Knight
Aknightwas aprofessionalheavycavalrysoldierin theMiddle Ages.Knights were the best soldiers in the kingdom. Knights fought forlordsornobles,and got land in return. They thoughthonourwas very important, and they had a code of honour calledchivalry.A knight usually had acoat of arms,also called an armorial achievement.
Knights in the Middle Ages
[change|change source]Knights were first used in the8th centuryin thelate Roman armies.[citation needed]The era of the knights lasted until the 16th century. After that, national armies replacedfeudal armies.Many knights were recruited asofficersin the new armies.
Knights today
[change|change source]Although they no longer fight as elite warriors, knights still exist.
Today,King Charles IIInames Knights of theCommonwealth Realms.To knight a person, he taps their shoulders with the flat side of a sword during aceremony.Bill Gates,Clint Eastwood,Michael Caine,Elton John,andGeorge H.W. Bushhave all been knighted.[1]
Some British orders of knighthood still exist, like theOrder of the British Empire.Today, knights are called “Sir” followed by their first name.
Many members ofnobilityare descended from knights. For example,Wijerd Jelckamais descended from a knight who died at thesiege of Antiochin 1199.
Related pages
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