During the middle ages, in order to become a knight one had to go through many years of training.
A knight-to-be spent at least fourteen years of his life learning the proper conduct and etiquette of
knighthood. Once the years of training were completed, often an elaborate ceremony took place when the
gentleman was knighted. Once knighted, the man had to live by the code of chivalry. This code had the
basic guidelines of a knight's behavior. This code was so respected that abiding by it brought honor and
The education of a knight began at the age of seven. This was when a boy was taken from his
home and sent to the castle of a famous noble, perhaps his father's lord. Here he served the lord and the
lady as a page until he was fourteen years old. One of the many duties of a page was to accompany the lord
and lady at all times. He also waited on them during meals, and went with them on various affairs doing
whatever was asked of him. As a page, he received religious instruction from the chaplain. The squires
taught the page fighting skills, and gave him training in arms. The mistress and her ladies taught the page
to honor and protect all women. He also learned to sing and to play the lute, in order to hunt and hawk.
The most important thing that he learned during the seven years as a page was how to care for and ride a
horse. This was a skill that was essential when becoming a knight, because a horse was his primary mode
At the age of fourteen, the page became a squire, and at the same time, was formally assigned to a
knight. He now learned to handle a sword, lance, and to bear the weight of heavy armor. Along with his
continued duties from when he was a page, he now had to carve at the dinner table, and accompany his
knight to war. He was constantly receiving instructions from the knight, and attended to the knight's
personal needs. He assisted the kn...