Designed by: Brian Hannabery
©1998
Image
Map
Transition of a Page to a
Squire to a Knight
becoming a knight takes many years of training and learning. Click on any of the 6 pictures to the left to read about the stages of Knighthood.
Click here for a description of the youthful ages of a knight.
Home
| Passage Analysis | Character Analysis
Monologue | Works Cited | Photo Gallery
Designed by: Brian Hannabery
©1998
It all
begins at the age of seven. Usually the sons or grandsons of knights are the only
ones privileged enough to even begin the training. They are assigned to a particular
knight who educates them in the art of using various knightly weapons. Many
different skills are utilized and drilled so that the boys can learn to handle the heavy
equipment. Hand-to-hand combat is the main method of fighting on the battlefield,
therefore this is a skill that is emphasized from the very beginning.
Top
Knighthood is not all about being brutal
and violent. Knights are also taught to be gentle, chivalrous and respectful towards
the arts. The women of the castle help teach young pages and squires how to act like
gentlemen, while the men pass on their musical knowledge. A knight needs to be noble
and modest when courting a young woman by wooing her with beautiful music, intelligent
literature and flowers. This is seen here.
Continuing with his apprenticeship, the
Squire sleeps by his master's bedside every night. This instills a sense of loyality
that is an important part of the Code
of Chivalry. Honor, respect and loyalty are qualities that all knights are
expected to possess, and thus, need to be instilled at an early age so that they become a
natural part of every day life.
Jousting is an important skill and technique that
is extremely important to learn. This is not just a skill that looks impressive when
performed at tournaments in front of royalty, but can prove to save lives in battle.
Due to the weight of a knight's armor, if he is knocked off his horse he may be in serious
trouble on the battle field. In this picture the knight in training practices his
approach on the mannequin hanging from the pole.
Continuing their education Pages learn
the mechanics of full body armor by helping their knights get into armor. By this
time, the young boy is close to fourteen years old and is ready to learn some of the more
detailed aspects of a knight's life. A knight's armor is extremely heavy and made of
steel, therefore the knight requires assistance. Later, when the Page is older and
promoted to a Squire, he is required to follow the knight into battle and assist him in
every possible way.
Of all the characteristics that a
knight in training is required to acquire, the most important one is obedience. The
Squire is ordered to perform many irrelevant tasks, such as serving his lords at meal-time
and sleeping by the bedside of his master. From this he becomes accustomed to taking
orders from his superiors reguardless of the request. This trait is something that
continues to be instilled in soldiers during training routines to this day. It
ensures that the army is unified. Eventually, the Squire will have all the knowledge
and skills to be an asset to both the King's Royal Army and to the land on which he
fights.