knight

A knight is a title and social role in medieval Europe, conferred on a mounted and armored warrior who owed military service to a lord. The term derives from Old English cniht, meaning servant or boy, and later came to denote a mounted, noble fighter. Warriors entered a training progression: a boy served as a page, then a squire, before being dubbed a knight in a ceremony.

Armor and equipment evolved from mail to plate, with weapons such as sword, lance, and shield. Knights followed codes of chivalry emphasizing bravery, loyalty, honor, piety, and courtesy, and often included protection of the weak and defense of the church. In feudal society, a knight was typically a vassal granted land in exchange for military service, and was expected to uphold his lord’s rights and administer justice within his fief.

The figure declined with the rise of standing armies and gunpowder, but the social prestige of knighthood persisted, and by the late medieval and early modern periods the title was often a formal honor rather than a necessary military rank. In heraldry, knights bore coats of arms and participated in tournaments and knightly rites. The term survives in modern times as an honorary or ceremonial title, notably in the United Kingdom, where a knight is addressed as Sir or Dame, and in various orders of knighthood.

In culture, knights occupy central roles in Arthurian legend and medieval romance, embodying ideals of chivalry and courtly love. They also appear in contemporary media and games, where themes of loyalty, honor, and martial prowess persist.