient in handling the armor and weapons, occasionally wearing the armor to familiarize himself with it. The squire's training would include practicing combat techniques with actual weapons against wooden dummies, honing his skills with the sword, lance, and spear.

As a grown squire, he would have become acquainted with the weapons, which must have been an enjoyable experience. Learning to fight and standing alongside a true knight evokes comparisons to apprentices in the middle ages, as portrayed in a book I read last year. These apprentices didn't receive monetary compensation but were provided with education and nurturing.

Between the ages of 18 and 20, a squire would be named a knight. The knight who trained the squire was mainly responsible for this transition. On the eve of becoming a knight, the squire would confess his sins to a priest, seeking to begin a new life free from wrongdoing. Subsequently, he would undergo a symbolic bath and engage in fasting to purify

his soul.

That evening, he would don a white attire and engage in prayer while guarding his armor and weapons in the chapel. The following morning, he would be donned in clothes that represented meaningful colors - red (symbolizing his blood), white (symbolizing purity), and brown (symbolizing the return to the earth upon his death). Golden patches were affixed to his ankles as he was fastened with a sword. A tap on each shoulder with a sword bestowed upon him the title of knight. From then on, swords and gilt spurs served as emblems of knighthood. Should a knight ever betray his vows or act dishonorably, he would face another ceremony resulting in his execution. I had never realized the rigorous training knights had to endure.

Since the age of 6 or 7, he has been separated from his family. He continues to admire knights and their bravery. The realization that knights were also known for their loyalty and politeness was unexpected. If he had lived in the Middle Ages, he would have desired to become a knight; however, being of royal lineage would be a prerequisite. Naturally, he believes he would have met that qualification!

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