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Knighthood


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             When a boy turned the age of six or seven, he would leave his home to begin training as a knight. During this time the boy was referred to as a page. He would join the household of another knight or a nobleman. There he would learn to handle small weapons such as knives and daggers. He also learned the code of courtesy and behavior expected of a knight. .
             A boy would begin to train as a squire at the age of fifteen or sixteen. He would act as a valet, or personal servant, to the knight who was his master. He would set the table and serve the meals. During this time the squire received serious training as a mounted soldier. The squire would ride with his master into battle and take part in the fight. In battle, the squire wore silvered spurs to distinguish him from a knight, whose spurs were gilt. A boy would train as a squire for usually about five years. After this time he would become eligible to become knighted. .
             Any knight had the power to knight a squire. There were even times when men were knighted right on the field of battle however, most knighting ceremonies were performed during times of peace. The early knighting ceremonies were very simple. A knight would buckle on the armor of a squire and then be proclaimed a knight. Later ceremonies became more complex. One man would buckle on the sword, while another would fasten on the spurs. The squire knelt before the man whom was knighting him, who was called a parrain. The parrain would strike the squire on the back of the neck with the palm of his hand. Later a tap with a sword replaced the blow with the hand. This tap was called the accolade, from the French word col, meaning neck. The tap on the neck with the sword or hand was followed by the words "I dub thee Sir Knight.".
             Religious ceremonies became part of the knighting when the ideas of the church became more closely tied with knighthood. Before a squire was knighted he lived in a church.


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