Hear! Hear! The Knights Are Here!
The medieval knight was probably not far removed in physique from his 20th century counterpart. He was perhaps a little shorter, with broad shoulders and strong arms and undoubtly robust, for not only did he take a great deal of physical exercise but also had to survive his medieval childhood. Knight fought on the battlefields of Europe for 600 to 800 years, some scholars dating their emergence as early as the 8th century, some as late as the 10th century. They were still prominent, through increasing obsolescent, in the 16th century, long after the introduction of fire arms and the adbent of the national state. The knight slowly improved his position in society until he became part of the nobility.
The sword was the mark of the knight, one his most prized possessions and a symbol of his high social and military standing. If for some misdemeanour, a knight was stripped of his knighthood, his sword would be broken before his eyes.
