Although Marshal was no ordinary knight, the account does offer much insight into what life was like for knights in general at the time. Its lines chart Marshal’s meteoric career, from leaving his father’s house to train as a knight (as a second son, this path was expected) to the final hours of his life. The details of Marshal’s life have been preserved in a literary account commissioned by one of his sons, L’histoire de Guillaume le Maréchal, written in Old French verse. William guided these four kings wisely through numerous crises and dangers, making his name synonymous with the model of the chivalric virtues of his time. Even members of the French court grudgingly acknowledged that he was the best knight in the world. He served as royal adviser to four English kings: Henry II, Richard I (popularly known as the Lionheart), John, and Henry III.
One knight who was well known in both France and England was William Marshal (circa 1146- 1219).
Instead, he agreed to be called the Defender of the Holy Sepulcher. Godfrey, in a gesture that ticked all the chivalric boxes, refused and piously argued that no one should wear a golden crown in the city where Christ had worn the crown of thorns. Godfrey’s fame and prestige among the diverse group of barons commanding the Crusade grew so that, when the crusaders succeeded in reclaiming Jerusalem from Islamic rule in 1099, they offered Godfrey the throne of the new kingdom of Jerusalem. Godfrey was the son of Count Eustace II of Boulogne and Ida of Lorraine, and together with his brothers helped lead the First Crusade in 1096. ( The Templars got rich fighting for God-then lost it all.) After the 14th century, he was included among the so-called Nine Worthies: nine men through the ages (some historical, others legendary) deemed to have embodied the ideals of chivalry. He might try to marry a rich woman, or hire himself out for pay as a mercenary fighter.One of the earliest and most representative examples of a chivalrous knight was Godfrey of Bouillon (circa 1060-1100). Otherwise, he would have to find some other way to make money, since horses and armour were expensive, and knights were expected to be generous. The squire had to keep his master's equipment ready and bring it to him when it was needed, even in the midst of a battle.īy the time he was twenty-one, the squire might be made a knight, and hope to be given some land by his liege lord.
#Middle ages knighthood how to#
The young squire learnt about how to be a knight by going with his master to war, carrying his shield, putting on his armour before the battle, looking after his horses.
The word 'squire' comes from the French word 'escuyer' meaning 'shield-carrier'. When he was fourteen, if his master was pleased with him, the page might become a squire. He also learnt how to ride well and to handle weapons. A page had to learn how to serve at his master's table, and how a castle was run. Then he would be sent to live in the castle of another knight and his family as a page. Until he was seven he might be taught a little by his mother or a priest at home. The son of a knight did not usually go to school (in fact, very few children in the Middle Ages did). How did a boy get to be a knight? What was the training for becoming one?