This blog post is for anyone who has noted the title and wondered "what the heck is a southern knight?" Some may have looked it up on google or yahoo and found a link or two to some white supremacist web page. First, I'll assure that despite similar titles, I am not associated with the Ku Klux Klan. I am actually in the Knights of Columbus. Second, the blog's name is due to the fact that I am a knight in the latter of the two mentioned and Southern by Grace of God.
The Knights of Columbus, for anyone who wishes to know, is a product of the 19th Century New England that is still currently in full vigor today (I know, a Southerner is a member of a northern organization. Ironic). It was founded for Catholic men, by a New Haven priest named Father Michael J. McGivney. It largely worked for the community of immigrants from Catholic countries, providing care of widows, and those whose income makers died or lost jobs. In a time before all these welfare programs that are payed by the government, the Knights of Columbus took care of anyone in the community who could not. The reason they chose Columbus is based on Christopher Columbus, the Italian born explorer who discovered the New World for Spain in 1492. There's additional information provided in these links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Columbus and Knights of Columbus.
As to knights, the ideas of what a knight is may have changed in recent years. The Knights of Columbus handles community affairs and found raisers for the church. Yet, there was a time that knights had a different purpose. Once upon a time, knights were warriors. The word knight comes from the Old English "Cniht", which resembles the Germanic word "Knecht" which meant "servant" or "bondsman." In short, a knight is a servant of his lord, one who is allowed to hold a sword. Most of the none-English speakers had other names for knights. In German speaking lands, he was called a "Ritter." In France, he was a "chevalier." In Spain, he was a "caballero." Chevalier and caballero are based on the word "caballarius" which is Latin for "horseman." This should be no surprising as knights are often depicted on horses.
The Roman Empire had created a class of men called Ordo Esquestris, an order of mounted horsemen. These served as the bases of such horsemen who rode across Europe during the Middle Ages. However, it was the Franks who perfected the appearance of the knight. Interestingly, they weren't called knights, at first. With Latin still be spoken, many called them "miles" (pronounced "MEE-les", not "MY-L's"). Two such evolved in the Middle Ages: the "miles gregardi" and the milites nobiles.
While we may have the romantic image of the knight, the early knights in Medieval Europe were thugs on payroll of their lieges. As they serve their respected lords, a knight was forbidden to inflict harm to his lord's kin or house. As enforces, they could go in and see out a decree, which sometimes became violent. Anyone who resisted knights found themselves at the end of their swords. When wars did happen, the knights would turn their attention away to whoever their lords was at war with.
During the reign of Charlemagne, efforts were made by the king and the church to curtail such behavior. This leads to chivalry. Knights were expected to be more than brave but also courteous. They were to show respect to the ladies and to defend the helpless. Religion was brought in and knights would hear of lectures from clergy over relics and pieces of the saints. There was one who was Lord of Lords and King of Kings and to Him would they serve allegiance to the most. That one they were told to serve was God. As servants of God, they were to defend the helpless from injustice. The helpless were defined as women and children, especially the widow and the orphan. Examples of chivalry not only mentioned scripture but also La Chanson de Roland, Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, and Ramon Llull's Book of the Order of Chivalry. Knights were expected to be active in times of peace which explains why they spend time jousting in tournaments, hunting in the woods, and holding round tables (the last may serve basis of the King Arthur legends involving the Knights of the Round Table). Knights were not just warriors by now, but they were also poets and song writers. They would write out in verse on many topics and would dedicate them to a lady. Sometimes he sang them himself. Sometimes, he would allow the minstrels to sing it.
As to the ladies, the romantic notion of the knights and his lady is half of the picture. A knight would have a lady to dedicate his exploits to and he would hold her up on high esteem. This soon evolved into courtly love. Now, this courtly love is one sided, as the ladies tend to be married or from a higher class. Of course, it rarely mattered as a knight would defend her honor if anyone infringed upon it.
Knights are depicted in popular media as loners, the prototype of the cowboy in armor, but knights tend to be accompanied in all their journeys. They traveled with their steeds who could be considered their best friends. They also had squires, young assistants to the knights who aided him when he was wounded and held his weapons when he wasn't fighting. Squires were the only people who could hold intimacy of the knight in a world where social rank and honor determine how much one could converse directly with one another (even if they always address them as "sir"). Knights often had one squire, but those rich enough would have two. On many occasions, a knight traveled with other knights. When three or more knights come together they form an order. This is how we get Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller, Teutonic Knights, Order of the Holy Sepulcher, and Order of Saint Lazarus, and many other knightly orders spawned during the Crusades.
Many of these knightly orders were devoutly religious, some having members who took vows of celibacy while serving. This is why the five mentioned are called Monastic orders as well as militaristic. The rest of the orders are Chivalric orders, like the Order of Saint George and the Order of St. Michael. While most orders used religious names, some adopted names of animals and plants. There was even an Order of the Dragon.
With this aside, let us look in on how one became a knight. The journey into becoming a knight involved years of hardship and training. Most who joined were sons of noble families (anywhere from royal families to lesser nobles) who left the care of their parents at age seven to become a page. Pages were the boys seen running errands in a castle in popular images. They waited on their lords and took care of the stables where the horses were kept. When they weren't working, they were studying. Pages were taught manners from a group of ladies and sports from the various men in the castle. They were also taught religion from the clergy. When the page reached of age, he was made a squire who experienced the more brutal training. He journeyed with a knight everywhere and rarely got any comfort out of it. Squires sometimes were put in training grounds where they were supervised by professionals. They would go out at using swords, waving axes, and other fighting tactics. They were taught how to charge without holding the bridals on their horses.While they do this, squires learned how to do combat on foot as well, often in mock duels with other squires. They learned how to laugh at cuts and bruises, shrug off going for long periods without food, get use to sleeping in their armor, and many other extremities. Yes, many squires died in this training but most died from diseases instead of brute force.
Besides dying, there were some men who never got knighted. Some would live their whole lives as simple squires. This meant they would be the assistants trailing behind a knight forever. Squires could defend themselves and their knights if it were necessary, though this was very rare as knights could not attack squires, unless provoked. There are some squires who prefer to remain mostly due to little responsibility that comes with being a squire. But there comes a time that a squire becomes a knight.
In the early days, squires got knighted for doing something great in service of his knight, often in a pitch battle, and thus they got the tap on a shoulder told they were knights. The knighting ceremony became more common in the later Middle Ages. The candidate for knighthood was chosen and was placed in a chapel for vigil over his arms. For an entire night, he stands watch. Then, the next morning, he undergoes the sacramental routines and is dressed in white after a bath. He is then directed to the hall of the castle for a ceremony called "Accolade." The knight-elect swears allegiance to his monarch, or lord, in the presence of others. He does so on his knees with a left hand on a held sword, which is held to resemble the cross. The German tradition has the candidate be given a sword, to show the minor now at of age. He is then reminded to draw only in defense of the right and to protect the weak. This then leads to the famous moment that everyone is familiar with.
Historians do not agree on what came first or what was used most. All we know is that the moment the candidate is made a knight comes in different forms. Most famous, used in romantic portrayals, has the monarch tap the candidate on the shoulder with the flat part of the sword. It would be a tap in one side and then the head and then the other side. English monarchs would say "In name of the Almighty God, of St. Michael and of St. George, I dub thee a knight." French kings had a variant in the early stages where the king would bestow the shoulder gilt and then kiss the candidate on the left cheek. Another was the blow, or colee, in which one received a blow on the side of the skull, often enough to knock someone down. These were intended to make one remember his vows. Once the moment has passed the new knight will rise, not by the command of "arise, sir..." (In my personal thoughts, this moment is always the favorite in looking over the ceremony and it often gives me chills).
As soon as the knight stands, the monarch places on the insignia, while additional people would place on the spurs. Thus, the knight is presented to the crowds who cheer. In the later Middle Ages, the accolade is followed by a feast with the new knight, or knights, as the center of attention. In France, the new knight would be given a fief as well.
Not all have something with so many people watching. As evidenced in the film The Kingdom of Heaven, when a king, or any titled aristocrat, is dying and his son is still squire, the knighting process is either sped up or conferred on him, as squires cannot be king. If a clergyman should become a knight, which was rare, he is not given the blow and swords are not used. In fact, he is not dubbed.
Today, with knightly orders that were common in the Middle Ages gone, the practical use of knights as soldiers is replaced in this age of the machine. Knightly orders are purely social affairs, almost like an elk club with titles. Most that welcome men in develop kinship among them. The rituals of knighthood are something of a trade secret, only held behind closed doors. The Knights of Columbus are no exception. I will say anything of the Knights of Columbus but I won't say how I advanced to Fourth degree, or how the entry ceremony goes. If you wish to see the ceremony, join the Knights.
While one cannot see these knightly ceremonies, people are given some picture of it in Medieval fairs. The knighting ceremonies used are fanciful and rely on fantasy elements instead of reality. In fact, most people don't even have to go through being squires to be knighted. There are also organizations where the knights are just actors in costumes, only there for purposes.
Knights do still exist besides Knights of Columbus and Medieval Times. Every year, the current crowned heads of Europe will knight a man, or woman, in an honorary fashion, just as one does here with Kentucky Colonels. Most famously documented are the Brits. Once only nobles could be knighted, now anyone could be: authors, soldiers, diplomats, inventors, actors, etc. Knighting is not only exclusively for men in Europe. Women could be knighted, though instead of sir they get dame. In some occasions, the knight does not even come from the kingdom. While the tapping of a sword on the shoulder is still done the insignia is now changed to a medal that is wore around the neck.
Besides dying, there were some men who never got knighted. Some would live their whole lives as simple squires. This meant they would be the assistants trailing behind a knight forever. Squires could defend themselves and their knights if it were necessary, though this was very rare as knights could not attack squires, unless provoked. There are some squires who prefer to remain mostly due to little responsibility that comes with being a squire. But there comes a time that a squire becomes a knight.
In the early days, squires got knighted for doing something great in service of his knight, often in a pitch battle, and thus they got the tap on a shoulder told they were knights. The knighting ceremony became more common in the later Middle Ages. The candidate for knighthood was chosen and was placed in a chapel for vigil over his arms. For an entire night, he stands watch. Then, the next morning, he undergoes the sacramental routines and is dressed in white after a bath. He is then directed to the hall of the castle for a ceremony called "Accolade." The knight-elect swears allegiance to his monarch, or lord, in the presence of others. He does so on his knees with a left hand on a held sword, which is held to resemble the cross. The German tradition has the candidate be given a sword, to show the minor now at of age. He is then reminded to draw only in defense of the right and to protect the weak. This then leads to the famous moment that everyone is familiar with.
Historians do not agree on what came first or what was used most. All we know is that the moment the candidate is made a knight comes in different forms. Most famous, used in romantic portrayals, has the monarch tap the candidate on the shoulder with the flat part of the sword. It would be a tap in one side and then the head and then the other side. English monarchs would say "In name of the Almighty God, of St. Michael and of St. George, I dub thee a knight." French kings had a variant in the early stages where the king would bestow the shoulder gilt and then kiss the candidate on the left cheek. Another was the blow, or colee, in which one received a blow on the side of the skull, often enough to knock someone down. These were intended to make one remember his vows. Once the moment has passed the new knight will rise, not by the command of "arise, sir..." (In my personal thoughts, this moment is always the favorite in looking over the ceremony and it often gives me chills).
As soon as the knight stands, the monarch places on the insignia, while additional people would place on the spurs. Thus, the knight is presented to the crowds who cheer. In the later Middle Ages, the accolade is followed by a feast with the new knight, or knights, as the center of attention. In France, the new knight would be given a fief as well.
Not all have something with so many people watching. As evidenced in the film The Kingdom of Heaven, when a king, or any titled aristocrat, is dying and his son is still squire, the knighting process is either sped up or conferred on him, as squires cannot be king. If a clergyman should become a knight, which was rare, he is not given the blow and swords are not used. In fact, he is not dubbed.
Today, with knightly orders that were common in the Middle Ages gone, the practical use of knights as soldiers is replaced in this age of the machine. Knightly orders are purely social affairs, almost like an elk club with titles. Most that welcome men in develop kinship among them. The rituals of knighthood are something of a trade secret, only held behind closed doors. The Knights of Columbus are no exception. I will say anything of the Knights of Columbus but I won't say how I advanced to Fourth degree, or how the entry ceremony goes. If you wish to see the ceremony, join the Knights.
While one cannot see these knightly ceremonies, people are given some picture of it in Medieval fairs. The knighting ceremonies used are fanciful and rely on fantasy elements instead of reality. In fact, most people don't even have to go through being squires to be knighted. There are also organizations where the knights are just actors in costumes, only there for purposes.
Knights do still exist besides Knights of Columbus and Medieval Times. Every year, the current crowned heads of Europe will knight a man, or woman, in an honorary fashion, just as one does here with Kentucky Colonels. Most famously documented are the Brits. Once only nobles could be knighted, now anyone could be: authors, soldiers, diplomats, inventors, actors, etc. Knighting is not only exclusively for men in Europe. Women could be knighted, though instead of sir they get dame. In some occasions, the knight does not even come from the kingdom. While the tapping of a sword on the shoulder is still done the insignia is now changed to a medal that is wore around the neck.
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