Paul Rossmont

A young boy in training to be a knight spent the first years of his life in the care of the women in his family. During this time he learned to ride and care for horses. At the age of 7, he would be known as a page and left home to begin training for knighthood. As a page he joined the household of his father’s lord, or of some great noble, bishop, or king. This is the time when he learned to use smaller versions of the weapons he would use when he grew older. He also learned the code of courtesy and what was expected of a knight. At the age of 15 or 16 he began his training as a squire. During this period the boy was a personal servant to the knight who was his master. A squire rode at his master’s side in battle and took charge of prisoners. This period of service usually lasted five years, and then the squire was eligible for knighthood. The words "I dub you knight" completed the ceremony in which a squire became a knight. Sometimes this occurred on the battlefield but the ceremony usually took place during times of peace.

The life of a knight is far from what most picture it to be. The idea of constantly being at battle is not how most knights spent their time. Knights had extensive and important administrative roles at local levels. Knights served as jurors, grand assize electors and were responsible for bringing records from the county court to the king’s court. Knights were also responsible for settling land disputes, and settling disputes of different marketplaces. Many knights held some land and most were independent but not very wealthy, so as the cost of armor and war horses increased only wealthy men could equip themselves to fight as knights. With knighthood becoming a more expensive proposition, it is hardly surprising that the majority of men with less than one knight's fee simply abandoned it. Most probably did so with little regret because most never aspired to become part of the higher social rank that the thirteenth century knight had become. The life of a knight had changed from a profession to a rank.

Faulkner, Kathryn. "The transformation of knighthood in the early thirteenth century England." The English Historical Review 111 (1996):

"Knights and Knighthood." The World Book Encyclopedia.1981 ed.