The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince.

Knight is the English term for a European social position. Knighthood is the lowest rank of aristocracy and, in most cases, is not inheritable. In the High and Late Middle Ages, the principal duty of a knight was to fight as, and lead, heavy cavalry (see also serjeanty); more recently, knighthood has been a title of honor, given to a more diverse class of people, from Sir Edmund Hillary, to Sir Paul McCartney. By extension, "knight" is also used as a translation of the names of other honorable estates connected with horsemanship, especially from classical antiquity. Download high resolution version (612x1316, 139 KB)Anglia TV knight - ALoan was the photographer and releases it to the public domain. ... Download high resolution version (612x1316, 139 KB)Anglia TV knight - ALoan was the photographer and releases it to the public domain. ... The Anglia knight. ... Edward the Black Prince - illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902 Effigy on the Black Princes tomb in Canterbury Cathedral Edward, Prince of Wales, known as the Black Prince (June 15, 1330 - June 8, 1376) was the eldest son of King Edward III of England. ... The cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, a significant architectural contribution of the High Middle Ages. ... Dante by Michelino The Late Middle Ages is a term used by historians to describe European history in the period of the 14th and 15th centuries (1300–1500 CE). ... Kircholm, a 1925 painting by Wojciech Kossak. ... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ... Edmund Hillary on the New Zealand 5 dollar note Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE (born July 20, 1919) is a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, most famous for the first successful climb of Mount Everest. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born June 18, 1942) is a British singer, musician and songwriter, who first came to prominence as a member of The Beatles. ...

The history of knighthood involves, therefore, the history of the social institution, which began somewhat differently in the various European regions; the history of the word, and the corresponding terms in French and Latin; and the history of the technology which made heavy cavalry possible.

The word

The word knight derives from Old English cniht, meaning page boy, or servant (as is still the case in the cognate Dutch and German Knecht for servant), or simply boy. Knighthood, as Old English cnihthad, had the meaning of adolescence, i.e. the period between childhood and manhood. The sense of (adult) lieutenant of a king or other superior was in existence at least as early as 1100, although there are signs of it as early as Alfred's Orosius. Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... A page is a young male servant. ... A servant is a person who is hired to provide regular household or other duties, and receives compensation. ... A boy is a young and/or immature male human (usually child or adolescent), as contrasted to its female counterpart, which is called girl; or a young male of another animal or male object. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... American high school students participate in a NASA project to design lunar habitats Adolescence is the period of psychological and social transition between childhood and adulthood (gender-specific manhood, or womanhood). ... Events William II of England dies in a hunting accident - Henry I becomes King of England King Henry I proclaims the Charter of Liberties, one of the first examples of a constitution. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Paulus Orosius (c. ...

In this respect English differs from most other European languages, where the equivalent word emphasizes the status and prosperity of war horse ownership. In German, the literal meaning of Ritter is rider; in Dutch, the literal meaning of Ridder is Ruiter.

Interestingly, in the later Roman Empire the classical Latin equus for horse was replaced in common parlance by vulgar Latin caballus, derived from Gaulish caballos (Delamare 2003 p.96), thus giving French cheval (keval), Italian cavallo, and (borrowed from French) English cavalry. This formed the basis for the word knight among the romance European languages: Spanish caballero, French chevalier, Portuguese cavaleiro etc. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ...

Linguistically, the association of horse ownership with social status extends at least as far as ancient Greece, where many aristocratic names incorporated the Greek word for horse, like Hipparchus and Xanthippe; the character Pheidippides in Aristophanes' Clouds has his grandfather's name with hipp- inserted to sound more aristocratic. A survival is the modern given name Philip, whose etymology means lover of horses. For the Athenian tyrant, see Hipparchus (son of Pisistratus). ... Xanthippe was the wife of Socrates. ... Pheidippides (Greek: Φειδιππιδης, sometimes given as Phidippides or Philippides), hero of Ancient Greece, is the central figure in a myth which was the inspiration for the modern sporting event, the marathon. ... Bust of Aristophanes Aristophanes, in Greek ΄Αριστοφανης, (c. ... The Clouds (Nephelai) is a comedy written by the Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes lampooning the sophists and the intellectual trends of late fifth-century Athens. ...

The institution

In the early middle ages the rank of knight was loosely defined. In late Carolingian France (10th Century) persons occupying this role were termed miles (plur. milites). This term designated a professional fighting man in the emerging feudal system. Many were as poor as the peasant class. However, over time, as this class of fighter became more prominent in post-Carolingian France, they became more wealthy and began to hold and inherit land. Eventually fighting on horseback became synomymous with the warrior caste's role. Also see: France in the Middle Ages. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... Look up Mile in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ...

From the 12th century, the concept continued being tied to cavalry, mounted and armoured soldiers, and thus to the earlier class of noble Roman warriors known as equites (see esquire). Because of the cost of equipping oneself in the cavalry, the term became associated with wealth and social status, and eventually knighthood became a formal title. Significantly the nobility, who at this time were also expected to be leaders in times of war, responded to this new class by becoming members of it. Nobles had their sons trained as gentlemen and as professional fighters in the household of another noble. When the young man had completed his training he was ready to become a knight, and would be honoured as such in a ceremony known as "dubbing" (knighting) from the French "adoubement". It was expected that all young men of noble birth be knights and often take oaths swearing allegiance, chastity, protection of other Christians, and respect of the laws laid down by their forebears, though this varied from period to period and on the rank of the individual. (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Kircholm, a 1925 painting by Wojciech Kossak. ... A hoplite wearing (only) a helmet, breastplate greaves and a shield. ... A soldier is a person who has enlisted with, or has been conscripted into, the armed forces of a sovereign country and has undergone training and received equipment (such as a uniform and weapon) to defend that country or its interests. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC (mythical), early 1st millennium BC (archaeological) Region Latium Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ... An Equestrian (Latin eques, plural equites) was a member of one of the two upper social classes in the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. ... Esquire (abbreviated Esq. ... In filmmaking, dubbing refers to the recording of voices for a movie. ...

Ranks: From the time of Henry III of England, a knight bachelor was a member of the lower nobility, preceded by the knight banneret, a commander of ten or more lances who could lead his men under his own banner, but who did not have the rank of baron or earl. The knights bachelor did not wear any insignia until 1296. Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272) is one of the least-known British monarchs, considering the great length of his reign. ... The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. ... During the Middle Ages, a Knight banneret (sometimes known simply as banneret) was a feudal knight (not necessarily a nobleman, but nearly always) who led a company of troops into battle under his own banner (which was square-shaped, in contrast to the tapering standard or the pennon flown by... Baron is a specific title of nobility or a more generic feudal qualification. ... An Earl or Jarl was an Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian title, meaning chieftain and it referred especially to chieftains set to rule a territory in a kings stead. ... Events March 30 - Edward I stormed Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking the then Scottish border town with much bloodshed. ...

Two late 13th / early 14th century knights, wearing full mail armour and great helms at a joust (Codex Manesse).

The concept, together with the notion of chivalry came to full bloom during the Hundred Years' War. During the same period, however, the importance of heavy cavalry was reduced by improved pikemen and longbow tactics. This was a bitter lesson for the nobility, learned throughout the 14th century at battles like those of Crécy, Bannockburn and Laupen. The "knights in shining armour" of the late 15th and 16th centuries, by that time in full plate armour, were mostly confined to the jousting grounds, and the romantic Pas d'Armes. The chess piece was named in this period, around 1440. Via the transitional Cuirassiers of the 16th century, cavalry again became dominant in light, unarmoured form, in the 17th century, and not usually associated with knighthood. Download high resolution version (1024x1434, 411 KB) The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Download high resolution version (1024x1434, 411 KB) The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... This article may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to enhance clarity. ... This article is about the 1982 arcade game. ... Folio 371r shows Johannes Hadlaub Folio 149v shows a portrait of Wolfram von Eschenbach The Manesse Codex or Grosse Heidelberger Liederhandschrift (Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg Library, Cod. ... Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... Europe during the height of the Hundred Years War, the Kalmar union, Marinids and Hafsids in the South, and the final decay of the Byzantine Empire, 1430 A.D. The Hundred Years War is the name modern historians have given to what was a series of related conflicts, fought over... A modern recreation of a company of pikemen. ... A longbow is a type of bow that is tall (roughly equal to or greater than the height of a person), is not recurved, and has relatively narrow limbs circular or D shaped in cross section. ... Combatants Kingdom of England France, Genoese Mercanaries, the Kingdoms of Navarre, Bohemia and the Balearic Islands Commanders Edward III of England Philip VI of France Strength about 12,000 30,000 to 40,000 Casualties 150-1,000 killed and wounded 6,000-20,000 killed and wounded The Battle... Combatants Scotland England Commanders Robert Bruce Edward II of England Strength About 9,000 25,000 Casualties 4,000 10,000 The Battle of Bannockburn (June 23, 1314 – June 24, 1314) was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... Illustration of the Battle of Laupen (by Diebold Schilling the Elder, 1480s). ... Gothic armour Plate armour is personal armour made from large metal plates, worn on the chest and sometimes the entire body. ... Jousting is a staple entertainment at Renaissance Fairs. ... Pas dArmes (Passage of Arms) was a type of knightly chivalric tournament that evolved in the late 14th century and remained popular through the 15th century. ... The knight moves in an L shape. ... For alternative meanings, see number 1440. ... Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armor and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. ...

Knighthood as a purely formal title bestowed by the British monarch unrelated to military service was established in the 16th century. The British title of baronet was established by James I of England in 1611 as an inheritable knighthood, ranking below Baron (the lowest Peerage title). A baronet (traditional abbreviation Bart, modern abbreviation Bt), is the holder of an hereditary title awarded by the British Crown, known as a baronetcy. ... James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland (Charles James) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland and was the first to style himself King of Great Britain. ...

Early heavy cavalry

The oldest known relief of a heavily armoured cavalryman, from the Sassanid empire, at Taq-i Bostan, near Kermanshah, Iran (4th century)

The origin of heavily armoured cavalry (Latin:cataphractos; Persian: Savaaraan) lies in Parthian and Sassanid Persia, and medieval chivalry absorbed many Persian traditions in the course of the Perso-Byzantine wars. For example, Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman general and historian, who served in the army of Constantius II in Gaul and Persia, fought against the Persians under Julian the Apostate and took part in the retreat of his successor, Jovian. He describes the Persian knight as: Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (522x768, 309 KB) Summary Subject: One of the oldest depictions of a Knight from the Sassanide relief. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (522x768, 309 KB) Summary Subject: One of the oldest depictions of a Knight from the Sassanide relief. ... Sassanid Empire at its greatest extent The Sassanid dynasty (also Sassanian) was the name given to the kings of Persia during the era of the second Persian Empire, from 224 until 651, when the last Sassanid shah, Yazdegerd III, lost a 14-year struggle to drive out the Umayyad Caliphate... Kermanshah (Persian: کرمانشاه, KirmaÅŸan in Kurdish) is the capital of Kermanshah Province of Iran. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Depiction of Sassanid cataphracts in the computer game Rome Total War: Barbarian Invasion. ... Persian may refer to more than one article: the Western name for Iranian (see Iran/Persia naming controversy) Persian, an Iranian language the Persians, an ethnic group a Persian, a breed of cat Persian, a Pokémon character Etymology English Persian < Old English, < Latin *Persianus, < Latin Persia, < ancient Greek Persis... Reproduction of a Parthian warrior as depicted on Trajans Column The Parthian Empire was the dominating force on the Iranian plateau beginning in the late 3rd century BCE, and intermittently controlled Mesopotamia between ca 190 BCE and 224 CE. Origins Bust of Parthian soldier, Esgh-abad Museum, Turkmenia. ... Sassanid Empire at its greatest extent The Sassanid dynasty (also Sassanian) was the name given to the kings of Persia during the era of the second Persian Empire, from 224 until 651, when the last Sassanid shah, Yazdegerd III, lost a 14-year struggle to drive out the Umayyad Caliphate... Motto: Persian: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ« (English: Independence, freedom, (the) Islamic Republic) Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Capital Tehran Largest city Tehran Official language(s) Persian Government Supreme Leader President Islamic republic Ali Khamenei Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Revolution Declared Overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi... Ammianus Marcellinus is a Roman historian who wrote during Late Antiquity. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Constantius II coin, celebrating the 15th year of reign. ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (Latin Gallia, Greek Galatia) was the region of Western Europe occupied by present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Motto: Persian: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ« (English: Independence, freedom, (the) Islamic Republic) Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Capital Tehran Largest city Tehran Official language(s) Persian Government Supreme Leader President Islamic republic Ali Khamenei Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Revolution Declared Overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi... Flavius Claudius Iulianus, also known as Julian the Philosopher, was the last pagan Roman Emperor. ... This siliqua of Jovian, ca 363, celebrates his fifth year of reign, as a good omen. ...

"All their companies clad in iron, and all parts of their bodies were covered with thick plates, so fitted that the stiff joints conformed with those of their limbs; and forms of the human faces were so skillfully fitted to their heads, that since their entire bodies were covered with metal, arrows that fell upon them could lodge only where they could see a little through tiny openings opposite the pupil of the eye, or where through the tips of their noses they were able to get a little breath."

"The Persians opposed us serried bands of mail-clad horsemen in such close order that the gleam of moving bodies covered with closely fitting plates of iron dazzled the eyes of those who looked upon them, while the whole throng of horses was protected by coverings of leather. "

Sarmatians

Up to the 5th century, Iranian tribal Sarmatians cavalry units were stationed in Britain as part of the Roman army (see Roman departure from Britain), allowing for a direct influence of Roman Cataphractes on Migration Age Europe. According to a theory of Littleton and Thomas (1978), the legend of King Arthur, the prototypical knight of High Medieval literature, was directly inspired by these Sarmatian troops (however, it is most likely that the only reason we view Arthur and his retainers as knights was simply because the Arthurian Cycle became popular in a time in which knighthood was predominant); and Sir Thomas Malory's descriptions reflect his own time, in which the plate-wearing tournament knight was again prevalent. // Overview Events Romulus Augustus, Last Western Roman Emperor 410: Rome sacked by Visigoths 452: Pope Leo I allegedly meets personally with Attila the Hun and convinces him not to sack Rome 439: Vandals conquer Carthage At some point after 440, the Anglo-Saxons settle in Britain. ... Tribal refers to a culture or society based on tribes or clans. ... Sarmatia Europæa separated from Sarmatia Asiatica by the Tanais (the River Don), based on Greek literary sources, in a map printed in London, ca 1770. ... The Roman departure from Britain was nearly completed by 400. ... King Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Great Britain, where he appears as the ideal of kingship in both war and peace. ... Sir Thomas Malory (c. ...

Ancient social classes

An Equestrian (Latin eques, plural equites) was a member of the second highest social class in the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. This class is often translated as knight; the medieval knight, however, was called miles in Latin, (which in classical Latin meant "soldier", normally infantry), until the Renaissance revival of eques. An Equestrian (Latin eques, plural equites) was a member of one of the two upper social classes in the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures. ... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ...

Similarly, the Greek ιππευς (hippeus) is commonly translated knight; at least in its sense of the highest of the four Athenian social classes, the ones who could afford to maintain a warhorse in the state service.

Becoming a Knight

The Accolade, by Edmund Blair Leighton

During the High Middle Ages, it was technically possible for every free man to become a knight, but the process of becoming (and the equipping of) a knight was very expensive; thus it was more likely that a knight would come from a noble (or wealthy) family. They went through a long process to become a knight involving three stages: start as a page, moving on to be a personal squire, and after they have passed their training they could be knighted. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (514x900, 108 KB) Summary The Accolade - Edmund Blair Leighton (1853-1922) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Knight Edmund Leighton ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (514x900, 108 KB) Summary The Accolade - Edmund Blair Leighton (1853-1922) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Knight Edmund Leighton ... The cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, a significant architectural contribution of the High Middle Ages. ... A page is a young male servant. ... In medieval times a squire was a man-at-arms in the service of a knight, often as his apprentice. ...

The process of training for knighthood began before adolescence, inside the prospective knight’s own home, where he was taught courtesy and appropriate manners. Around the age of 7 years, he would be sent away to train and serve at a grander household as a page. Here, he would serve as a kind of waiter and personal servant, entertaining and serving food to his elders. A page was usually the son of a vassal, who sent him to his or another lord’s castle to become a page. For seven years a page was cared for by the women of the house, who instructed him in comportment, courtesy, cleanliness, and religion. He would learn basic hunting and falconry, and also various battle skills such as taking care of, preparing, and riding horses, as well as use of weapons and armour. American high school students participate in a NASA project to design lunar habitats Adolescence is the period of psychological and social transition between childhood and adulthood (gender-specific manhood, or womanhood). ... Etiquette, also known as decorum, is the code that governs the expectations of social behavior, the conventional norm. ... A waiter in a resort setting A waiter is a person who waits on tables, often at a restaurant or a bar. ... Look up vassal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A lord is a male who has power and authority. ... The main gatehouse of Harlech Castle, Wales. ... Falconry (occasionally referred to as falconeering) is the art or sport involving raptors (birds of prey) to hunt or pursue game. ... A hoplite wearing (only) a helmet, breastplate greaves and a shield. ...

A page became a squire when he turned 14 years of age, being assigned or picked by a knight to become his personal aide. This allowed the squire to observe his master while he was in battle, in order to learn from his techniques. He also acted as a personal servant to the knight, taking care of his master’s equipment and horse. This was to uphold the knight’s code that promoted generosity, courtesy, compassion, and most importantly, loyalty. The knight acted as a tutor and taught the squire all he needed to know to become a knight. As the squire grew older, he was expected to follow his master into battle, and attend to his master if the knight fell in battle. Some squires became knights for performing an outstanding deed on the battlefield, but most were knighted by their lord when their training was judged to be complete.

A squire could hope to become a knight when he was about 18 to 21 years old. Once the squire had established sufficient mastery of the required skills, he was dubbed a knight. In the early period, the procedure began with the squire praying into the night, known as vigil. He was then bathed, and in the morning he was dressed in a white shirt, gold tunic, purple cloak, and was knighted by his king or lord. As the Middle Ages progressed, the process changed. The squire was made to vow that he would obey the regulations of chivalry, and never flee from battle. Then women would buckle on his armour. A squire could also be knighted on the battlefield, in which a lord simply performed the accolade, i.e. struck him on the shoulder saying “Be thou a knight”. Maria Magdalene in prayer. ... A vigil (from the Latin vigilia, wakefulness) is a period of sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching or observance. ... Tupa Inca tunic The tunic was the common masculine garment of Roman civilization. ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... Look up accolade in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The night before his knighting ceremony, the squire would take a cleansing bath, fast, make confession, and pray to God all night in the chapel, readying himself for his life as a knight. Then he would go through the knighting ceremony the following day. Knights followed the code of chivalry, which promoted honor, honesty, respect to God, and other knightly virtues. Knights served their lords and were paid in land, because money was scarce. Michelangelos depiction of God in the painting Creation of the Sun and Moon in the Sistine Chapel Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, one of the manifestations of the ultimate reality or God in Hinduism This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... A chapel is a private church, usually small and often attached to a larger institution such as a college, a hospital, a palace, or a prison. ...

Later, as military technology and society evolved, knighthood became irrelevant to warfare (the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302 was seen as a landmark: the largest knightly army in Christendom, fielded by the French king, was destroyed by infantry; soon firearms would revolutionize war still further), while its theoretically irrelevant link with nobility (generally only nobles were knighted, and in noble families most males were expected to be) encouraged it to survive with an essentially civilian ethos of social stratification. In various traditions, knighthood was reserved for people with a minimum of noble quarters (as in many orders of chivalry), or knight became essentially a low degree of nobility, sometimes even conferred as a hereditary title below the peerage. Meanwhile monarchy strived, as an expression of Absolutism, to monopolize the right to confer knighthood, even as an individual honour. Not only was this often successful, once established, this prerogative of the Head of State was even transferred to the successors of dynasties in republican regimes, such as the British Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. The Battle of the Golden Spurs (Dutch: De Guldensporenslag, French: des éperons dor) was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders. ... This medieval map, which abstracts the known world to a cross inscribed within an orb, remakes geography in the service of Christian iconography. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. An infantry is a body of soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other... An assortment of modern handheld firearms using fixed ammunition, including military assault rifles, a sporting shotgun (fourth from bottom), and a tactical shotgun (third from bottom). ... Ethos (ἦθος) is a Greek word originally meaning the place of living that can be translated into English in different ways. ... Social stratification is a sociological term for the hierarchical arrangement of social classes, castes, and strata within a society. ... For the Peerage in France, see French peerage. ... The term absolutism can mean: A belief in absolute truth moral absolutism, the belief that there is some absolute standard of right and wrong political absolutism, a political system where one person holds absolute power, also called apolytarchy from Gr. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... Succession is the act or process of pooing or of following in order or sequence. ... // For other uses, see Dynasty (disambiguation). ... In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people who do not base their political power on any principle beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... Lord Protector is a particular British English title for Heads of State, with two meanings (and full styles) at different periods of history. ...

Knighthood and the Feudal system

Knighthood was closely connected with the feudal system. Originating largely in what later became known as France, this was a social organization in which warfare and the protection of the common people became the specialised skill of a select group. Instead of having them paid in cash — of which everyone, even the monarch, was short — they were paid in land. These rather extensive pieces of land were the fiefs. Though a fief did not have to be land — it could be any payment — it is generally thought of as being the land that the knights were given as payment for service to the king. The knights were economically supported by peasants who worked to produce food and ideologically supported by the contemporary church. Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In times of war or national disorder the monarch would typically call all the knights together to do their annual service of fighting. This could be against threats to the nation or in defensive and offensive wars against other nations. Sometimes the knights responding to the call were the nobles themselves, and sometimes these men were hired by nobles to fight in their stead; some noblemen were disinclined or unable to fight. The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the door of the Lodge of the Heralds. ...

As time went by, monarchs began to prefer standing (permanent) armies because they could be used for longer periods of time, were more professional and were generally more loyal; partly because those noblemen who were themselves knights, or who sent knights to fight, were prone to use the monarch's dependency on their resources to manipulate him. This move from knights to standing armies had two important outcomes: the implementation of a regular payment of "scutage" to monarchs by noblemen (a money payment instead of active military service) which would strengthen the concept and practice of taxation; and a general decrease in military discipline in knights, who became more interested in their country estates and chivalric pursuits, including their roles as courtiers. An army composed of full time professional soldiers form a standing army. ... The tax of scutage or escuage in the law of England involved the pecuniary commutation, under the feudal system, of the military service due from the holder of a knights fee. ... One of the defining features of a professional military is a strict and sometimes elaborate code of courtesy. ... Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... Courtiers follow an ancient profession. ...

Originally, knighthood could be bestowed on any man by a knight commander, but it was generally considered more prestigious to be dubbed a knight by the hand of a monarch or royalty; the monarch eventually acquired the exclusive right to confer knighthoods known as Fount of honour. By about the late 13th century, partly in conjunction with the focus on courtly behavior, a code of conduct and uniformity of dress for knights began to evolve. Knights were eligible to wear a white belt and golden spurs as signs of their status. Moreover, knights were also required to swear allegiance — either to a liege lord or to a military order. Members of the British royal family A royal family is the extended family of a monarch. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... White is a color, (more accurately it contains all the colors of the visible spectrum and is sometimes described as an achromatic color—black is the absence of color) that has high brightness but zero hue. ... A belt A belt is a flexible band, made of either leather or a type of cloth, worn around the waist. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... A spur is a metal instrument composed of a shank, neck, and prick, rowel (sharp-toothed wheel), or blunted end fastened to the heel of a horseman. ... Roland pledges his fealty to Charlemagne; from a manuscript of a chanson de geste. ... A military order is a Christian order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i. ...

Knight in war harness, after a miniature in a psalter written and illuminated under Louis le Gros.

In theory, knights were the Christian warrior class defending the people of Medieval Europe and followed a code of chivalry, which was a set of customs that governed the knights behavior. Knights served mightier lords, usually as vassals, or were hired by them, some had their own castle, others joined a military order or a crusade. In reality, rules were often bent or blatantly broken by knights as well as their masters, for power, goods or honor; a few knights even turned to organised crime. Download high resolution version (1320x1885, 96 KB)Knight in War-harness, after a Miniature in a Psalter written and illuminated under Louis le Gros. ... Download high resolution version (1320x1885, 96 KB)Knight in War-harness, after a Miniature in a Psalter written and illuminated under Louis le Gros. ... Look up vassal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A military order is a Christian order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i. ...

Hereditary knighthoods

There are three hereditary knighthoods in Ireland, the third of which is extinct, namely

• Knight of Glin, the Black Knight, (Fitzgerald of Limerick)
• Knight of Kerry, the Green Knight, (Fitzgerald of Kerry)
• The White Knight, (FitzGibbon)

Baronetcies are hereditary but are not knighthoods. This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Knight of Kerry is one of three British hereditary knighthoods, all of which existed in Ireland since feudal times. ... Edmund Fitzgibbon (1552?-1608) was an Irish nobleman of the Fitzgerald dynasty, who inherited the Anglo-Norman title of the White Knight and struggled to maintain his loyalty to the crown during the reign of Queen Elizabeth of England. ... A baronet (traditional abbreviation Bart, modern abbreviation Bt) is the holder of a species of knighthood known as a baronetcy. ...

Chivalric code

For more details on this topic, see chivalry.

In war, the chivalrous knight was idealized as brave in battle, loyal to his king and God, and willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Towards his fellow Christians and countrymen, the knight was to be merciful, humble, and courteous. Towards noble ladies above all, the knight was to be gracious and gentle. Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... Fortitudo, by Sandro Botticelli Courage, also known as fortitude, is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation. ... The Battle of Waterloo by William Sadler. ... Loyalty is faithfulness or devotion to a person or cause. ... Michelangelos depiction of God in the painting Creation of the Sun and Moon in the Sistine Chapel Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, one of the manifestations of the ultimate reality or God in Hinduism This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Marcus Aurelius and members of the Imperial family offer sacrifice in gratitude for success against Germanic tribes: contemporary bas-relief, Capitoline Museum, Rome Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the... Mercy is a term used to describe the leniency or compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or compassion. ... Humility is the state of being humble. ... Politeness is best expressed as the practical application of good manners or etiquette. ...

Military-monastic orders

For more details on this topic, see Military order.

• Knights Hospitaller, founded during the First Crusade, 1099 to present.
• Order of Saint Lazarus established ca. 1100, abolished 1830.
• Knights Templar, founded 1118, disbanded 1307.
• Teutonic knights, founded ca. 1190, ruling Prussia until 1525.

Other orders were established in the Iberian peninsula in imitation of the orders in the Holy Land, in Avis in 1143, in Alcantara in 1156, in Calatrava in 1158, in Santiago in 1164. A military order is a Christian order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i. ... The Knights Hospitaller (also known as Knights of Rhodes, Knights of Malta, Cavaliers of Malta, and the Order of St John of Jerusalem) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine hospitaller Order founded in Jerusalem, following the First Crusade, ca. ... The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to regain control of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Christian Holy Land from Muslims. ... 1099 also refers to a United States tax form used for, among other purposes, reporting payments made to independent contractors. ... Cross of the Order of Saint Lazarus The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Events William II of England dies in a hunting accident - Henry I becomes King of England King Henry I proclaims the Charter of Liberties, one of the first examples of a constitution. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the medieval military order. ... Events Knights Templar founded Baldwin of Le Bourg succeeds his cousin Baldwin I as king of Jerusalem John II Comnenus succeeds Alexius I as Byzantine emperor Gelasius II succeeds Paschal II as pope Births November 28 - Manuel I Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (died 1180) Andronicus I Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (died 1185... Events July - The Knights Hospitaller begin their conquest of Rhodes. ... The Teutonic Order (German: Deutscher Orden, German Order; Latin: Ordo domus Sanctæ Mariæ Theutonicorum Ierosolimitanorum, Order of the Teutonic House of Mary in Jerusalem; Hungarian: Német Lovagrend, German Knighthood; Polish: Zakon Krzyżacki, Order of the Crossbearers; Lithuanian: Kryžiuočių Ordinas, Order of Crusaders) was a German crusading... Events March 16 - Massacre and mass-suicide of the Jews of York, England prompted by Crusaders and Richard Malebys kill 150-500 Jews in Cliffords Tower June 10 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowned in the Saleph River while leading an army to Jerusalem. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Events January 21 - The Swiss Anabaptist Movement was born when Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptized each other in the home of Manzs mother on Neustadt-Gasse, Zürich, breaking a thousand-year tradition of church-state union. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe. ... Coat of Arms Avis is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 606. ... Events Celestine II is elected pope. ... Alcântara is a Brazilian city in the state of Maranhão. ... Events Prince Yuriy Dolgorukiy fortifies Moscow, regarded as the date of the founding of the city Establishment of the Carmelite Order Hogen Rebellion in Japan January 20 - According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi... Calatrava is known for his organically inspired designs, such as LUmbracle at his Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia. ... Events January 11 - Vladislav II becomes King of Bohemia End of the formal reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan, also the beginning of his cloistered rule, which will last to his death in 1192. ... The Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: an all-but-Gothic composition generated entirely of classical details Santiago de Compostela (2004 pop. ... // Events Count Henry I of Champagne marries Marie de Champagne. ...

Chivalric orders

For more details on this topic, see Chivalric order.

After the failure of the Crusades, the military orders became idealized and romanticized, resulting in the late medieval notion of chivalry, as reflected in the Arthurian romances of the time. The creation of chivalric orders was fashionable among the noblesse in the 14th and 15th centuries, as remains reflected in contemporary honours systems, and the term order itself, notably the Order of Saint George, founded by Charles I of Hungary in 1325/6, the Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III of England in ca. 1348, the Order of the Golden Fleece, founded by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, and the Order of St Michel, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469. See also Orders of Chivalry in the British honours system After the failure of the crusades, the crusading military orders became idealized and romanticized, resulting in the late medieval notion of chivalry, as reflected in the Arthurian romances of the time. ... This article is about historical Crusades . ... Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... King Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Britain. ... An Order is a decoration, awarded by a government to an individual, usually for distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. ... The Order of Saint George (Орден Святого Георгия in Russian, or Orden Svyatogo Georgiya) was introduced by Catherine the Great on November 26, 1769. ... Charles I of Hungary Charles I of Hungary (Anjou France 1288 or 1291–Visegrád, Hungary July 16, 1342), also called Charles Robert, Carobert and Charles I Robert, was the king of Hungary from August 27, 1310. ... Events January 7:Alfonso IV becomes the King of Portugal. ... The Garter is the most recognizable insignia of the Order of the Garter. ... Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English kings of medieval times. ... Events April 7 - Charles University is founded in Prague. ... The Order of the Golden Fleece (Orden del Toisón de Oro in Spanish) is an order of chivalry founded in 1430 by Duke Philip III of Burgundy to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Isabelle of Aviz. ... Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (Philip the Good or Philippe le Bon) (1396–1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. ... // Events May 23 - Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne The Ottoman Empire captures Thessalonica from the Venetians First use of optical methods in the creation of Art A map of Europe in 1430. ... The Order of St Michel was the first French chivalric order, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469, in competitive response to the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece founded by by Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, Louis chief competitor for the allegiance of the great houses of... Louis XI the hottest person Bold textalive ([ Headline text Ader is my HEROFrench: Louis XI le Prudent) (July 3, 1423 – August 30, 1483), also informally nicknamed luniverselle araigne (old French for universal spider),or the Spider King, was King of France (1461–1483). ... Events July 26 - Battle of Edgecote Moor October 17 - Prince Ferdinand of Aragon wed princess Isabella of Castile. ...

Honorific orders

From roughly 1560, purely honorific orders were established, designed as a way to confer prestige and distinction, unrelated to military service or chivalry in the more narrow sense. Such orders were particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, and knighthood continues to be conferred in various countries: Events February 27 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland The first tulip bulb was brought from Turkey to the Netherlands. ...

• The United Kingdom (see British honours system) and some Commonwealth of Nations countries;
• Most European countries, such as The Netherlands (see below).
• Malaysia — see Malay titles;
• Thailand;
• The Holy See — see external link [1] Papal Orders.

There are other monarchies and also republics that also follow the practice. Modern knighthoods are typically awarded in recognition for services rendered to society, services which are no longer necessarily martial in nature. The musician Elton John, for example, is entitled to be called Sir Elton. The female equivalent is a Dame. The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals personal bravery, achievement or service to the United Kingdom. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of 53 independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics which is still extensively used in Malaysia and Brunei. ... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people who do not base their political power on any principle beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... S# redirects here. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Accompanying the title is the given name, and optionally the surname. So, Elton John may be called Sir Elton or Sir Elton John, but never Sir John. Similarly, actress Judi Dench D.B.E. may be addressed as Dame Judi or Dame Judi Dench, but never Dame Dench. Wives of knights, however, are entitled to the honorific "Lady" before their husband's surname. Thus Sir Paul McCartney's wife is styled Lady McCartney, not Lady Paul McCartney or Lady Heather McCartney. The style Dame Heather McCartney could be used; however, this style is largely archaic and is only used in the most formal of documents. A given name is a word which specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name. ... A family name, or surname, is that part of a persons name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. ... Dame Judi Dench as the widowed Queen Victoria in Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE (born 9 December 1934), known as Dame Judi Dench, is an Academy Award-winning English actress born in North Yorkshire. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born June 18, 1942) is a British singer, musician and songwriter, who first came to prominence as a member of The Beatles. ...

State Knighthoods in the Netherlands are issued in three orders, the Order of William, the Order of the Dutch Lion, and the Order of Orange Nassau. Additionally there remain a few hereditary knights in The Netherlands. Knights Cross (3rd class) of the Order of William The military Order of William is the highest chivalry order of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. ... The Order of the Dutch Lion (De Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw) is an order (decoration) of the Netherlands which was first created in 1815 by the first King of the Netherlands, King William I. The Order of the Dutch Lion was until recently awarded upon eminent individuals from all... Order of Orange-Nassau Knights Medal, military division The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was first created in 1890 by the Queen Regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. ...

In Italy, the Cavalieri is an honor equivalent to a knighthood. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In France, there is the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. The lowest of the three ranks conferred by this academy is knighthood. The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) is an Order of France, established on May 2, 1957 by the Minister of Culture and confirmed as part of lOrdre National du Mérite by Charles de Gaulle in 1963. ...

Footnotes

External links

• History of Orders of Chivalry. Heraldica. URL accessed on June 18, 2005.
• Bartleby.com
• Papal Orders of Chivalry.

June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Literature

• Boulton, D'Arcy Jonathan Dacre. The Knights of the Crown: The Monarchical Orders of Knighthood in Later Medieval Europe, 1325-1520. 2d revised ed. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press, 2000.
• Forey, Alan John. The Military Orders: From the Twelfth to the Early Fourteenth Centuries. Basingstoke: Macmillan Education, 1992.
• Shaw, William A. The Knights of England: A Complete Record from the Earliest Time 2v. London: Central Chancery, 1906 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1970).

See also

• vityaz and bogatyr, Kievan Rus' terms translated as "knight".
• Samurai a similar class in Japanese history
• Xiá, a similar class in Chinese history
• Knight-errant
• Jedi Knight