There is a sense of great importance of the presence of Medieval Knights in history. Not only did they hold political and social power, they also held a greatly influential role. These role models did not achieve their status by luck or birth rights; they had to earn their respect and status through education, faith and by strictly abiding by the rules of chivalry. The chivalry upheld certain traits, such as honor, courtesy and religion and as a result of this, it elevated society. The feudal lord with his military power shaped the history until a centralized power had arisen.
The main factor in the formation of the knights was a good education. Education began at an early age and boys from a noble family were left under charge of their mothers until seven. When they turned seven, it became customary to send them to receive a knightly upbringing amongst the squires and pages that would serve a nobleman or churchman.
At the foundation of medieval institutions, personal service was a custom of chivalry. It was no derogatory backset of a Prince Elector’s dignity to bear the cup or wait at the stirrups of the Emperor. The Emperor would hold the bridle of the horse of the Pope. The house and land of a feudal man of high rank and the religious horses would be ordered in the same meticulous manner as the courts of a grandly important prince. The head of monastery (The Abbot) and the next ranking person of the church (A Prior) would be served by knights and gentlemen who held lands through fee or fief, or maintained as paid soldiers (mercenaries were bound to their employers by motives through profit not loyalty). For example, The Abbot of Saint Denis (France) would never depart from his Abbey alone; he would leave with a Chamberlain and a Marshal, who had offices which were held as fiefs (fees), but could be changed, transferred and conveyed like any other property.
Personal service also became a symbol of the obligations to automatically serve during war. This was the main occupation of knights. Throughout the middle Ages, it became the principle characteristic of the act of holding land obtained through a fee. A vassal was a person who would hold land from a feudal lord in order to receive protection for homage and allegiance with that lord. He would be bound to serve the lord in both his field and possibly called to serve at home. In return for domestic service, the dependant would receive board, lodging and the benefits of sharing in his lord’s opportunities of distinction in the military and royal/princely favor. The lord’s attendants were also entitled to share their lords winnings (land, possessions obtained through war) in either public or private war.
The future knight was known as a page or henchman during his apprenticeship service with the nobleman. He would also be under the orders and instruction of a squire known as the Master of the henchman. The apprenticeship would last for seven years, in which time, the future knight would learn the business of a squire in stables, the armoury, the kennels and the hall. When he turned 14, the boy would be old enough to be entitled to be called squire.
Noble youths sent by their parents would serve under Bishops and Abbots. In England, Sir Thomas Moore was one of Cardinal Morton’s pages. In France, Bishop of Grenoble had his nephew, chevalier (a nobleman of low rank) Bayard as his page. He also served as his cup bearer as he dined with the Duke of Savoy.
Literature was an important education for boys in establishments such as the schools attached to cathedrals, religious houses and the palaces of bishops/abbots. It was not neglected by lords who received boys into their homes either. A knights’ accomplishments in education would be to read, write, play the harp and sing. The ladies of the castle would also teach them letter writing, games like chess tables, the rules with good manners and the fundamentals elements of chivalrous bravery and nobility.
The main part of education of young knights was outdoors. A knights outdoor activities consisted of a variety of exercise and games, such as wrestling, boxing, running, riding, tilting at the ring and the quiltain (an object would be secured on a post or mounted on a movable cross bar on a post, to be used as a target in the sport of tilting).
Once a man had become a knight, the young noble’s main duty was military service. The best way to achieve the highest level of combat skills was to compete during tournaments. A most common pastime of knights. Throughout the middle Ages, tournaments held a principle part of the knights lives and the laws of the tournaments were undeniably the same as the laws from their lady’s love. Alongside religion, these were the knightâs main duties and rules of service.
The gentler rules of chivalry were seen to be the beautiful institution of brotherhood in arms; two knights may vow faith to one another. The two knights would wear the same arms and clothes, mingled their blood in a cup, for example, to show unity. Also, both knights would receive the Sacrament together. They would vow to support one another during battle or disagreements, and would normally have the same friends and enemies.
One of the most powerful institutions in a knights life would be the brotherhood in arms. During the Middle Ages, it would precede all other duties, even to women. All accept the duties for the King. After Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Here fore had dethroned Richard II, Louis Duke of Orleans annulled the treaty of the brotherhood, which he and Bolingbroke had agreed to some time ago, and challenged him to combat anywhere he chose in France. There would be a hundred knights and squires on either side. Du Guesclin was brother in arms with Olivier de Clisson. They had agreed to support one another against the whole world, excepting the King of Rome and his brothers. the Viscount of Rohan, and their liege lords. They would share all of the ransoms of the prisoners and lands, would acquaint one another of any developments and would guard one another as brothers would.