*Knights

Origins
Knights existed as early as the 8th century.

Starting Out...
In order to become a knight a man first had to be a squire, or young man in training to become a knight. During the 14th century arming squires often joined their knights in battle, a part of the knight’s household unit or lance (the small unit that surrounded a knight when he went into battle during the 14th and 15th centuries).

The Entourage
A lance might have consisted of one or two squires, the knight himself, one to three men-at-arms, and possibly an archer. Lances were often combined under the banner of a higher ranking nobleman to form companies of knights that would act as an ad-hoc unit.

Age Requirements
A squire could not become a knight before he reached the age of 21.

Prerequisites
A person could not become a knight unless he could afford a suit of armour and a horse.

Chivalry
Knights who offended against the ideals of chivalry were banished. Chivalry is the code of behavior/ethics for knights, based on telling the truth, keeping one's word and protecting those weaker than oneself.

The Crest
A knight had to wear a shield with his crest on it. Otherwise others would not have been able to recognize him in his suit of amour...

Getting Around
Knights were only allowed to travel by horse or by foot.

Relationships
Knights were not allowed to get married.

The Suit of Armor
A knight’s suit of armor and his sword got blessed by a priest during his accolade ceremony, the ceremony by which in mediaeval times one was dubbed a knight.

Chess
A knight had to know how to play chess, amongst other things.

Conduct
A boy who wanted to become a knight would learn basic hunting and falconry, and also valuable battle skills such as the use of weapons and armor and the caring, readying, and riding of horses.