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squires

In medieval Europe, a squire was a young man in training to become a knight. The typical path ran from pages to squires and then to a knighthood, though ages and rites varied by region. Usually a squire was a teenage attendant to a knight, serving personal needs, caring for armor, weapons, and horses, and learning combat, riding, heraldry, and the codes of chivalry. Squires accompanied their masters to campaigns and tournaments, observed demonstrations of martial skill, and cultivated the manners and loyalty expected of a future knight. Earning the accolade of knighthood depended on proven prowess, merit, and the blessing of a lord.

Social and legal development: As feudal society evolved, the term squire also came to denote a young

Legacy: In popular culture, squires are often portrayed as earnest apprentices who prepare for knighthood, reflecting

nobleman
or
gentleman
of
good
family.
The
related
term
esquire
emerged
in
English
as
a
courtesy
title
for
such
men;
in
modern
practice
Esquire
is
used
in
the
United
States
and
Britain
to
denote
a
lawyer
in
some
contexts,
with
Esq.
appended
after
the
name.
The
word
survived
in
place
names,
literature,
and
surnames,
even
as
the
original
military
function
declined.
ideals
of
service,
discipline,
and
training
that
characterized
medieval
chivalry.