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13.3 The Age of Chivalry

Knights: Warriors on Horseback

  • The technology of warfare changes
  • Charles Martel got the idea for mounted knights from the he fought in Tours.
  • and enable knights to handle heavy weapons
  • Label the diagram:
  • The Warrior’s Role in Feudal Society
  • By 1000’s, western Europe is a of warring nobles
  • Feudal lords raise private armies of knights
  • Knights rewarded with ; provides income for needed weapons
  • Tried to enemy & hold knights ransom

So, You Want to be a Knight?

  • One had to be “well-born” (son of a)
  • A Knight’s Training:
  • Age 7: - personal servant of the Lord
  • Age 15: - assistant to a Knight (learn to handle sword, lance, axe, bow & arrow)
  • After you ““ (around age 21), you can become a knight!
  • Ceremony:
  • Lord (or King) touches your shoulder 3 times with sword and says, “I dub thee knight.” (Dub means )
  • Still done today!
  • Tournaments
  • Knights gain experience, show off, and make money in - competitions and mock battles
  • Melee:
  • Two groups of knights assemble in an open field
  • Both parties rode toward each other and anyone who came into range
  • The aim of the melee was to an opposing knight and hold him for ransom (typically the cost of a suit of armor or a horse)
  • Quintain:
  • Objective was to direct strokes at specified areas of a hanging post or shield
  • Practice their with a lance, sword, or battle axe
  • Jousting:
  • ““ an opponent with a lance

Code of Chivalry

  • By 1100s, knights obey a code of chivalry – a set of on how to act.
  • The code includes:
  • To protect the and poor
  • Serve feudal lord, God, and
  • Epic Poetry
  • Epic poems recount a hero’s and adventures
  • The is about Charlemagne’s knights fighting Muslims
  • Love Poems and Songs
  • Knights’ duties to ladies are as important as those to their lords
  • Ideal, “chivalrous” love for one’s lord’s lady
  • - traveling poet-musicians – write and sing short verses

Siege Weapons

  • Castles are huge where lords/Kings live
  • Protected by:
  • Thick stone walls
  • (water surrounding the castle)
  • Designed to withstand attack for a long period of time

Defending the Castle / Attacking the Castle
Poured boiling water, hot oil, or molten lead onto enemy soldiers / Siege Tower:
Archers / Battering Ram:
Trebuchet:
Mangonel:

Role of Women in Feudal Society

  • Status of Women
  • According to the Church and feudal society women were to men
  • Noblewomen
  • Can inherit land, defend castle, send knights to war on lord’s request
  • Usually confined to activities of the home or convent
  • Peasant women
  • Most labor in home and field, bear children, provide for family
  • Poor, powerless, do household tasks at a young age
  • Convents: an to married life.