Knights:- They were gallant, brave, bloodthirsty and tough. They had a life span of well under 50 and were considered an adult at 14. The life was vigorous and rough especially during war but they had a softer side. It was the begining of courtly love, the wooing of a female. A time that inspired Shakespear with 'Romeo and Juliet'. Unfortunately most romantic advances with poetry and songs were not directed towards their wife.
The European knight of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, (Anglo-Saxon - cniht) mounted servant, (France - chevalier) horseman, (Italy - cavaliere), (Spain - caballero), and (Germany - ritter) rider, were men of noble birth. The lowest ranking knight rated higher than the foot soldiers that marched into battle by his side. He swore to uphold the code of chivalry and to serve the king, his church and his lady. John of Salisbury defined the knights duties as being - 'to protect the church, to fight against treachery, to revere the priesthood, to fend off injustice for the poor, to make peace in your province, to shed blood for your brothers and if need be to lay down life'.
During times of peace knights would hold tournaments to ward off boredom, show off their skills and maintain their fitness in the saftey of mock battle. Thought some tournaments in early medieval time were bloody towards the latter ages the church issued stricted laws forbidding such blood shed. It was decreed that no knight who died in a tournament could be buried on holy ground.
At their worst knights were hated and feared for their harsh and severe treatment of peasants and those under them. At best they set high standards of honour and courage in the age of brutality and violence.
THERE IS MORE TO COME...
