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Table of Contents
Medieval Knights occupied an elite status in European society during the medieval period. On the battlefield, they were the most protected and most feared warriors. However, when not in battle, they were also regarded as the best mannered and most well-dressed members of society.
See the fact file below for more information on the Medieval Knights or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Medieval Knights worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
HOW TO BECOME A KNIGHT
- Before the 13th century, almost any man from whatever background could become a knight. All he needed was courage and valor in fighting enemies.
- However, becoming a knight eventually required a more selective process. New requirements to become a knight included undergoing structured training from early childhood.
- When a young boy reached 7 to 10 years of age, he would begin his knight training. He would be taught how to handle horses, use mock weapons, and hunt while serving under an official knight.
- At 14 years old, he would then become a squire to assist knights during peace and war. If a squire’s training went well, by the time he turned 18, he would then be knighted through a ceremony known as ‘dubbing’.
- Dubbing a squire into knighthood was done officially by a monarch who would tap the squire on the shoulder with the hand or sword to bestow his knighthood. A large feast would then follow the ceremonies.
WEAPONS AND ARMOR
- A knight’s duties in the battlefield required him to have the most suitable weapons and armor. These weapons included a wooden lance about 2-3 meters in length or a sword with a 1-meter-long blade.
- In the 9th century, a knight’s armor was made up of chain mail or small interconnected iron rings that covered the entire body except the face. This armor weighed up to 13.5 kilograms.
- Plate armor became more common in the 14th century. It offered better protection against sword or arrow attacks. A full suit of armor could weigh from 20-25 kilograms.
- A metal helmet protected the knight’s head, while his horse was covered with either cloth or chain mail to protect its head, ears, and chest.
- Other weapons that a knight could employ were daggers, crossbows, and battle axes.
JOUSTING AND TOURNAMENTS
- Tournaments provided knights with opportunities to practice their horse-riding and weaponry skills while they were not on active military duty. These tournaments had two formats: 1) the mêlée or mock cavalry battle and 2) the joust, where two knights would charge at each other with lances.
- Aristocratic ladies would often be present as spectators during these tournaments, so knights also had the chance to display chivalry. Tournaments eventually included prizes and awards, so many knights went on to become professional tournament players.
CLOTHES
- If not in their armor, knights would clothe themselves in very fashionable garments that expressed their individual styles. These garments were often made of wool, silk, brocade, camel hair, or furs. Colors such as crimson, purple, green, yellow, and blue were favored because of their bright appearance.
- Knights would also accessorize with gold and silver pieces, jewels, feathers, and fine embroidery. Such clothing choices made knights easily recognizable when walking down the streets.
LEISURE PURSUITS
- When they were not busy with tournaments and military work, knights enjoyed a variety of leisure activities, including falconry and hunting wild animals.
- Knights also had to be well-versed in poetry as part of the code of medieval chivalry. They had to be capable of composing and performing their own poems.
- Knights also enjoyed participating in games such as chess, backgammon, and dice, which would sometimes include betting. Such games were useful to while away the time during lengthy castle sieges.
CHIVALRY
- A knight was obliged to display chivalric qualities such as courage, honor, good manners, justice, and generosity to those less fortunate than himself. This was important to maintain his reputation and win the favor of those in power.
- If a knight displayed the opposite qualities and refused to act in a chivalrous manner, they risked losing their status as a knight. If that happened, his and his family’s reputation would be tainted forever.
Medieval Knights Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Medieval Knights across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Medieval Knights worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Medieval Knights who occupied an elite status in European society during the medieval period. On the battlefield, they were the most protected and most feared warriors. However, when not in battle, they were also regarded as the best mannered and most well-dressed members of society.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Medieval Knights Facts
- Yes Sire!
- Let’s Take It Way Back
- Words Are Weapons
- Medieval Knight Wiki
- Noble Knights
- Orders of Knights
- Knights and Archers
- More Medieval Knight Facts
- Knight in Shining Armor
- End Of An Era
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Link will appear as Medieval Knights Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 4, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.