KNIGHTS

Knighthood started with training as a page and then as a squire and it took many, many years to become a knight through many forms of combat: archery, hand to hand, jousting, with swords and many other weapons.

Knights wore suits of armor which consisted of different layers including chain-mail an iron plate, leg, arm, head, neck, body and feet armor Even their war horses, usually Destriers, wore armor into battle.

The Code of Chivalry was held highly by every Knight; it stated that a Knight had to be brave, fearless, be loyal, courteous, honest, and gallant. They had to go through many ceremonies and made many oaths before reaching that title

Here is a description of the armor worn by a knight:

An early version of a boot with steel in the toes and chain mail over the exposed part of the foot was used by Knights.

Greaves which protected the lower legs and ankles. Poleyns protected the kneecaps, and spurs worn on the heel of the boot with straps.

Arm and Hand Armor which included the Besagues, small shield-like items laced to the chain mail at the shoulder and down to the armpit. The rerebrace and vambrace protected the upper and lower arms. Gauntlets were worn on the hands like gloves with chain mail over the fingers. Jousting gauntlets, however, had plate metal over the fingers.

On the body the Knight wore a breast plate or chest armor, and one on his back called the backplate.

Faulds were attached to the breast plate; armor which protected the hips, abdomen and lower back. Tassets hang from the Faulds to protect the upper legs.

And finally, protecting the head and neck were a visor which was a piece of armor that could be removed that protected the face and eyes; and a helmet with chain mail that protected the neck.