JCH6.4 PIH Essay notes

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A knight in a medieval castle.

Out of all the People in History you study in the Middle Ages, the knight is probably the one you knew the most apart beforehand. Knights defended the castle and their king, fought in jousts, and took vows of chivalry. In First Year, you learn about the stages of becoming a knight (starting at age 7!), and you learn more about their role in the Middle Ages.

So, you're a knight in a medieval castle...

Where do you fit in the feudal system? Explain your roles and duties. What do the king and lord expect you to do?

Then, start talking about how you train to become a knight. Start off with the Page. What age were you? What does a page do?

The next step is a Squire. What age were you? What does a squire do?

Then, you finally became a Knight. What age were you? How did you officially become one?

When you became a knight you took vows of chivalry. Explain these vows and what they mean.

Finally, talk about tournaments and jousts. What are they? What do you do at them? Who organises them? What do they give you practice for?

So, in short...

Explain your place in the feudal system.

Training to become a knight. Name the steps.

Being a Page.

Being a Squire.

Finally becoming a Knight.

Your vows of chivalry.

What you do at tournaments and jousts.

Don't....

Talk about anything that isn't based around a solid fact like you learn in class. No small talk!

Making mistakes like that will cost you marks, as the information you write down must be relevant (important). You get 2 marks for every relevant point you make, so try to make sure you have at least 10 relevant points in each answer. The more you have, the less chance you have of losing too many marks if you get anything wrong or mix anything up.

Example – Life as a knight

My name is ……I live in a medieval castle in Ireland. It took me several years to become a knight.

My father decided he wanted me to become a knight at the age of 7 years old. My father sent me off to another castle, where I’d became a page boy and begin my training. I was a servant to my fostering knight family, performing tasks to help the lady of the castle such as serving meals, cleaning his clothes, and carrying messages. The lady taught me how to read, write and the proper way to behave with good manners.

The first stage of the training taught me fighting skills, practicing with other page boys using wooden shields and swords. Some days we would learn and practice to ride a horse using no hands and carrying a lance. In the evening we would watch musicians and jesters it was here I learned how to sing and dance.

At the age of 14 years old I'd became a squire the second stage of my training. I would be given a new set of tasks like hunting and hawking. I learnt how to take care of the knight's horses, clean his armour and weapons, accompany the knight to the battlefield. I had to be ready to fight at any time should an attack take place. The best thing about this training with real weapons. We fought mock battle where two of us on horseback would charge at each other and try knocking the other off their horse. I had to be very fit and strong, our full board armour, chainmail, helmet, a lance, sword and shield which was very heavy, and we needed it for protection on the battlefield. It would be expected that I would worked as a squire for 5 or 6 years, when I had proven my bravery and skill at battlefield, I would be allowed to become a knight, but until then continued to practice horsemanship, perfecting my skills at jousting and fighting from the saddle.

At the age of 21 years old once the third and finally stage of my training. I was finally allowed to become a knight, before my dubbing ceremony I spent the whole day before praying and fasting. When I entered the ceremony the next day I would kneel before another knight who would then tap me on the shoulder with his sword, I bowed before him. I would take knights oath of chivalry promising to stay loyal to my lord, protect the poor, weak and be brave in battle. I was then given my own special pair of riding spurs and a sword. I was so proud to be a knight after my long training.

Our castle where I live is surrounded with a moat and curtain walls to protect those inside. The drawbridge and portcullis could be raised and lowered for entry. The main building is called the keep where the lords apartment and great hall where really important banquets were held. The solar sitting room was my favorite family room because it was the warmest room which faced south bringing in lots of sun. We also have our own private chapel. The castle was very cold because of the very narrow windows, we had two large open fires to keep the building warm. Our rooms hung tapestries on the walls. Below the keep were the dungeons where is was cool and dark so we stored our food here and held our prisoners down there.

My castle could come under attack at any time, lasting for weeks and weeks we are always on our guard.

The feudal system controlled my role as a knight. Knights are specially trained warrior, an important soldier in the military service to my lord and king, and in return I received wealth and land grants called fiefs. I guarded my lord’s castle to fight in wars for the king. I gain honour and status.

Video link - Medieval Knight https://youtu.be/Xo9FjuERQ0Y