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For other uses, see Knight (disambiguation) and Knights (disambiguation).
Knights Dueling, by Eugène Delacroix
Knights Dueling, by Eugène Delacroix

Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. As practiced from the 11th to 20th centuries in Western societies a duel is an engagement in combat between two individuals with matched weapons in accordance with their combat Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix (26 April 1798 &ndash 13 August 1863 was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States In the Commonwealth of Nations, knighthood is a non-heritable form of gentry. Gentry generally refers to people of high Social class, especially in the past Elsewhere, the Spanish Caballero (related to "chivalry"), the Italian Cavaliere, the German Ritter (related to the English word "Rider" and the Swedish word Riddare), or the Polish Kawaler (for Modern Era knighthoods or Rycerz for medieval knighthoods) are commonly used in Continental Europe. Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Swedish ( is a North Germanic language spoken by more than nine million people predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along the Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Outside the British Commonwealth, the title is respected but may carry less significance, and thus may or may not appear, for example, in the mass media and other publications. There are technically differing levels of knighthood (see Order of the British Empire), but in practice these are even more symbolic than the title itself today and thus only express the greatness of the recipient's achievements in the eyes of the Crown. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Throughout the Commonwealth realms The Crown is an abstract metonymic concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government

The British legend of King Arthur, popularised throughout Europe in the Middle Ages by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae ("History of the Kings of Britain") written in the 1130s, and Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (The Death of Arthur) written in 1485, were important in defining the ideal of chivalry which is essential to the European ideal of the knight as an elite warrior sworn to uphold the values of faith, loyalty, courage and honour such as Knights Templar. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to King Arthur is a legendary British leader who according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against the Saxon invaders Geoffrey of Monmouth ( Gruffudd ap Arthur or Sieffre o Fynwy) (c The Historia Regum Britanniae ( English: The History of the Kings of Britain) is a pseudohistorical account of British history The Historia Regum Britanniae ( English: The History of the Kings of Britain) is a pseudohistorical account of British history Sir Thomas Malory (c 1405 – 14 March 1471 was an English writer the author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur. Le Morte d'Arthur (spelled Le Morte Darthur in the first printing and also in some modern editions Middle French for la mort d'Arthur iDEAL is an Internet payment method in The Netherlands, based on online banking Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. iDEAL is an Internet payment method in The Netherlands, based on online banking Elite (also spelled Élite) is taken originally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect" According to the Random House Dictionary, the term warrior has two meanings Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in This page is about loyalty as faithfulness to a cause For its use in business see Loyalty business model or Loyalty Marketing. Gallantry redirects here Or see Gallant for other meanings Courage, also known as bravery, will, intrepidity Honor or Honour (see spelling differences) (the latter directly from the Latin word honos honoris) is the evaluation of a person's The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order In a parallel development in Japan, Bushidō ("Way of the Warrior") written down between the 9th and 12th centuries and Heike monogatari ("Tale of the Heike") popularised by Kakuichi in 1371, defined the ideal of the Samurai warrior. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Tale of the Heike ( Heike monogatari, 平家物語 is an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto Clans The Tale of the Heike ( Heike monogatari, 平家物語 is an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto Clans is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. According to the Random House Dictionary, the term warrior has two meanings


Contents

Origins of the knight

In the second century A. D. the nomadic tribes of the Central Asian steppes would pass through the Hindu Kush and raid the cities of what is now Iran. A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally consists of a Social group existing before the development of or outside of States Many anthropologists use The Hindu Kush is a Mountain range located between Afghanistan and Pakistan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Their tactics consisted of a mass charge of mounted warriors firing arrows as they attacked. This onslaught overwhelmed their opponents. They were stopped only when the Sassanian rulers of Iran put armor on their warriors and their horses. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact These heavily armored cataphracts withstood the onslaught of arrows and then counterattacked with lances. A cataphract was a form of Heavy cavalry used by nomadic eastern Iranian tribes and dynasties and later Ancient Greeks and Romans. The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different Pole weapons based on the Spear. This system of defense was effective but very expensive. There were not only the high costs of the armor for man and horse but the horses themselves were extra expensive because they were a special breed. Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact In addition the warriors required extensive training.

The Sassanian rulers of Iran financed these cataphracts by assigning them each an area which was responsible for providing their armor and horse and supporting them while they were trained. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. A cataphract was a form of Heavy cavalry used by nomadic eastern Iranian tribes and dynasties and later Ancient Greeks and Romans. This arrangement led to the feudal social structure with the military elite at the top and the peasant-serfs at the bottom. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Elite (also spelled Élite) is taken originally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect" A peasant is an agricultural worker who subsists by working a small plot of ground Sassanian literature such as Karnamag-i Artaxshir-i Papakan (Deeds of Ardashir) and the Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) bear testimony to their pursuit of chivalry. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma ((alternative spellings are Shahnama Shahnameh Shahname Shah-Nama, etc The Books of Kings ( Sefer Melachim, ספר מלכים are a part of Judaism 's Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood.

Later the system of heavily armored cataphracts spread to the steppes north of the Black Sea and on into Europe. A cataphract was a form of Heavy cavalry used by nomadic eastern Iranian tribes and dynasties and later Ancient Greeks and Romans. The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey The Sarmatians, an Iranian-language-speaking people, displaced the Scythians in what is now south Russia and the Ukraine. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe.

The realm of the Sarmatians extended from the Han Empire in the east to the Roman Empire in the west. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial From the Chinese, among other things, the Sarmatians adopted the dragon motif. The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The dragon is a Legendary creature of which some interpretation or depiction appears in almost every culture worldwide

In the third century A. D. the Sarmatians fought the Romans near the mouth of the Danube River on the Black Sea. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey The Sarmatians lost the battle but they so impressed the Romans with their fighting prowess that the terms of the peace called for six thousand Sarmatian warriors and their horses to join the Roman army. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The Roman army was a set of military forces employed by the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and later Roman Empire as part of the Roman military The Emperor Marcus Aurelius sent 5500 of these Sarmatians to the northern border of the Roman Empire in Britain to guard it against attacks by the Celts. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts

Physical artifacts of this Sarmatian force have been found, including retirement villages. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες There are other things which may be cultural artifacts of the Sarmatian presence. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες There is a good chance that Celtic dragon image came from Sarmatian sources. The really intriguing possibility is a link between the Arthurian legends and the Sarmatians. The Matter of Britain is a name given collectively to the Legends that concern the Celtic and legendary History of Great Britain, especially those The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες In the religion of the Sarmatian the altar was a sword embedded in a stone. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες Arthur's father was Uther Pendragon. Arthur is a common male name meaning " Bear -like" believed to possibly be descended from the Roman surname Artorius (" Plowman Pendragon means "dragon's head" and refers to the dragon-head symbol on a shield. The dragon is a Legendary creature of which some interpretation or depiction appears in almost every culture worldwide A shield is a protective device meant to intercept attacks The term often refers to a device that is held in the hand as opposed to Armour or a Bullet proof vest The evidence suggests that the Sarmatians with their armor created a military caste that survived several centuries and provided the leadership in the early feudal era. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed

Knighthood as known in Europe was characterized by two elements, feudalism and service as a mounted combatant. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Both arose under the reign of the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, from which the knighthood of the Middle Ages can be seen to have had its genesis. An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his

Some portions of the armies of Germanic tribes (and super-tribes, such as the Suebi) which occupied Europe from the third century had always been mounted, and sometimes such cavalry in fact composed large majorities, such as in the armies of the Ostrogoths. The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as The Suebi or Suevi (from Proto-Germanic * swēbaz based on the Proto-Germanic root * swē- meaning "one's own" The Cavalry (from French cavalerie) is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as Soldiers or Warriors who fought mounted on The Ostrogoths (Ostrogothi or Austrogothi were a branch of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe that played a major role in the political events of the late However, it was the Franks who came to dominate Western and Central Europe after the fall of Rome in the West, and they generally fielded armies composed of large masses of infantry, with an infantry elite, the comitatus, which often rode to battle on horseback rather than marching on foot. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group The Decline of the Roman Empire, leading to the Fall of the Roman Empire, or the Fall of Rome, was the end of the Western Roman Empire. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists Comitatus, as described in the Roman historian Tacitus 's treatise Germania (98 Riding to battle had two key advantages: it relieved fatigue, particularly when the elite soldiers wore armour (as was increasingly the case in the centuries after the fall of Rome in the West); and it gave the soldiers more mobility to react to the raids of the enemy, particularly the invasions of Muslim armies which started occurring in the seventh century. Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion So it was that the armies of the Frankish ruler and warlord Charles Martel, which defeated the Umayyad Arab invasions at the Battle of Tours in 732, were still largely infantry armies, the elites riding to battle but dismounting to fight in order to provide a hard core for the levy of the infantry warbands. A warlord is a person with power who has military control over a subnational area due to Armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority Charles "The Hammer" Martel (Carolus Martellus Charles "the Hammer" (ca The Battle of Tours (October 10 732 also called the Battle of Poitiers and in معركة بلاط الشهداء (ma‘arakat Balâṭ ash-Shuhadâ’ Battle of Court

As the eighth century progressed into the Carolingian Age, however, the Franks were generally on the attack, and larger numbers of warriors took to their horses to ride with the Emperor in his wide-ranging campaigns of conquest. The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolings, or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Horses in the Middle Ages differed in size build and breed to the modern Horse, and At about this time the Franks increasingly remained on horseback to fight on the battlefield as true cavalry rather than as mounted infantry, and would continue to do for centuries thereafter. Although in some nations the knight returned to foot combat in the fourteenth century, the association of the knight with mounted combat with a spear, and later a lance, remained a strong one.

These mobile mounted warriors made Charlemagne’s far-flung conquests possible, and to secure their service he rewarded them with grants of land called benefices. Originally a benefice was a gift of land ( Precaria) for life as a reward for services rendered These were given to the captains directly by the emperor to reward their efforts in the conquests, and they in turn were to grant benefices to their warrior contingents, who were a mix of free and unfree men. In the century or so following Charlemagne’s death, his newly enforced warrior class grew stronger still, and Charles the Bald declared their fiefs to be hereditary. Charles the Bald ( 13 June 823 – 6 October 877) Holy Roman Emperor (875–877 as Charles II) and King of West Francia The period of chaos in the ninth and tenth centuries, between the fall of the Carolingian central authority and the rise of separate Western and Eastern Frankish kingdoms (later to become France and Germany, respectively), only entrenched this newly-landed warrior class. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. This was because governing power, and defense against Viking, Magyar and Saracen attack, became an essentially local affair which revolved around these new hereditary local lords and their demesnes. A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas Hungarians (or Magyars, magyarok are an Ethnic group primarily associated with Hungary. Saracen was a term used by Europeans in the Middle Ages for Fatimids at first then later for all who professed the religion of Islam. In the Feudal system demesne (also spelled desmesne pronounced /dəmeɪn/ or /dəmiːn/; via Old French demeine from Latin dominium) was all the land

The resulting hereditary, landed class of mounted elite warriors, the knights, were increasingly seen as the only true soldiers of Europe, hence the exclusive use of miles for them.

The medieval institution

Two late 13th / early 14th century knights, wearing full mail armour and great helms at a joust (Codex Manesse).
Two late 13th / early 14th century knights, wearing full mail armour and great helms at a joust (Codex Manesse). The great helm or heaume, also called pot helm and barrel helm, of the High Middle Ages arose in the late 12th century in The Codex Manesse, Manesse Codex, or Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift is an Illuminated manuscript in Codex

In the early Middle Ages the term knight designated a professional fighting man in the emerging feudal system. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Some were as poor as the peasant class. A peasant is an agricultural worker who subsists by working a small plot of ground However, over time, as this class of fighter became more prominent in post-Carolingian France, they became wealthier and began to hold and inherit land. Eventually, on the Continent of Europe, only those men could be knighted whose fathers or grandfathers had been knights; and the knightly families became known as the nobility. Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see Hereditary titles) or for a lifetime (In the British Isles, "nobility" is more restricted, to the Peerage. The Peerage is a system of Titles of Nobility in the United Kingdom, part of the British honours system. )

From the 12th century, the concept continued being tied to cavalry, mounted and armoured soldiers. The Cavalry (from French cavalerie) is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as Soldiers or Warriors who fought mounted on Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces. 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. However, from 1350 onwards the knights themselves more frequently dismounted for battle. 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 Medieval Britain placed great importance on an individual’s status in society. An oath (from Anglo-Saxon āð, also called plight) is either a Promise or a Statement of Fact calling Chastity is Sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the ethical norms and guidelines of a culture civilization or Religion. Popular among this society were the knights, those that fought for kings and feudal lords and died for them. Eldest sons comprised of this class in society because of the inheritance passed on to them while the younger sons entered the church or became landless knights. [1]

Heavy cavalry returned in the late fifteenth century, after reverses in the Hundred Years War. These are early sixteenth century French gendarmes.
Heavy cavalry returned in the late fifteenth century, after reverses in the Hundred Years War. These are early sixteenth century French gendarmes.

Becoming a knight

The process of training for knighthood began before adolescence, inside the prospective knight’s home, where he learned courtesy and manners. Etiquette is a code that governs the expectations of Social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a Society, In Sociology, manners are the unenforced standards of conduct which show the actor to be Cultured Polite, and refined A knight was usually the son of a vassal. A vassal (also called feodary or fedary) in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudalism of Medieval Europe, Around the age of 7 to 8 years, he would be sent away to train and serve at a grander (kings) household as a page (this was so his mother or sisters would not spoil him). A page or page boy is a traditionally young male servant. The medieval page In medieval times, a page was an attendant to a Knight Here, he would serve as a kind of waiter and personal servant to his elders. For at least seven years a page was cared for by the women of the house, who instructed him in manners, courtesy, cleanliness, and religion. The women often taught the page to sing, dance, play an instrument (most commonly a lute) or on very rare occasions, to read; reading and writing were valuable but less necessary skills for knights. Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck (either Fretted or unfretted and a deep round back or more specifically to an instrument from He would also learn how to playbattle, in order to learn adult battle techniques. He also acted as a personal servant to the knight, taking care of his master’s armor, equipment, and horse. This was to uphold the knight’s code of Chivalry 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. In British Australian New Zealand Italian and some Canadian universities, a tutor is often but not always a Postgraduate Student or a Lecturer In Feudal or Medieval times a squire was a Man-at-arms in the service of a Knight, often as his Apprentice. 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.

Several methods were used to become a knight. The first method “involved the King or tenant-in-chief conferring the title, known as ‘dubbing’”. The second method “had stronger religious undertones”. The future knight did things such as keeping vigil, “taking a purifying bath, heard Mass and had his spur put on”. The third method called for the future knight to read a service called “Benedicto Novi Militis”. There was, however, another method called apprenticeship wherein the individual is taken as a servant and was taught the manners and skills to be a knight. Aside from being military-trained, knights were taught chivalry, manners that enacted values such as “loyalty, generosity” and “social service”. These manners were supposed to be fulfilled by the knights in order to receive their privileges. [2]

In various traditions, knighthood was reserved for people with a minimum of noble quarters (as in many orders of chivalry), or knighthood became essentially a low degree of nobility, sometimes even conferred as a hereditary title below the peerage. The Peerage is a system of Titles of Nobility in the United Kingdom, part of the British honours system.

Meanwhile kings strove, as an expression of absolutism, to monopolize the right to confer knighthood, even as an individual honour. Absolutism is a Historiographical term used to describe a form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by any other institutions such as churches legislatures or social 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. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state A dynasty is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its The word regime (occasionally spelled " régime " particularly in older texts refers to a set of conditions most often of a Political nature Lord Protector is a particular British title for Heads of State with two meanings (and full styles at different periods of history

Knighthood as a purely formal title bestowed by the British monarch unrelated to military service was established in the 16th century. (However, military knights remained among the Knights of Malta until 1798. The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St ) 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) or the rare female equivalent a baronetess (abbreviation Btss) is the holder James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James

Knighthood and the feudal system

Death of Bertrand du Guesclin; C15th miniature by Jean Fouquet
Death of Bertrand du Guesclin; C15th miniature by Jean Fouquet

Originally, any man could make a knight, although there was greater honor in being knighted by more prestigious knights. Bertrand du Guesclin (c 1320 &ndash 13 July 1380) known as the Eagle of Brittany, was a Breton Knight and French military commander Jean Fouquet or Jehan Fouquet (1420 - 1481 was the most important French painter of the 15th century a master of both panel painting and manuscript There was an instance of three knights of Beauvais who needed a fourth knight to witness their contract; so they knighted a passing peasant and made him witness. Beauvais is a town and commune of northern France, Préfecture (capital of the Oise département. Unfortunately, knighting serfs was already illegal there, and they were fined. [3]

Once eligibility for knighthood became a monopoly of the nobles, or knightly class, they actually assumed knighthood less and less often. It added little to the honour they already had; dubbing had become a fashionable and expensive ceremony; and knighthood required much equipment, and burdensome duties.

The king, however, could order his subjects to become knights, and dispense with the laws against knighting the ignoble. So knights were most often made by the king, or his deputies; in the late Middle Ages, sovereigns began to forbid their subjects to make knights, as they forbade them other military preparations.

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 gold chain or golden spurs as a sign of their status (references exist to a white belt in the context of the knighting ceremony or "accolade",[4] but it is unknown if this symbolism was carried beyond that). Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of Riding boots for the purpose of directing a Horse to move forward or laterally while riding White is a Color, the perception which is evoked by Light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive Cone cells in the Human eye A belt is a flexible band typically made of Leather or heavy Cloth, and worn around the Waist. In the Middle Ages, the accolade (or dubbing) was the central act in the rite-of-passage ceremonies conferring Knighthood Moreover, knights would usually swear allegiance to a superior in the feudal pyramid — either to a liege lord or to a military order. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed military order is a Christian Order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i Knights who did not do so are known as knights errant. A knight-errant (plural knights-errant) is a figure of medieval chivalric romance literature.

Knights were the warrior class defending the people of feudal Christianity and bound by a code of chivalry. Chivalry (like the samurai’s Bushido) was a set of customs that governed the knights' behavior, but was perhaps less scrupulously observed. Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. Knights served mightier lords, usually as vassals, or were hired by them. A vassal (also called feodary or fedary) in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudalism of Medieval Europe, Some had their own castles, while others joined a military order or a crusade. A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. military order is a Christian Order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents In reality, rules were often bent or blatantly broken by knights as well as their masters, for power, goods or honor. So-called robber knights or robber barons even turned to organized crime, some based in a castle. The term robber baron (Raubritter dates back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries originally referring to certain Feudal Lords

Knights of Christ, detail from Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck
Knights of Christ, detail from Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck

In times of war or national disorder the monarch would typically call all the knights together to do their annual service of fighting. Jan van Eyck or Johannes de Eyck (jɑn vɑn ɛik (before c 1395 &ndash before July 9, 1441) was an Early Netherlandish painter active 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. Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see Hereditary titles) or for a lifetime

As time went by, monarchs began to prefer standing (permanent) armies led by officers rather than knights, because they could be used for longer periods of time, were more professional and were generally more loyal. An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority This was 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. A standing army is an Army composed of full time career Soldiers who 'stand over' in other words who do not disband during times of peace The tax of scutage or escuage, in the law of England under the Feudal system, allowed a knight to "buy out" of the military service due to the Military courtesy is one of the defining features of a professional Military force Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. A courtier is a person who attends the court of a Monarch or other powerful person.

The Knights of Malta also dropped their traditional role of heavy cavalry as they moved from one island fortress to another across the Mediterranean Sea. The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for Instead they became skilled in Naval warfare and engaged in frequent sea battles with the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary Pirates until nearly the end of the 18th century. Naval warfare is Combat in and on Seas Oceans or any other major bodies of water such as large Lakes and wide Rivers History The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish The Barbary pirates, also sometimes called Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim Pirates and Privateers that operated from North Africa, from

In some countries, knighthood was merged into the nobility, remaining only as a low or genetic noble title; thus the aristocratic estate's chambers in the diets of the realms of Sweden and Finland were each called House of knights. Similarly the hereditary lords of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth when assembled would often call themselves The Equestrian Order (for their notorious admiration for ancient Rome after which they modelled their realm) although they were legally separate and elevated in privilege above the scartabelli (lower nobility) and knights created by their kings (the equites aurati) who would not automatically qualify into such assemblies. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also known as the Most Serene Republic

The knight owned a land that his tenants maintained while he was away fighting for the king. In exchange for the land’s maintenance, the knight promised protection to its tenants and those living in the land, which consisted of villeins, cottars and peasant farmers. Because the life of a knight was short, inheritance was hereditary. In most cases, the eldest sons received the inheritance unless the younger sons made it clear that the eldest was capable of supporting himself. Such conditions were applicable to different areas, as rules for inheritance varied in different places. Despite these rules, sons that did not receive inheritance usually moved to towns, or worked for the lands of their brother. [5]

Chivalric code

For more details on this topic, see chivalry. Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood.

The chivalrous knight was idealized as brave in battle, loyal to his king and God, and willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Gallantry redirects here Or see Gallant for other meanings Courage, also known as bravery, will, intrepidity This page is about loyalty as faithfulness to a cause For its use in business see Loyalty business model or Loyalty Marketing. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning "to make sacred" from Old French, from Latin sacrificium: sacr, "sacred" Towards his fellow Christians and countrymen, the knight was to be merciful, humble, and courteous. Mercy ( Middle English, from Anglo-French merci, from Medieval Latin merced-, merces, from Latin, "price Politeness is best expressed as the practical application of good Manners or Etiquette. Towards noble ladies above all, the knight was to be gracious and gentle.

The decline of the medieval knight

Serbian knight armor, around 1440, Military Museum (Belgrade)
Serbian knight armor, around 1440, Military Museum (Belgrade)

The causes of the decline of the armoured knight have been a source for much debate, and are likely to include a number of contributing factors. Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country The Military Museum in Belgrade was founded in 1878. The museum has over 3000 ancient and modern items However, it is unlikely that developing technology rendered the knight obsolete; on the contrary, it contributed to their development. Plate armour was first developed to resist crossbow bolts of the early medieval period;[6] the rise of the English longbowmen during the Hundred Years' War led to the increase in -and sophistication of- plate armour, which culminated in the full harness worn by the beginning of the 15th century. Plate armour is personal Armour made from large Metal plates worn on the Chest and sometimes the entire Body. A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts The English longbow, also called the Welsh longbow, was a powerful type of medieval Longbow (a tall bow for Archery) about 6 ft The Hundred Years' War (Guerre de Cent Ans was a prolonged conflict lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne vacant with the extinction of the senior [7] Quality plate was chosen by wealthy knights for its effectiveness; records show that from at least the 14th century armour was 'proved' before sale, and stamped to show it could resist handweapons and missiles (from crossbow and longbow and, later arquebus and pistol), fired at close range. The Arquebus (sometimes spelled harquebus, harkbus or hackbut; from Dutch haakbus, meaning "hook gun" is [8] By the 14th century most plate was made from hardened steel and quality armour was increasingly being improved to resist threat from firearms. A firearm is a Tool that projects either single or multiple Projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion [9] This did not render the plate increasingly impracticable; a full harness of musket-proof plate from the 17th century weighed 70 lb, significantly less than 16th century tournament armour. This article is about the tournaments of the Middle Ages For the general article on tournaments see Tournament. [10]

While infantry abandoned their cheap mass-produced armour in the late 16th century, good armour continued to be worn by horsemen. [11] Even in the Napoleonic wars many heavy cavalry divisions, including the French Cuirassiers, wore steel helmets and breastplates. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions Cuirassiers were mounted Cavalry Soldiers equipped with Armour and Firearms first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. [12]

Early firearms revolutionised siege warfare but made little impact on the field. [13] Modern trials using 15th century handguns demonstrate that they were hard to fire and were unable to penetrate 2mm steel plate at 30 yards. [14] Firearms improved over the centuries, but by the early nineteenth century muskets had an accuracy of 40-75% (depending on make) at 100 yards; at 200 yards it was only 25-37%. [15] In battle they were effective at 50-100 yards when fired in volley. [16] Loading was slow, producing a musket fire rate of between three and five rounds a minute. [17] This offered little defence against charging cavalry, when an infantry division’s only defence was to form square, a manoeuvre which demanded firm discipline and tight formation to maintain the protective wall of bayonets to hold off the charge. An infantry square is a combat formation an Infantry unit formed in close order assumes when threatened with Cavalry attack A slightest break in formation left the men at mercy of the cavalry. [18] Thus, even against firearms, the armoured knight would remain effective.

It seems likely that changing army structures and economic factors led to the decline of knights, rather than any obsolescence in their effectiveness. By the sixteenth century, the concept of a combined-arms professional army (with improved, trained infantry tactics) first developed by the Swiss had spread throughout Europe. [19] The rise in professional armies, with its emphasis on training and paid contracts - rather than ransom and pillaging which reimbursed knights in the past - and the high costs involved in outfitting and maintaining knights’ armour and horses led many of the traditional knightly classes to abandon their profession. [20]

Orders of knighthood

Military-monastic orders

For more details on this topic, see Military order. military order is a Christian Order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i
The Seal of the Knights Templar
The Seal of the Knights Templar

Other orders were established in the Iberian peninsula, under the influence of the orders in the Holy Land and the Crusader movement of the Reconquista, in Avis in 1143, in Alcantara in 1156, in Calatrava in 1158, and in Santiago in 1164. The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights (Deutschordensland sometimes known in English by the German term Ordensstaat (ˈɔːdn̩ˌʃtɑːt or "Order-State" The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period Avis ( pron ɐ'viʃ is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 606 Santiago de Compostela (also Saint James of Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia and a UNESCO World

Chivalric orders

For more details on this topic, see Chivalric order. Chivalric orders are orders of Knights that were created by European monarchs in imitation of the Military orders of the Crusades.

After 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 Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. The Matter of Britain is a name given collectively to the Legends that concern the Celtic and legendary History of Great Britain, especially those 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. An Order is a Decoration, awarded by a government a dynastic house, or a religious body to an individual usually for distinguished service to a nation or to humanity Examples of notable orders of chivalry include:


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. The Order of the Dragon ( lat. Societas Draconistrarum, ger. der Drachenorden, hun. For other nobles of the same name please see Sigismund. Sigismund ( February 14, 1368 – December 9, The Order of the Golden Fleece (Orden del Toisón de Oro is an Order of chivalry founded in 1430 by Duke Philip III of Burgundy to celebrate his marriage Philip the Good (Philippe le Bon also Philip III Duke of Burgundy ( July 31, 1396 &ndash June 15, 1467) was Duke of Burgundy The Order of Saint Michael (Ordre de Saint-Michel was the first French chivalric order, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469 in competitive response Louis XI ( July 3, 1423 – August 30, 1483) called the Prudent (le Prudent and the Universal Spider ( Middle Such orders were particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, and knighthood continues to be conferred in various countries:

There are other monarchies and also republics that also follow the practice. A monarchy is a Form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual who is the Head of state, often for life or A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its S is the nineteenth letter in the modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English is spelled ess or occasionally es (ɛs generally es- Modern knighthoods are typically awarded in recognition for services rendered to society, services which are no longer necessarily martial in nature. The British musician Elton John, for example, is a Knight Bachelor, thus entitled to be called Sir Elton. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. The female equivalent is a Dame.

In the British honours system the knightly style of Sir is accompanied by the given name, and optionally the surname. A surname is a name added to a Given name and is part of a Personal name. So, Elton John may be called Sir Elton or Sir Elton John, but never Sir John. Similarly, actress Judi Dench DBE may be addressed as Dame Judi or Dame Judi Dench, but never Dame Dench. Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English

Wives of knights, however, are entitled to the honorific "Lady" before their husband's surname. Thus Sir Paul McCartney's ex-wife was formally styled Lady McCartney (rather than Lady Paul McCartney or Lady Heather McCartney). Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, The style Dame Heather McCartney could be used for the wife of a knight; however, this style is largely archaic and is only used in the most formal of documents, or where the wife is a Dame in her own right (such as Dame Norma Major, who was knighted six years before her husband Sir John Major was knighted). Dame Norma Major Lady Major, DBE (née Wagstaff previously Johnson born 12 February 1942) is the wife of Sir John Major, the former British Sir John Major KG CH ACIB (born 29 March 1943 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The husbands of Dames have no honorific; hence Dame Norma's husband remained The Rt Hon John Major until he received his own knighthood.

Outside the British honours system it is usually considered improper to address a knighted person as 'Sir' or 'Dame'. Some countries, however, historically did have equivalent honorifics for knights, such as Cavaliere in Italy (e. There are currently five Italian orders of merit (Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana that recognise contributions to the Italian Republic. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest g. Cavaliere Benito Mussolini), and Ritter in Germany and Austro-Hungarian Empire (e. Ritter is the second-lowest-ranking Title of Nobility in German-speaking areas just above an Edler, considered roughly equal to the title Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. g. Georg Ritter von Trapp). Korvettenkapitän Georg Ritter von Trapp (April 4 1880 – May 30 1947 headed the Austrian singing family portrayed in The Sound of Music

State Knighthoods in the Netherlands are issued in three orders, the Order of William, the Order of the Netherlands Lion, and the Order of Orange Nassau. The Military William Order, or often named Military Order of William ( Dutch: Militaire Willems-Orde Abbreviation: MWO is the oldest and highest The Order of the Netherlands Lion (De Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw is an order of the Netherlands which was first created on 29 September 1815 by the The Order of Orange-Nassau ( Orde van Oranje-Nassau) is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was first created on 4 April 1892 Additionally there remain a few hereditary knights in The Netherlands.

In France, among other orders are the Légion d'Honneur, the Ordre National du Mérite, the Ordre des Palmes académiques and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The The National Order of Merit (in French Ordre national du Mérite) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of the French Republic. The Ordre des Palmes académiques ( Order of Academic Palms) is an Order of Chivalry of France to academics and educators The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature is an Order of France, established on May 2, 1957 by the Minister The lowest of the ranks conferred by these orders is Chevalier, meaning Knight.

In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the monarchs tried to establish chivalric orders but the hereditary lords who controlled the Union did not agree and managed to ban such assemblies. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also known as the Most Serene Republic They feared the King would use Orders to gain support for absolutist goals and to make formal distinctions among the peerage which could lead to its legal breakup into two separate classes the King would later play one against the other and eventually limit the legal privileges of hereditary nobility. But finally in 1705 King August II managed to establish the Order of the White Eagle which remains Poland's most prestigious order of that kind. The Order of the White Eagle (Order Orła Białego is Poland 's highest decoration awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits The head of state (now the President as the acting Grand Master) confers knighthoods of the Order to distinguished citizens, foreign monarchs and other heads of state. The Order has its Chapter. There were no particular honorifics that would accompany a knight's name as historically all (or at least by far most) its members would be royals or hereditary lords anyway. So today, a knight is simply referred to as "Name Surname, knight of the White Eagle (Order)".

Modern ranks

Within most Continental European orders, and many other orders, the following rankings (or similar rank structures) exist:

Within the British honours system, and some members of the Commonwealth of Nations, the following rankings (or similar rank structures) exist, of which only the two highest ranks are considered knights:

Consequently to the fact of being not an order of chivalry but an order of merits, some republican orders have created new ranks: e. The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery achievement or service to the United Kingdom. Knight Grand Cross (or Dame Grand Cross) is the most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are obsolete Knight Commander (or Dame Commander) is the second most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are obsolete The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. g. Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit officially Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only

Hereditary knighthoods in Great Britain and Ireland

There are traces of the Continental system of hereditary knighthood in British usage, however. There were three hereditary knighthoods in the Kingdom of Ireland:

It seems likely that the above "Palatine" hereditary knighthoods, created under the Earl of Desmond, were in some respects modeled on an archaic form of knighthood mentioned in the Chronicles of Jean Froissart (c. Froissart's Chronicle was written in French by Jean Froissart. Jean Froissart (c 1337 &ndash c 1405 was one of the most important of the Chroniclers of Medieval France. 1337-c. 1405). In Book IV, Ch. 64, we find the tale of four Irish kings being prepared to receive English knighthood. Initially, they seem dismissive of the idea, stating that they were knights already, explaining that "in Ireland, a king makes his son a knight, and should the child have lost his father, then the nearest relation. " This was to take place at the age of seven years.

While "warrior orders" or "warrior clans" were described in ancient Ireland in the theoretical service of the High King or Provincial Kings, there is no evidence to support the survival of any such orders into the historical period. A High King of Ireland ( Ard Rí na hÉireann) is a historical or legendary figure who claimed lordship over the whole of Ireland. However, Gaelic Irish knighthood, in its archaic and hereditary context designating the untitled martial nobility, was clearly practiced well into the 14th century.

Knighted Clergymen

Since the reign of Edward VII a Clerk in Holy Orders in the Church of England or in another Anglican Church has not normally received the accolade on being appointed to a degree of knighthood. See also Holy Orders The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches He receives the insignia of his honour and may place the appropriate letters after his name or title but he may not be called Sir and consequently his wife may not be called Lady. [21][22] The Rt Revd the Hon Sir Paul Reeves did receive the accolade and is correctly called Sir but it is not clear how this situation arose. Sir Paul Alfred Reeves, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, CF, QSO, (born December 6, 1932) was Archbishop and Primate Ministers of other Christian Churches are entitled to receive the accolade. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. For example, His Eminence Sir Norman Cardinal Gilroy did receive the accolade on his appointment as Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1969. Sir Norman Thomas Cardinal Gilroy KBE ( 22 January 1896 &ndash 21 October 1977) was an Australian clergyman The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. A knight who is subsequently ordained does not lose his title. A famous example of this situation was The Revd Sir Derek Pattinson, who was ordained just a year after he was appointed Knight Bachelor, apparently somewhat to the consternation of officials at Buckingham Palace. Sir William Derek Pattinson (1930-2006 was Secretary-General of the General Synod of the Church of England from 1972 until 1990 The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. [23] A woman Clerk in Holy Orders may be appointed a Dame in exactly the same way as any other woman since there are no military connotations attached to the honour. See also Holy Orders The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. A Clerk in Holy Orders who is a Baronet is entitled to use the title Sir. See also Holy Orders The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. A baronet (traditional abbreviation Bart, modern abbreviation Bt) or the rare female equivalent a baronetess (abbreviation Btss) is the holder

Notes

  1. ^ Laing & Laing, p 27.
  2. ^ Laing & Laing, pp 27, 30.
  3. ^ Bloch, p. 322-3
  4. ^ Geoffroi de Charny (1306?-1356), Book of Chivalry
  5. ^ Laing & Laing, pp 31-32
  6. ^ Williams, p51
  7. ^ Carey et al, 149-50
  8. ^ Embleton, p 75
  9. ^ Williams pp 52, 54
  10. ^ Oakeshott, p 104
  11. ^ Williams, p 54
  12. ^ Bluth, p 127
  13. ^ Carey et al p 194
  14. ^ Edwards, p
  15. ^ Bull, p 131
  16. ^ Bluth, p 23
  17. ^ Bluth, p 35
  18. ^ Bluth p 127
  19. ^ Carey et al, pp 200-202
  20. ^ Robards, p 152
  21. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, accessed 27 October 2007
  22. ^ Royal Insight, April 2006, accessed 27 October 2007
  23. ^ Michael De-La-Noy, obituary in The Independent

References

See also

External links

Dictionary

knight

-noun

  1. A warrior, especially of the Middle Ages.
  2. Nowadays, a person on whom a knighthood has been conferred by a monarch.
  3. (chess) A chess piece, often in the shape of a horse's head, that is moved two squares in one direction and one at right angles to that direction in a single move, leaping over any intervening pieces.

-verb

  1. To confer knighthood upon.
  2. (chess) to promote a pawn to a knight.

Knight

-proper noun

  1. an English status surname for someone who was a mounted soldier
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