History
What was a knight?
Quick answer
A knight was a trained, armoured soldier on horseback in medieval Europe who swore to serve a lord or king. Boys trained for years, first as pages and then as squires.
In one sentence
A knight was a medieval warrior who fought on horseback in armour and promised to be loyal to his lord.
Explained
In the Middle Ages, kings and lords needed skilled fighters. They gave land to knights, and in return knights agreed to fight for them. Becoming a knight took many years. At about age seven, a boy from a noble family was sent to another household to be a page, learning manners, riding and how to look after weapons. At about 14, he became a squire, serving a knight, caring for his horse and armour, and practising with a sword and lance. At around 21, if he proved himself, he was made a knight in a ceremony.
castle
horse
bell
Early knights wore chain mail, a shirt of linked metal rings. Later, in the 1300s and 1400s, they wore plate armour made of shaped steel. A full suit weighed around 20 to 25 kilograms, but because the weight was spread across the body, knights could still move, run and climb onto a horse. On the shield or on a surcoat, a knight wore his coat of arms, a design in colours and shapes so friends could recognise him. This system is called heraldry.
Knights were supposed to follow a code called chivalry: be brave, loyal and honest, protect people who were weak, and show good manners. In practice, not every knight lived up to it. Knights also took part in tournaments, organised contests that were both practice and entertainment.
Knights could only be men in most places, though noblewomen managed estates and sometimes led defences of castles while husbands were away. The age of knights faded when new weapons and armies of trained foot soldiers changed warfare. Today the title "Sir" in Britain is a modern honour, not a military job. Learn more about their homes in castles and the time they lived in at the Middle Ages.
Examples
| Stage | Age (about) | Duties |
|---|---|---|
| Page | 7 | learning manners and riding |
| Squire | 14 | serving a knight, learning to fight |
| Knight | 21 | serving a lord in return for land |
Common mistakes
- "Knights could not move in armour." Plate armour was fitted and balanced.
- "Every knight was noble and kind." Chivalry was an ideal, not a promise.
- "Knights fought dragons." That belongs to legends and stories.
Quick quiz
Knights
Check what you know with 4 quick questions.
Question 1 of 4
What did a boy first train as on the road to becoming a knight?
Practise it
Try it
Draw a knight or a castle
For grown-ups
Related topics
Castles
A castle is a large fortified building where a lord lived and defended his land. Medieval castles had thick walls, towers, a gatehouse and often a moat.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages, or medieval period, lasted roughly from 500 to 1500 CE in Europe. It was the time of kings, knights, castles, cathedrals, monasteries and village farming.
Vikings
The Vikings were seafarers from Scandinavia who raided, traded and settled across Europe and beyond from about 790 to 1066 CE. They sailed in fast longships.
Ancient China
Ancient China was one of the world's oldest civilisations, growing along the Yellow River more than 3,500 years ago. It gave us paper, printing, silk, the compass and the Great Wall.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was a great civilisation along the River Nile that lasted about 3,000 years. It is famous for pharaohs, pyramids, hieroglyphs and mummies.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece was a group of independent city-states, such as Athens and Sparta, that gave the world the Olympic Games, democracy, theatre, philosophy and the Parthenon.