1 / 11

Feudalism: Chivalry and Knights

Feudalism: Chivalry and Knights. The Beginning of Knights. Began under the reign of Charles Martel (Grandfather of Charlemagne) Observed that Muslim horse riders had success in the battle field Created his own mounted army Found success with improved technology Leather saddles and stirrups

rocio
Download Presentation

Feudalism: Chivalry and Knights

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Feudalism: Chivalry and Knights

  2. The Beginning of Knights • Began under the reign of Charles Martel (Grandfather of Charlemagne) • Observed that Muslim horse riders had success in the battle field • Created his own mounted army • Found success with improved technology • Leather saddles and stirrups • Metal spikes to stop horses

  3. Role of the Knight • Hired by Nobles and Lords to protect their territory • Paid in land, Fiefs, and provided military service • Wealth produced on the Fiefs allowed the Knights to focus solely on fighting • Could afford to pay for costly weapons, armor, and warhorses • Lords demanded at least 40 days of combat a year

  4. Training • Most spare time of a Knight was spent training • Wrestling and Hunting • Began training at the age of 7 • Become a Page: Sent to the castle of another lord to wait on the hosts and practice fighting skills. • Age 14 became a Squire • Acted as a servant to a Knight • At age 21 became a full fledged knight.

  5. Code of Chivalry • Complex set of ideals created in 1100s • Demanded that a knight fight bravely in battle • Fight for 3 masters • The Feudal Lord • The Heavenly Lord • His Chosen Lady • A chivalrous Knight protected the weak and defended the poor • Loyalty, Bravery, and Courteous • Most knights failed as they treated the poor brutally

  6. Life of a Knight • After being dubbed a Knight most young knights traveled for a few years • Fought in local wars to gain experience • Participated in Mock battles called tournaments • Combined recreation with combat training. • Brutal and bloody competitions • High prize for winning

  7. War • Actual battles were more bloody and brutal than tournaments • Massive walls and castles dotted the landscape in Europe • Castles were the most brutal site for battles • Attacking armies used a number of weapons and tactics to gain control while defenders used a number of tricks and locations to defend. • Pouring boiling water, oil, or molten lead on enemy soldiers • Archers would shoot from the top with armor piercing bolts

  8. Glorified Life • Most of the Brutality was replaced by stories of chivalry, knighthood and tournaments • Epic Poetry told of the greatness of knighthood. • Recounted heroic deeds of love, adventure, and heroism • Stories of knighthood have made a huge impact on modern culture • Brave heart, Gladiator, and Star wars all examples of epics. • Chivalry still impacts love and marriage and honor today

  9. Love and Chivalry • Under the code a knights duty to his lady was as important as his duty to his lord • This often became difficult when the two obligations collided • Troubadours and Epic Poems often tell of love and lost love • Traveling musicians and poets • Made knights seem more romantic than brutal • Nobel women were, in their eyes, the prettiest and fairest.

  10. Women’s Roles • Most women in feudal society were powerless • As were most men • But women had the added burden of being thought of as less. • Impacted by the church view of women • Noble women • Could inherit land • Could also send knights to war at request of lord • Could command knights if husband was gone • Sometimes fought if need be. • But most were confined to the home or in many cases the convent • Most didn’t own land because it was passed to sons, not daughters

  11. Women’s Roles Nobles Peasants • She gets up at 7a.m., and her chaplain is waiting to say morning prayers . . . and when she has washed and dressed . . . she has breakfast, then she goes to the chapel, for another service, then has dinner. . . . After dinner, she discusses business . . . then has a short sleep, then drinks ale or wine. Then . . . she goes to the chapel for evening service, and has supper. After supper, she relaxes with her women attendants. . . . After that, she goes to her private room, and says nighttime prayers. By 8 p.m. she is in bed. • I get up early . . . milk our cows and turn them into the field. . . . Then I make butter. . . . Afterward I make cheese. . . . Then the children need looking after. . . . I give the chickens food . . . and look after the young geese. . . . I bake, I brew. . . . I twist rope. . . . I tease out wool, and card it, and spin it on a wheel. . . . I organize food for the cattle, and for ourselves. . . . I look after all the household.

More Related