Term Paper on "Knight in History by Frances"

Term Paper 3 pages (1037 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

As a rule, society began to revere these romantic figures in their armor and astride their steeds. By the twelfth century, knightly heroics were being heralded in literature, poetry, and music. In fact, a group of "knightly troubadours" evolved who traveled the countryside reciting vs. Of various knights' escapades. These early oral histories have survived through the centuries and were some of the first records historians had to study regarding the knights and their lives. Of course, most of this literature was highly romanticized and stylized, but they indicate the importance of knights in society. Most importantly, these odes to knighthood resulted in a chivalric code evolving by the 12th century that clearly defined knights and their actions. Chivalry became one of the defining roles of knighthood, and actually defined much of the medieval period. The author notes, "... A knight should be courteous, generous, well-spoken, discreet, faithful in the service of love, he should have 'pretz e valours,' excellence and worth, as well as good sense (Gies 77-78). In turn, society looked to knights as their role models and heroes. This role in society seems far removed from their role as military fighter, but successful knights managed to blend both roles effectively, and this distinguished them throughout the Middle Ages.

The knights' role in society altered as they became more prevalent and accepted in the social order. Just as with most members of society, the knight's role altered from their earliest appearances to their gradual demise in the fifteenth century. Knights were rowdy fighters in the beginning, and by the end of their reign, they had evolved into landed gentry who were central figures in the economic and social areas of society. They were members of the aristocracy, and commanded legions of peasants and vassals underneath them. Sometimes entire towns grew up surrounding the knight's lands and castles. Their status in society grew, and so did their wealth.

Perhaps one of the most important points in the book is why the knights disappeared. The author maintains the invention of the gun had much to do with their demise. As warfare modernized, the mounted and armored cavalry soldier became increasingly obsolete. The knights and their ideals became outmoded and unnecessary, and by the sixteenth century, they all but disappeared. The author notes, "The knight was no more vulnerable to gunfire than anyone else, but expensive cannon and gunpowder strongly reinforced the trend toward national professional armies" (Gies 197). Thus, the knight had outlived his usefulness, and became an archaic reminder of a romantic past that was no longer viable or functional.

In conclusion, this book is an important documentation of knights in history. It is also a valuable tool for anyone doing further research into the medieval feudal society and how it functioned. Knights played an important role in society, from religious to military, and this book gives the reader a much fuller picture of their role and their motivations.

References

Gies, Frances. The Knight in… READ MORE

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