Medieval Knights

Medieval Knights

Role of a knight

• Knights were mounted warriors

• They required a heavy breed of horse to carry them around

• The fought for their lord

Responsibilities:

▪ to defend the Catholic Church

▪ to support and defend both his lord and God

Becoming a knight

▪ From the age of 8 - 14 he was sent to work as a page to a neighbouring lord

• He was taught how to ride a horse and basic fighting techniques

▪ At 14 or 15 the page became a squire

• He was taught how to use specific weapons

Multiple Choice

What was the role of a medieval knight?

• To defeat the Monarch

• To defend his lord, the Church and God

• To show off a lords wealth

• To get rich

Weapons used by a knight

• Sword

Battle axe

Mace

Multiple Choice

What was a page?

• A boy studying to become a monk

• A young knight

• An attendant to a knight aged between 8 to 14 years

A knight's armour

• Chain mail was made up of small interconnected iron rings and could weigh up to 13.5 kg's

• Plate armour became more common from the 14th century CE and offered better protection against arrows and sword blows

• A full suit of plate armour weighed from 20 to 25 kg's

• Knights often mixed mail and plate armour

Jousting and tournaments

• When not on active military duty, a knight could keep their weapons and horse riding skills sharp by practising in tournaments

• Mêlée - this was a mock cavalry battle where knights had to capture each other for a ransom 

• Joust - a single rider armed with a lance charged at an opponent who was similarly armed

Multiple Choice

How much did chain mail weigh?

• 11 kg

• 13.5 kg

• 15 kg

• 25 kg