The Knight
Did not appear until the middle ages.
Important developments to enable to move around on horse back during a battle
Stirrup (foot supports suspended from a saddle by straps)
Heavier breed of horse capable of carrying a man in full armour.
Battle of Hastings
fought in 1066
between Norman knights & English infantry
one of the earliest recorded military engagements involving knights on horseback
Hastings fought for their lord, William, Duke of Normandy
Duke, (a lord in England)
Normandy, (now a French province,in the Middle Ages it was a dukedom
The feudal system was an important aspect of knighthood
knights were wealthy
knights were also powerful landowners
some knights were monks who served the Church
accompany pilgrims and protect them while they were on the Crusades.
could afford to pay for their horses and armour
heavily armed warrior on horseback was meant to terrorise and destroy foot soldiers
used an arsenal of heavy iron weapons. swords, maces and battle axes were common
but lance was he most favoured weapon
the wooden shield could also be used as a weapon as it can cause severe wounds when they have been swiped with its rim
armour was heavy and awkward
could weigh over 15kg
it was not easy to fight
a long wooden shaft with steel point used as a weapon by mounted knights
joust is a combat between two mounted knights using blunted lances.
a useful method of training
a violent sport
by the end of the Middle Ages, knights effectiveness as a warrior had diminished.
professional armies of trained peasant were trained to bring down a knight off his horse
when gunpowder was invented, the knight's armour was useless