Knights weren’t just armored warriors—they were a mix of elite fighters, medieval celebrities, and sometimes, eccentric characters.

Becoming a Knight

Training started at age seven as a page, learning courtly manners and swordplay. As a squire, you shadowed a knight, caring for armor and weapons. Only after proving your skill in battle were you dubbed a knight, often with a ceremonial sword tap.

Life in Armor

A full suit of plate armor could weigh up to 60 pounds, making even simple tasks a challenge. But knights weren’t always on the battlefield—tournaments were a favorite pastime, a mix of sport, spectacle, and sometimes, sheer obsession.

Unforgettable Knights

• William Marshal: A tournament fanatic who rose from a landless knight to one of England’s most powerful figures, serving four kings.

• El Cid: A legendary warrior who fought for both Christian and Muslim rulers, earning the title “The Lord.”

• Ulrich von Liechtenstein: A real 13th-century knight who jousted in the name of love—once even dressing as the goddess Venus for a tournament.

Chivalry & the Knight’s Code

Knights followed the Code of Chivalry, swearing loyalty, protecting the weak, and upholding honor—though real life was often messier than the legend.

The Decline of Knights

Gunpowder and cannons made armor obsolete, but the romantic ideal of the knight lives on in books, films, and modern honors like knighthood in the Order of the Garter—where, yes, members still wear garters.

Even today, you can be knighted—just don’t expect a sword fight.