Medieval Knights and Warfare
A castle was a fortified base from which the
lord enforced his authority and protected
the surrounding countryside. In the early
Middle Ages, castles were simple, made from
earth and wood. Later, castles were made from
stone, a more expensive and time-consuming
effort. The castle was usually built on hills to
prevent easy attack from enemies. However, if
the castle could only be constructed on flat
land, a moat and drawbridge were built around
it for protection.
The keep was the main part of the castle. It
was a strong tower that usually contained
storerooms, workshops, barracks (the knights’
living area) and the lord's living quarters. A
castle's rooms had thick walls and small
windows with no glass so they were usually
dark and chilly. Glass was often too expensive
to manufacture and too time-intensive to
install in places that had so many windows.
Since wars were common during the
Middle Ages, knights were essential to
protect the king and nobles’ land holdings,
as well as those under their care. Most wars
were private fights between feudal lords, or lords and vassals, and were local conflicts. A few were largescale events involving entire regions; for example, the “War of the Roses” in England. For nobles, wars
were an opportunity for glory and wealth; however, for most people, war was a major cause of suffering
and hardship. The Church tried to limit the suffering caused by war by prohibiting acts of violence near
churches and other holy buildings. It also forbade violence against cattle and agricultural equipment as
well as certain types of persons, including clergy, women, merchants, and pilgrims.
Since (and because) warfare was often bloody, knights in the Middle Ages wore armor in battle and were
heavily armed. Armor was made of chain mail—small, interlocking metal links stitched to a knee-length
leather shirt. The knight would also wear an iron helmet and carry a sword, a large shield, and a lance.
When gunpowder was invented during the late Middle Ages, overlapping metal plates replaced chain
mail. Plate armor was so heavy that knights had to be hauled onto their horses with cranes—often, this
armor could weigh well over 100 pounds! Many horses died from exhaustion during the Crusades for just
this reason alone.
In order to become a knight, a boy had to belong to the noble class and had to pass through two stages
of training. The first stage began around age seven, when the boy became a page. The page would learn
knightly manners and how to use and care for weapons. The second stage, begun around age 14 or 15,
was becoming a squire. The squire would take care of the knight's horse, armor, and weapons. When
ready, the squire would accompany the knight into battle. This was usually around age 17 or 18. If the
squire proved himself to be a skilled and courageous fighter, he would
be knighted in an elaborate religious ceremony.
A knight's coat of arms identified him. A coat of arms, or the art of
heraldry, was a symbol that represented his personal characteristics. A
coat of arms was passed along from one generation to the next, along
with specific rules for fighting and the manners befitting a knight of the
court. Chivalry was a system of rules that dictated knights' behavior
towards others. Knights were expected to be courageous in battle and
to fight fairly; if a knight used tricks and strategy to overcome an
opponent, he was considered a coward. A knight was expected to be
loyal to his friends and to keep his word, required to treat his
conquered foes gallantly, and be courteous to women and the less
powerful. However, a knight was required to extend courtesy only to
people of his own class. As a result, the “knight in shining armor”
stereotype does not really follow a knight’s words or actions towards
most people of the time.