Becoming a Knight

During the middle ages, in order to become a knight one had to go through many years of training.

A knight-to-be spent at least fourteen years of his life learning the proper conduct and etiquette of

knighthood. Once the years of training were completed, often an elaborate ceremony took place when the

gentleman was knighted. Once knighted, the man had to live by the code of chivalry. This code had the

basic guidelines of a knight's behavior. This code was so respected that abiding by it brought honor and

respect from others.

The education of a knight began at the age of seven. This was when a boy was taken from his

home and sent to the castle of a famous noble, perhaps his father's lord. Here he served the lord and the

lady as a page until he was fourteen years old. One of the many duties of a page was to accompany the lord

and lady at all times.

"Stitching the Standard" by Edmund Blair Leighton:...

Jan van Eyck, "Knights of Christ" (detail of the G...

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He also waited on them during meals, and went with them on various affairs doing

whatever was asked of him. As a page, he received religious instruction from the chaplain. The squires

taught the page fighting skills, and gave him training in arms. The mistress and her ladies taught the page

to honor and protect all women. He also learned to sing and to play the lute, in order to hunt and hawk.

The most important thing that he learned during the seven years as a page was how to care for and ride a

horse. This was a skill that was essential when becoming a knight, because a horse was his primary mode

of transportation.

At the age of fourteen, the page became a squire, and at the same time, was formally assigned to a

knight. He now...