Knights

 

When he was about seven a boy of noble birth who was going to be a knight was sent to a nobleman's household, often to be a page. Here he learned how to behave and how to ride a horse. At 14 he was an apprentice to a knight and served as a squire. He was taught how to handle weapons and how to take care of armor and horses. He sometimes would get the opportunity to go out in battle. Successful squires became knights when they were around 21 years old.
Everyday a knight usually has to smell iron - because the main body armor was made of iron. The iron would be linked together in chains to form a chain mail. A padded garment called an aketon was also worn below the mail to absorb blows. During the 14th and 15th century, knights sometimes wore steel plates on there body or even full suits of armor. A suit weighed about 44-55 lb, and that weight was spread all over the body! But armor did have one major disadvantage. The knight would quickly become very hot.


Chain mail

Aketon
 

 Even though knights could protect themselves, they needed weapons. Some of the weapons are ax's, daggers, bows and arrows, and mace's. But the most important weapon was the sword, it is a symbol of knighthood. The double-edged sword could tear mails links apart, but then the pointed sword became popular. The sword was usually made for wealthy people but not always.

Although knights were men of war, they behaved in a polite and civil way when dealing with their enemies. In the 12th century  this kind of behavior was a knightly code of conduct called chivalry, with a special emphasis toward women. The rules of chivalry dictated that knights should show politeness to defeated enemies. But this code was not always observed especially by desperate men facing death. Knights often showed a little mercy to foot soldiers. Much was at stake in a battle. Defeat could mean losing the throne.

But once all the battles are done, the knights can go back to the castle. Everything is at peace now, and the knights could prepare for there next battle.