Cavalry charges became less effective and knights started to fight on foot, their full body protected by the suits of armour. During these wars longbow arrows became the deadly weapon of choice as the huge volume of arrows massed archers could shoot at their enemies could devastate the enemy and disrupt their movement across the battlefield. These became more elaborate during the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485). They fought with shields shaped like a long kite and long spears which they would throw in a similar way to a javelin or could hold them couched under the arm in the same way that knights of later centuries would hold a lance.ĭuring The Hundred Years War between England and France (1337-1453), knights started to wear iron and steel plate armour covering their entire bodies: the famous “suits of armour”. Norman Knights wore long chain-mail skirts called “hauberks” and pointed, open-faced helmets. Knights first appeared in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Knights rode towards each other and would try to knock the other off their horse with their lances. This form of tournament was eventually refined into the joust. This was seen as perfect practice for the battlefield. A successful knight could win great fame and fortune from fighting in a melee. A mêlée was a mock cavalry battle where knights would aim to capture knights on the opposing side and hold them for ransom selling their captives’, weapons, armour and even horses back to them at an extortionate price. When they were not fighting in battles, knights would practice in tournaments. During wars, often only the accolade would be performed. You may recognise this from modern ceremonies where the Queen will tap knights with a sword. The “accolade” was the most important part: the knight would receive a light tap on the neck with a first or a sword by the king or another significant person. The ceremonies were often very elaborate and expensive during peacetime. They were different from the other fights on the battlefield because they had been “knighted” in a special ceremony. They usually fought in armour and on horseback. However, they are very different from knights in medieval England. Modern knights and dames have been honoured by the Queen for a great achievement. Knights – and their female equivalents, Dames – are still around today.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |