Mystery in the Middle Ages. Men: Knightly Training


	Chivalry flourished in the 13th century and, as any other profession, that of a knight was learnt by apprenticeship. At the age of seven, a boy on noble birth started his training by becoming a page. Therefore, he went to the castle of another knight and there he learnt to serve at the table. His training also involved learning how to use a sword and ride a warhorse, essential skills for a knight. At the age of fourteen, the page became a squire, the personal servant of a knight. Then, he served his master in the battlefield and learnt military skills.


	Eventually, at the age of twenty-one, usually a squire was dubbed - touched on each shoulder - with a sword, signifying that he had become a knight. Next, the knight had to swear to be brave, loyal and courteous and to protect the defenceless. However, this ceremony changed as time went by. In the 12th century, a man became a knight when his mastery of arms was recognized by another knight, who would give him a hard blow with his fist or the flat of a sword and call him "Sir Knight".


	In the 13th century, the honour of knighthood was given with increasing ceremony: the church asked the squire to dedicate his armour on an altar, to watch next to it overnight in prayer after taking a ritual bath before. He had to present himself, then, to be dubbed by some prince. Afterwards, a tournament and feast would be held.

Activity
You have seen Braveheart. Describe the ceremony in which he was made a knight.

The ideals of Knighthood and Chivalry acquired a mystique that combined aristocratic qualities, Christian virtues and the Courtly love of women.

Aristocratic Qualities: The ideal knight should be a man of loyalty and generosity, like the heroes in epic poetry, such as Achiles.

Christian Virtues: In the eyes of the Church, he should put his sword at the service of the poor and the needy, and especially of the Crusades to the Holy Land.

The Courtly Love: From Southern France came the idea that a knight should serve a lady - often engaged or married to another - whom he loved passionately, but hopelessly. This is reflected in the French romances and Chansons de Geste sung by Troubadours.

Name the different parts of an armour, choosing words from the box below.
In the picture on the left, write the parts of the body that each part of the armour protects.

Match the names of some knight's weapons with their meanings according to the book Tirant Lo Blanc, written by Joanot Martorell & Martí Joan de Galba.


			The common people, whom a knight should defend in peace and justice.
			The world, where the knight is obliged to defend his king.
			The obligation a knight has to lead people to virtue.
			The True Cross, on which Jesus Christ died to preserve Mankind.
			A knight's duty to defend the Church, which is also long in years and generosity.
			As it can hurt in three ways, it means that the knight must serve in three ways too: He should defend the church, killing and wounding those who oppose it. He should attack all heretics. He should defend those who have no power at all.
			Chastity.

In pairs, write the names of the weapons used during the middle ages.
Use a dictionary to look up the words that you don't know.