In the middle ages there were knights, and these knights were pretty much soldiers. Anyone could become a knight, well, any free man, but, there was a process to become a knight, a very long, expensive process. You had to pay for armor, a horse, and weapons and so on. Not only was the price was a concern but also the training you had to endure. Also knights had to follow the code of chivalry.
The easiest way to become a knight was to be born into wealth. Like to be the son of a nobleman was a great head start and advantage over men who were less fortunate. A family would raise a son in their home up to the age of 7. In this time of being raised the boy would receive toys similar to those of a knight like a wooden sword and shield, and the boy would be told stories of brave knights in battle. All of this would have an influence on the boy and he would want to become a knight.
All of the knights in the middle ages had to follow the code of chivalry. The code of chivalry was essentially the Ten Commandments for knights, except there are more than 10 rules or guidelines to follow. www.lordsandladies.org lists the code of chivalry as follows:
To fear God and maintain His Church To serve the liege lord in valour and faith
To protect the weak and defenceless
To give succour to widows and orphans
To refrain from the wanton giving of offence
To live by honour and for glory
To despise pecuniary reward
To fight for the welfare of all
To obey those placed in authority
To guard the honour of fellow knights
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
To keep faith
At all times to speak the truth
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
To respect the honour of women
Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
Never to turn the back upon a foe
The code of chivalry keeps the knights in check pretty much. If a knight were to disobey the code, depending on which rule, and the seriousness of the offense the knight could be expelled from knighthood.
The next step to knighthood is becoming a page. A page is a boy from seven to fourteen that serve to a noble or lord. They are pretty much an assistant or butler at the residence of the nobles house. At the same time of them serving the noble they are also participating in knight training. They would spar with wooden swords and shields.
Sources:
http://www.lordsandladies.org/steps-to-knighthood.htm
http://www.lordsandladies.org/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm
The easiest way to become a knight was to be born into wealth. Like to be the son of a nobleman was a great head start and advantage over men who were less fortunate. A family would raise a son in their home up to the age of 7. In this time of being raised the boy would receive toys similar to those of a knight like a wooden sword and shield, and the boy would be told stories of brave knights in battle. All of this would have an influence on the boy and he would want to become a knight.
All of the knights in the middle ages had to follow the code of chivalry. The code of chivalry was essentially the Ten Commandments for knights, except there are more than 10 rules or guidelines to follow. www.lordsandladies.org lists the code of chivalry as follows:
To fear God and maintain His Church To serve the liege lord in valour and faith
To protect the weak and defenceless
To give succour to widows and orphans
To refrain from the wanton giving of offence
To live by honour and for glory
To despise pecuniary reward
To fight for the welfare of all
To obey those placed in authority
To guard the honour of fellow knights
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
To keep faith
At all times to speak the truth
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
To respect the honour of women
Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
Never to turn the back upon a foe
The code of chivalry keeps the knights in check pretty much. If a knight were to disobey the code, depending on which rule, and the seriousness of the offense the knight could be expelled from knighthood.
The next step to knighthood is becoming a page. A page is a boy from seven to fourteen that serve to a noble or lord. They are pretty much an assistant or butler at the residence of the nobles house. At the same time of them serving the noble they are also participating in knight training. They would spar with wooden swords and shields.
Sources:
http://www.lordsandladies.org/steps-to-knighthood.htm
http://www.lordsandladies.org/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm