In truth, most Knights were anything but this in the Dark Ages when they were most common. Of course there were the occasional few who were very different from the pack and were chivalrous, but for most cases chivalry ended at the beginning of the Dark Ages, and did not re-appear till the Middle Ages.
Knights were brutish men who more often than not would rather rape and kill an innocent women (as long as she was good looking of course), than to let her be. They certainly did not rush off to save them, but could perhaps rush off to join in the fun of tormenting them. One fact which we all relate to Knights with is true though, they all had gracious steeds which cost a fair penny. The Knights themselves, though, had no love of their horse. Some tales have been told of Knights cutting of the head of their horse and sending it to the stable master they bought it from only because they had fallen from their horse while riding or in battle.
Knights often owned their own Castles and hence owned their own territories and towns. They were no less ruthless with their subjugates than they were with an enemy on the battlefield. If you displeased a Knight in his castle you would not have your life for long, and if you were female, regardless of your age, you would not have your virginity for long (though for some knights it would have been the males in place of the females).
Knights also tended to be quite a queer lot, especially by modern standards. They committed quite disgusting and gruesome acts, ranging from making necklaces of the eyes of their opponents, to bestiality.
All in all, back in the Dark Ages, the Knights were not a pleasant lot, and they were always avoided at all costs (most anyhow).
The Canterbury Tales Project (see also Geoffrey Chaucer)
Back to the General Prologue/The Knight/The Squire.
43: A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man, 44: That fro the tyme that he first bigan 45: To riden out, he loved chivalrie, 46: Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. 47: Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, 48: And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, 49: As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, 50: And evere honoured for his worthynesse. 51: At alisaundre he was whan it was wonne. 52: Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne 53: Aboven alle nacions in pruce; 54: In lettow hadde he reysed and in ruce, 55: No cristen man so ofte of his degree. 56: In gernade at the seege eek hadde he be 57: Of algezir, and riden in belmarye. 58: At lyeys was he and at satalye, 59: Whan they were wonne; and in the grete see 60: At many a noble armee hadde he be. 61: At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, 62: And foughten for oure feith at tramyssene 63: In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo. 64: This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also 65: Somtyme with the lord of palatye 66: Agayn another hethen in turkye. 67: And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys; 68: And though that he were worthy, he was wys, 69: And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. 70: He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde 71: In al his lyf unto no maner wight. 72: He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght. 73: But, for to tellen yow of his array, 74: His hors were goode, but he was nat gay. 75: Of fustian he wered a gypon 76: Al bismotered with his habergeon, 77: For he was late ycome from his viage, 78: And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
The Knight is the first character introduced by Chaucer, and is one of the more pleasant. He is detached and unworldly, as shown by his rusty armour, and his lack of concern about his clothing. This is in marked contrast with his son, the squire. He is quietly religious having fought in the crusades and all over Europe and the near East. However, he is a fighter first, and will not shy away from fighting under a heathen warlord.
The use of language in his portrait to show his goodness centres around two things: the use of the word 'gentil', which is used here (for once) without any sense of irony, and his extensive travels, which show that he is experienced in the ways of war. He is model in his field: indeed he holds the same role that the parson holds among the religious characters.
That he is devoutly observant of religious convention is unquestionable. His armour is slightly rusty, which has rubbed off onto his jerkin. This shows that he is making his pilgrimage immediately after returning from a war, as was the custom. The legal and moral dispensation on killing was lifted as soon as the war ended, and thus all warriors were expected to go and repent as soon it their duties were concluded.
Modern English Translation, from www.fordham.edu:
A knight there was, and he a worthy man, Who, from the moment that he first began To ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy. Full worthy was he in his liege-lord's war, And therein had he ridden (none more far) As well in Christendom as heathenesse, And honoured everywhere for worthiness. At Alexandria, he, when it was won; Full oft the table's roster he'd begun Above all nations' knights in Prussia. In Latvia raided he, and Russia, No christened man so oft of his degree. In far Granada at the siege was he Of Algeciras, and in Belmarie. At Ayas was he and at Satalye When they were won; and on the Middle Sea At many a noble meeting chanced to be. Of mortal battles he had fought fifteen, And he'd fought for our faith at Tramissene Three times in lists, and each time slain his foe. This self-same worthy knight had been also At one time with the lord of Palatye Against another heathen in Turkey: And always won he sovereign fame for prize. Though so illustrious, he was very wise And bore himself as meekly as a maid. He never yet had any vileness said, In all his life, to whatsoever wight. He was a truly perfect, gentle knight. But now, to tell you all of his array, His steeds were good, but yet he was not gay. Of simple fustian wore he a jupon Sadly discoloured by his habergeon; For he had lately come from his voyage And now was going on this pilgrimage.
Originally the knight was simply a mounted warrior. Anyone who used a horse while fighting in a battle was a knight, being a knight said nothing about who you were as a person, it was simply a term, like soldier. However, eventually the term took on detail, the knight was a mounted warrior who wore mail and in addition to the normal weapons also tended towards using a lance in mounted charges, mounted charges being the specialty of the knight.
The idea of the knight that we hold today originated in the area of what we now know as France, and eventually spread throughout Europe. The noblemen merged knights, and eventually you couldn't be a knight if you weren't a nobleman, and noblemen were expected to be knights, unless you became a clergyman. This is why being knighted by the Queen of G.B. does in fact hold meaning, she is ceremoniously making you a part of the aristocracy. Although how Elton John gets to be one just cause he's gay and he plays the piano is beyond me, but let's not get off track. Anyway, by the twelfth century, the knight as we know it was made. By the sixteenth century, however, the knight was obsolete thanks to well trained infantry and handguns, cannons, etc. However, tradition kept them alive for much longer.
What was a knight without attendants? After all, you're a nobleman and not having attendants is shameful. Part of the trappings of being a knight was having these attendants:
One musn't forget the banners that the knight carried with him. Not only did he carry his own family crest on a pennant (forked end, not to be confused with real banners), he also carried a banner with the crest of the baron he was under. House crests are, of course, hereditary.
Back to Final Fantasy Tactics Final Fantasy Tactics Job List
Fine warriors, bold and brave with etiquette. Draws 'Battle Skill' with the powerful knight sword.
Used to destroy item equipped on enemy's head. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 300
Used to destroy item equipped on enemy's chest. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 400
Used to destroy equipped shield of enemy. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 300
Used to destroy equipped weapon of enemy. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 400
Diminishes enemy's MP. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 250
Diminishes enemy's speed level. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 250
Diminishes enemy's attack power. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 250
Diminishes enemy's magic attack power. Range: Weapon Effect: 0 Speed: Now JP: 250
Parry attacks with equipped weapon. Trigger: Physical Attack JP: 200
Equip armor regardless of job. JP: 500
Equip shield regardless of job. JP: 250
Equip sword regardless of job. JP: 400
The abilities of the Knight are not very impressive; his true strength lies in defense. The ability to equip a variety of armors and the Weapon Guard ability make him evasive and sturdy against physical attacks. Magical offenses might present a problem.
Knight (?), n. [OE. knight, cniht, knight, soldier, As. cniht, cneoht, a boy, youth, attendant, military follower; akin to D. & G. knecht servant; perh. akin to E. kin.]
1.
A young servant or follower; a military attendant.
2. (a)
In feudal times, a man-at-arms serving on horseback and admitted to a certain military rank with special ceremonies, including an oath to protect the distressed, maintain the right, and live a stainless life.
One on whom knighthood, a dignity next below that of baronet, is conferred by the sovereign, entitling him to be addressed as Sir; as, Sir John.
A champion; a partisan; a lover.
Tennyson.
Knights, by their oaths, should right poor ladies' harms. Shak.
⇒ Formerly, when a knight's name was not known, it was customary to address him as Sir Knight. The rank of a knight is not hereditary.
3.
A piece used in the game of chess, usually bearing a horse's head.
4.
A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack.
Carpet knight. See under Carpet. -- Knight of industry. See Chevalier d'industrie, under Chevalier. -- Knight of Malta, Knight of Rhodes, Knight of St. John of Jerusalem. See Hospitaler. -- Knight of the post, one who gained his living by giving false evidence on trials, or false bail; hence, a sharper in general. Nares. "A knight of the post, . . . quoth he, for so I am termed; a fellow that will swear you anything for twelve pence." -- Nash. -- Knight of the shire, in England, one of the representatives of a county in Parliament, in distinction from the representatives of cities and boroughs. -- Knights commanders, Knights grand cross, different classes of the Order of the Bath. See under Bath, and Companion. Knights of labor, a secret organization whose professed purpose is to secure and maintain the rights of workingmen as respects their relations to their employers. [U. S.] -- Knights of Pythias, a secret order, founded in Washington, d.C., in 1864, for social and charitable purposes. -- Knights of the Round Table, knights belonging to an order which, according to the legendary accounts, was instituted by the mythical King Arthur. They derived their common title from the table around which they sat on certain solemn days.
Brande & C.
© Webster 1913.
Knight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Knighting.]
To dub or create (one) a knight; -- done in England by the sovereign only, who taps the kneeling candidate with a sword, saying: Rise, Sir ---.
A soldier, by the honor-giving hand Of Cur-de-Lion knighted in the field. Shak.
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