Knights in the Middle Ages

Knights have been raised since childhood to be specially adapted to war. The whole purpose of his education was to strengthen his body and strengthen his faith. His school is the guardhouse in an army outpost, and his home is a castle that is always under attack from foreign enemies. As a courtier, he must often obey his lord's call to participate in wars against another lord. In return, he could get some spoils from siege of cities or looted merchants along the way. Occasionally, knights would be recruited by the king to engage in a foreign war that the king deemed profitable.

Knights originally accompanied lords and kings, and the qualifications of such companions had to be formally recognized. Around 1200 AD, the church took over the ceremony of canonizing knights and added many religious etiquette and norms to this ceremony, making it almost sacred. Young people who are about to become knights must first take a bath to symbolize the cleansing of the soul. Then, wearing a white coat and red robe, stand or kneel in front of the altar for 10 hours. His armor and sword were placed on the altar. By daybreak he came to a group of knights and ladies, where a great mass was being celebrated. His sponsor brought him before the lord and handed him his weapons and armor one by one, adding a prayer and blessing to each piece. The most crucial step in the ceremony is to attach the spurs to the new knight. An older knight would also give the new knight a hard blow on the neck or cheek with the edge of his palm or the blade of his sword - a blow that all knights must bear and must not fight back. The newly canonized knight will then take an oath: his sword will always be used only for legitimate reasons, to defend the church, protect orphans and widows, help the poor and the suffering, and eradicate evil. The entire ceremony ends with equestrian performances, mock duels and fighting games. The whole ceremony was very touching. Many sincere knights could not forget the night they spent in front of the altar throughout their lives, nor could they forget the vows they made back then. However, it is also a very expensive ceremony. The cost was so high that many qualified young people in the 14th century preferred to remain retainers for life.

The obligation of a knight is to serve his master when he goes to war, but in the early feudal system, it was only forty days in a year. Of course, much of what they thought of as war at the time was actually just a synonym for plunder. A war in the true sense can only occur after the lords of one party issue a declaration of war to the other party and agree on when and where to fight. Many times, the purpose of the commander is not to defeat the enemy, but to burn down the villages as much as possible, massacre the farmers, and weaken the opponent's economic resources, while the opponent's lord is still in his own castle, furious but unscathed.

In war, the best way to use cavalry is to have them rush towards the opponent's defense line at full speed. The frightened peasants, under the double threat of the galloping horses and the armored cavalry, had no choice but to flee for their lives. But this charge is not without danger. On uneven ground or even swampy areas, the effect of such a charge is very limited, and a hidden trench can render the cavalry completely useless. If the defensive side is calm enough, they can place a large number of sharpened wooden stakes in front of both sides. In the face of such obstacles, even the bravest horses will not dare to move forward. If the defenders also have well-trained archery troops, they can also use their own arrows to meet the charging cavalry. However, the time for which archers can be effective is very short, because the effective killing distance of arrows is only about 150 yards, and well-made armor can withstand almost all blows except direct slashes. Therefore, an experienced archer always fires at the enemy's mount, because once the knight is without a horse, almost all his advantages become disadvantages.

After the cavalry charge ended, the battle evolved into a series of hand-to-hand combat. When the two armies were fighting, the archers withdrew from the battlefield, leaving the fighting to the knights. The outcome of the war depends on the number of casualties on both sides. The side with fewer casualties can take the initiative on the battlefield. But there were actually very few knights who actually died on the battlefield, because the famous figures were all imprisoned for ransom.

Until the 13th century AD, the medieval army was almost entirely composed of combatants, with almost no people specifically responsible for auxiliary affairs and logistical supplies. Soldiers had to provide for themselves because troops often fought outside their own country. Generally speaking, about a third of the troops were armored knights - although this ratio often varied greatly depending on the situation. Some of the infantry were trained regular soldiers, but more were farmers recruited temporarily to cope with the war. They wore whatever armor they could find, usually leather armor reinforced with iron rings. The weapons and armor they carried were all kinds of strange: shields, bows and arrows, swords, spears, axes, and even clubs. The knight's equipment reflects the balance of offense and defense, which can also be said to be the balance of mobility and protection. The lance or lance was the traditional weapon of the mounted troops, and it remains the hallmark of the cavalry to this day. A knight armed with a 10-foot-long, iron-tipped spear could easily knock down an armored enemy at full speed, or impale his foe through a shield wall.

But after the first blow, the spear was of little use. The knight could only throw it away and replace it with a long sword or a battle axe. The battle ax is still very lethal even through the armor. The chain of the mail is often cut into the wound and rusts in the wound, causing severe gangrene. Some knights carry maces, or the most primitive weapons-clubs, but with many spikes added to them, which is daunting. The mace was the emblem of William the Conqueror and Richard the Lionheart when they were on the battlefield.

Wearing armor for a knight is a time-consuming job. As armor became heavier and more complex in design, later knights were no longer able to wear the armor themselves. He had to sit and let his followers help him pull up his trousers, which were reinforced with iron bars; then, he had to stand while the followers assembled the various parts of the armor on him with straps and buckles. stand up. The first thing to put on is a close-fitting shirt, usually sewn from felt or cotton, with a layer of armor on the outside - this is the early chainmail. The shape of chain mail is actually a piece of clothing, and the length is often above the waist, or even above the knees. Chain mail is made of countless small iron rings riveted together. If it is well made, it should be flexible and elastic. Although the mail armor was reasonably strong, it was unable to withstand a powerful blow. Another problem is that mail armor rusts easily. One method of removing rust at the time was to fill a leather bag with sand soaked in vinegar and stuff the mail mail inside. Armor was continuously improved and became more and more complex, and gradually helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, and shin guards appeared to protect the head and neck. In order to protect the easily injured face, the weight of the helmet continued to increase, and the protected area became larger and larger. Finally, the entire head was protected, leaving only a few slits in front of the eyes. Of course, there is a price to pay for such powerful protection. Before putting on the helmet, the knight must wrap his head well, otherwise he will easily get a concussion if he falls.

In the 14th century, plate armor replaced mail armor. Plate armor could be made to measure and was often decorated with elaborate patterns. A complete set of plate armor weighs over 60 pounds. If the armor's joints are well articulated and well lubricated, a person wearing plate armor can move more freely than someone wearing mail.

A knight's shield was usually made of several layers of strong wooden boards, nailed together with nails, covered with leather, and surrounded by a ring of metal. In order to deflect the enemy's blade, there is usually a protrusion made of metal in the center of the shield. The usual shields used by infantrymen are round, while knights generally use kite-shaped shields to protect their legs. In order to be able to carry a knight in full armor during battles and tournaments, the horse must be strong and powerful. This kind of military horse was rare at the time and was extremely expensive because fodder was not abundant and the general livestock were very thin. Horse breeders must find ways to feed their horses to be tall and strong. Arabian horses were very popular at that time, and pure white male horses were the top choice. According to the views of the time, it was unworthy of a knight to ride a mare. In order to withstand the various impacts of war, horses selected as military horses must undergo long-term and careful training. In addition, knights often hold swords, shields, and spears on the battlefield, and cannot use their hands to hold the reins. To control their mounts, they can only rely on actions such as driving with spurs, pressing the horse's belly with their legs, and shifting the body's center of gravity. -These also require prior training.

The Crusades were a new thing in history, the first war launched for an ideal - although later on, this ideal naturally lost its original purity and nobility. But the crusade was still seen as a service to the Christian God, and the crusaders also saw themselves as noble servants serving a divine purpose.

The Knights Hospitaller was established during the Crusades. Its purpose at that time was to rescue sick and sick pilgrims. Volunteers who join the order must take an oath to live an ascetic life and be faithful to the Benedictine precepts. Their logo is a white Maltese cross. After the capture of Jerusalem, they accepted only direct orders from the Pope. Their meetinghouse in Jerusalem could accommodate 1,000 pilgrims. Since they were responsible for the safety of pilgrims along the way, their character became increasingly like a military organization. In the following years, the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller moved several times and was renamed the Knights of Rhodes and the Knights of Malta.

The Knights Templar are a group of brave knights who use the red cross as their symbol. The Knights Templar were founded in 1118 AD and were originally headquartered in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre because the Crusaders believed it was the site of King Solomon's temple. The original purpose of the Knights Templar was to guard the pathways to the Holy Land. But soon the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar became akin to the police, always busy mediating day-to-day disputes between the Crusaders and Saracens. The rulers of local Christian countries had no right to interfere with the actions of the Knights; the Knights had their own castles, formulated their own policies, and could even sign their own agreements. They had no less friction with the Christians than with the Saracens. Some members of the order converted to Islam, while others, if not converts, were deeply influenced by some of the mystical rituals of Islam. But their branch in France suffered a devastating blow in the 14th century, because the then French King Philip IV coveted the Knights Templar's property and wanted to confiscate it.

Today's Secret Freemasonry has inherited the name of the Knights, and also inherited those ancient and mysterious rituals. Another knightly order that bound itself with ascetic codes of conduct was the Teutonic Knights, whose members must be Germans of noble origin.

As the European continent stabilized, centralized governments grew stronger, and business became more profitable, bellicose voices grew quieter. Social institutions also shifted from relying on military force to relying on legal force for maintenance. By the late Middle Ages, the knights sadly discovered that they were out of date. The forces that determine wars increasingly come from mercenaries, engineers and artillerymen who come from humble origins and look like gangsters.

But the spirit and ideals of knights still exist: fight against treachery; provide justice for the poor and maintain local peace; shed blood for your fellow countrymen and sacrifice your life when necessary. To this day, traces of this ideal can still be seen in the army officers of France and Germany and in the traditions of British public schools.

The impact of European chivalry on the development of medieval society

For many years, domestic historians have made very few research results on the European medieval chivalry system. Historians and scholars generally regard it as an important part of the feudal hierarchy. One level to study. At present, Western scholars believe that the chivalry system is not only a mechanism across Europe. The Middle Ages is the age of knights. The knight class is the backbone of society, and the chivalry system has a knightly culture and spirit that affects the entire era. Until the "fifteenth century" "After religion, chivalry is still a powerful ethical concept that dominates people's minds and hearts. People regard it as the crown of the entire social system." Therefore, the cultural spirit of chivalry is not only an object of concern in the study of Western intellectual and cultural history, but also an important topic in the study of European military history.

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The European chivalry system originated from the Frankish Kingdom of the Carolingian Dynasty in the Middle Ages, and was gradually implemented in various European countries. In 732, Charles Martel became the Prime Minister of the Frankish Kingdom. Relying on the support of his retainers from small and medium-sized landowners in Sclasia, he conquered the domestic and surrounding ethnic groups and strengthened his cavalry force to defeat the powerful Arab army. Since in the 8th century, a equipped horse was equivalent to the value of 45 cows or 15 mares, and in the 9th century, only one horse was equivalent to the value of 6 cows, so in order to consolidate the cavalry, Charles the Hammer carried out reforms: 1. On the one hand, it excluded small farmers from military service and allowed nobles and wealthy peasants to become professional cavalry; on the other hand, it divided land into military fiefs that provided knights, laying a solid foundation for the chivalry system and becoming the origin of medieval military feudalism. Therefore, as the economic basis of the chivalry system, fiefs not only entrust land from the king to dukes, marquises, uncles, sons, barons, and knights, but also enable all those who can use horses and equipment as feudal lords to participate in wars and fight. Anyone who accepts the canonization can be called a knight, which includes all levels of nobles participating in the war. Even the king is honored by his knight name. For example, King Richard I (Lionheart), Edward I, French King Louis VII, IX, Philip II, Kaiser Friedrich I and II, who participated in the Crusades, are all known as "Knight Kings" Famous in history. In 1449, King Edward III of England established the Knights of the Garter. As a member, he discussed matters around the round table with the knights, ate together, hosted competitions, etc., and was just like a senior knight. This thus made the Middle Ages a "heroic age" of knights.

Since the countries of medieval Europe developed from the foundation of barbarian social organizations and wars, their entire structure and social ethos were military, and the force that maintained social stability and unity was the military aristocracy, knights Classes and their leaders. Therefore, to become a noble, you must first become a brave knight. To become a knight, you must go through three stages of feudal knight education: page boy (after 7 or 8 years old), retinue (after 14 or 15 years old) and knight (after 21 years old). In the page boy stage of education, children are mainly sent to powerful lords' castles to work as page boys and do chores. They can also learn some knightly etiquette and cultural knowledge from the noble lady and her daughter, as well as singing, musical instruments, chess, eloquence, etc. skill. When you enter the retinue stage, you become the master's attendant guard and a preparatory knight. You mainly learn the "seven skills of knights" called riding, swimming, spear throwing, swordsmanship, hunting, poetry reciting, and chess playing. Learning to ride means skillfully manipulating weapons on a fast-running horse to attack the enemy; learning to hunt is not only an entertainment and pastime, but also a practice of tactics, and to exercise combat courage and resourcefulness during hunting; the purpose of learning poetry is to pass through The stories describing the life and spirit of knights in many narrative poems have educational significance for real life. As a reserve knight, he also goes out with his master during wartime and has the responsibility of protecting him. To enter the knight stage, to become a real knight, you must first go through the promotion ceremony or the sword awarding ceremony. This ceremony had its evolution and development process in the Middle Ages. It originally originated from the Germanic weapon awarding ceremony. It is recorded in the ancient Roman writer Tacitus' "Germania". In the Middle Ages, Jin Dynasty ceremonies were generally held on religious festivals and sometimes on battlefields. It is said in history that Charlemagne was a trap for talents, forbidding nobles from canonizing knights. "Let all the retinues gather at the palace, where each person will receive a horse, a sword, a fine chain mail, a helmet and a Embroidered silk coat. And, if he wishes, he will be knighted at once".

The knight promotion ceremony is more complex and can generally be divided into three types.

One is the secular type, where the presiding officer is the monarch and secular nobles, and the location is usually in a palace or castle; the other is the religious type, where the presiding person is the pope, bishop or clergy, and the location is usually in a church; the other is a mixed secular and religious type , the host is usually a monarch or a secular noble, and clergy are responsible for praying, mass and other religious activities, either in the palace, castle or in the church. In the entire ceremony, the sword awarding ceremony is the most solemn and can be described as the core ceremony. Candidate knights must fast, bathe, repent, pray and swear, wear armor, helmets, spurs, etc., and then receive the sword that symbolizes the knight's functions; the lord puts the sword on the neck or shoulder of the knight and pats it gently a few times. Next, he solemnly stated the basic principles of knighthood. Finally, the new knights demonstrated their martial arts skills on galloping horses, stabbed targets with spears, and impromptu martial arts competitions. Since the Jin Fei ceremony and subsequent celebrations were quite expensive, several knights often held the Jin Fei ceremony at the same time. After the 14th century, the ceremony for knighthood became simpler. In order to expand the number of soldiers, rulers allowed many non-aristocratic people to obtain the title of knight through money or military exploits. During the Hundred Years' War between England and France, the King of England often conferred a large number of knights before battles to boost morale. In 1338, the British and French armies faced off at Willenfors. A frightened hare caused a commotion in the front of the French army. The French Count Heinault thought that the British army was attacking, so he used this short time to hurriedly make 14 new knights. So much so that they were later nicknamed "Rabbit Riders".

The church attaches great importance to the knighting ceremony. It often uses the symbolic meaning of the ritual process to instill and penetrate Christian concepts and spirit. For example, in the 10th century, the church listed prayers for knight's weapons as part of the church's services in the Book of Ceremonies. In the 11th century, the church began to preach that knights were God's warriors in the world, and introduced mass in the sword-giving ceremony to strengthen the knight's faith in God; the church patron slapped the knight on the back with his sword, which was interpreted as: "waking up from a nightmare." Stay awake, believe in Christ, and strive for high honors"; the knight swore: "I will become a brave knight, and I will live according to God's wishes." Under the religious thought of the church, the double-edged meaning of the knight's sword is: on one hand, it attacks pagans and enemies of God, and on the other hand, it protects the people and the weak. The fully armed knights represent the iron walls that protect the church. They are endowed with religious functions: "Knights of Christ fight for the church." Similarly, in the secular Jinfeng ceremony, the religious spirit is still its soul. For example, in Griffith's "History of the Kings of Britain" in the 12th century, a castle lord said when granting a sword to a knight: "Hold the sword I have given you. God has established and commanded the highest order: the order of chivalry. It should not have stain". At the same time, the sword is also a symbol of justice and honor. Knights can carry a sword with them and swear on the cross-shaped hilt anytime and anywhere. After a knight died, his sword was often buried with him or hung on his tombstone. When Pope Urban II called for the Crusades in Clermont, France, in 1095, he famously said: "The robbers of the past should now become knights." Johannes of Salisbury in the 12th century once said: "Why establish chivalry? To defend the church, to fight against the unbelievers, to respect the priests, to protect the poor from injustice, and to live. To have peace, to give my own blood and, if need be, my life for my brother." The Peace of God movement was initiated in southern France at the end of the 10th century and expanded to the north. It was a movement to safeguard rights and order under the leadership of the church, in which the duties and beliefs of knights were fully reflected.

The European medieval knights were a feudal aristocratic class. The moral ethics and ideological spirit of loyalty, honor, and bravery they followed directly reflected the feudal tradition. In the feudal system, as a vassal of the great nobles, the knight's feudal obligations determined that he must be loyal to him; as the master of his own territory, he must protect the serfs who were attached to him, and his feudal rights were also sacred and inviolable. It is this kind of chivalrous moral spirit and its feudal obligations and rights advocated by feudal society that made it become a variety of legendary stories and tall images on the historical stage or in literary works in the European Middle Ages where disputes were constant and war-torn, so that people often The dark side of chivalry and its institution is ignored.

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From a military perspective, war and competition are the main functions of knights. In the Middle Ages, a fully armed knight and his attendants wearing a helmet, armor, carrying a sword, holding a shield in his left hand to control a horse, and holding a spear in his right hand were a combat unit. He charged on the battlefield and was unstoppable. Some people described that "a Frank on horseback could break a hole in the wall of Babylon." In the Middle Ages, knights galloping on the battlefield were not only military feudal obligations they had to fulfill, but also their sacred and inviolable rights. Therefore, knights in the Middle Ages were not only the embodiment of military art, but also the planners and instigators of military strategies and tactics. On the one hand, the knight must provide 40 days of military service to the lord every year, or go to war with the lord; on the other hand, it is more about the knights protecting or defending their rights and honor, or Fight religious disputes, road injustices, and various disputes. Because in the political state of feudal separatism in the Middle Ages, resolving conflicts through feudal private laws and private wars seemed to be a common method in society. Therefore, holding swords and fighting private battles is not only a profession or lifestyle for knights, but also a way to obtain honor and wealth. Therefore, in the European Middle Ages, armed knights were not only the core of military battles, but also the main guardians of feudal castles.

The European Middle Ages was the "Castle Age". Each castle was the feudal military, political, economic and social center of a region. It was the basis for the formation of the feudal lordship system, and the defenders of the castle were knights. . Some castles were even the headquarters of knights. For example, Windsor Castle was used as the center of the Knights by King Edward III of England in the 14th century. The rise of castles was of epoch-making significance, as Thompson pointed out: "The rise of castles and their spread across Europe produced a profound change in the way of life and the nature of civilization. They began a new era, one in which military dominance The era of feudalism was that of the ninth, tenth, and even eleventh centuries, before the feudal system had felt itself powerful and developed into a consolidated political system. Life was difficult and rough for all classes in society. Only when the feudal system became an orderly system - at least as reasonable as human government could achieve in any era - did life in the castle become elegant and comfortable. Military architecture has also advanced to such an extent that castles are no longer just wooden fortresses but have become spacious and even majestic stone buildings." The early castles in Europe were all solid facilities with defensive properties, more specifically manor-style facilities. After the 10th century, they began to develop into residential castles. Medieval wars often involved fighting for castles, so from the 11th century castles were often built on mountains to enhance defense capabilities. There is a historical issue worth noting, that is, the castles that have been preserved today are generally from the late Middle Ages, and most of them were renovated in the 19th century. They are not the same knights' castles as they were back then. Although there were many larger and famous castles at the time, most knights' castles were less than 40 meters long. For example, in 1293 at Burckgau Castle in Swabia, Prussia, there were only 5 castle residents, 8 guards, 2 gatekeepers and a bell tower keeper. Medieval wars were mostly fought over castles, which were the main political and military targets. "Siege wars on castles continued to dominate military activity, while relatively few major battles took place on the battlefield." The defeated army can temporarily take shelter within the castle walls, and their final position can be retreated to the main tower in the castle. The main defenses of the castle consist of moats, walls, towers, curtain walls, etc. The food stored in the castle can generally last for a year. A defender of 60 people is enough to resist an enemy army 10 times its own size. It is the attackers rather than the besieged who are often trapped by supplies. Therefore, castles often are easy to defend but difficult to attack when defended by knights. Methods for breaking down castles often include the use of mechanical devices such as battering rams, movable attack towers, and catapults (trebuchets), as well as digging tunnels and then burning oil and wood to cause the top earth and stone buildings to collapse. For example, in 1215, King John of England defended the hundreds of rebel knights and guards in Manchester Castle by ordering Hubert, the chief political judge, to send 40 of the fattest pigs day and night and use lard and wood to slaughter them in the tunnels. Burnt, causing large sections of the castle's tall buildings and walls to collapse and break through. In 1244, when the Albigensian bishop besieged the Castle of Montesegue, he used a trebuchet to fire 40-kilogram objects at the same point on the city wall day and night, and finally broke a gap. Castle offensive and defensive battles are often very brutal, because they are often the key to determining the outcome of a regional battle. The Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337-1453) and the War of the Red and White Roses (1455-1485) are classic interpretations of knights and castle offensive and defensive battles. They not only recorded a series of offensive and defensive tactical battles in military history, but also He left behind many heroic, tragic, and evocative knight battle stories.

Medieval European knights were the core of the army and the masters of the battlefield, so their weapons and equipment and moral principles were often the main factors affecting wars. The main weapons generally used by knights are spears and swords. Some knights also use battle axes, hammers, iron bars, maces, etc. The knight's spear can be thrown on the battlefield to kill enemies. At the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the French knights used this method to disrupt the wall-like shield formation of the British army. However, bows and swords are often considered inferior infantry equipment and are despised by cavalry and disdained to be used. At the same time, there was a time when the Church prohibited the use of such weapons in warfare among Christians. However, due to the development of the feudal system in Britain, skilled archers were recruited to become professional soldiers. When fighting, they often placed iron-tipped sharp stakes in front of the battle to block the enemy's cavalry. They used large bows and sharp arrows outside the sharp stakes that could shoot 250 yards away. Kill horses and enemies. During the Hundred Years' War, King Edward III of England used 20,000 mercenaries armed with large bows to defeat the heavily armored French knight army. In 1360, King John of France was also defeated and became a prisoner. In the previous centuries, the art of war was mainly reflected through the heroic deeds of proud knights. However, the English longbowmen proved that the archers were as valuable as the cavalry, which had a shaken effect on the status of knights. After that, the French army also began to hire professional archers from Genoa and other places. However, the important role of cavalry in military affairs is still undeniable. "Whether it is offensive or defensive, without it, no 15th-century army could achieve a decisive victory on the battlefield." Even during the Napoleonic Wars, cavalry was still the main force in military maneuvers and charges on the battlefield.

Medieval literature once discussed how to be a knight: "I am a knight, traveling on horseback, looking for a man, armed like me, willing to fight with me."

If he can defeat me, it will enhance his reputation; if I can defeat him, I will be regarded as a hero, and I will receive unprecedented respect." However, although the lord knights are brave and fierce and fight each other constantly, the knights Fights on the battlefield were often not aimed at killing each other. Describing the battle of Bremule (1119), Vitelli reported that "out of 900 warriors, only 3 were killed" (1106). In the Battle of Bouvines, King Henry I of England defeated all the Normans and captured 400 knights, but none of Henry's knights were killed. The Battle of Bouvines was the bloodiest and most decisive battle in the Middle Ages. Only 170 of the 1,500 knights were killed. This was not only due to the fact that armor and fortresses were of great benefit in protecting the lives of knights, but mainly because of the tacit understanding and agreements between knights that required good treatment of prisoners and a reasonable ransom amount. Usually prisoners were guaranteed by their reputation. After paying a ransom on a certain date, they would be released. Very few knights would break this oath. There are historical records of French knights captured in Crecy and Poitiers during the Anglo-French war, and they were free and comfortable with their British captors. Live together and share meals and sports with their masters until they are ransomed. This method of redeeming captured knights and nobles with money was used even by the king. Richard the Lionheart of England was betrayed during the Crusades. The Austrians coaxed him to capture him, and the British paid him a lot of money to redeem him. He was still a brave and heroic knight king in people's minds. King Louis IX of France also had the same experience. Of course, medieval knights "cherished heroes" on the battlefield and rarely killed each other. Another important reason is that excessive casualties will lead to serious revenge. Therefore, the most casualties on the battlefield are low-status infantry. Thompson once pointed out that in the Middle Ages, "war made feudal lords rich by acquiring land and serfs. It also made them rich." Their knights and retinues grew rich from spoils and ransoms - and it was this special interest enjoyed by the nobility in continuing the war that for centuries had frustrated attempts to abolish private warfare. --This group of non-producers can only be used for fighting." In order for the knights to become an important factor in the stability of the feudal ruling order, the feudal rulers and the church must regulate and regulate their spiritual value orientation and action energy direction. Leading. There are three main aspects:

The first is the frequent knight tourneys. Knight tourneys are popular in Western Europe. They are often held to celebrate knight promotion ceremonies or weddings between royal nobles, a king or a king. A jousting tournament sometimes takes place for a week for the visits of great nobles, as well as various festive and religious festivals. The jousting venue is a square in the city or an open space, surrounded by beautifully decorated stands and boxes for the gentlemen to watch, and a band plays first. In a gunfight on horseback, two cavalrymen attack each other with spears. After one party is shot to the ground, the two parties can continue fighting on the ground until one party begs for mercy or the host stops it. Sometimes the knights fight for the glory of their favorite lady. The winner will receive a prize from the magistrate or a noblewoman. The climax of the meeting is when the participating knights are divided into two teams and fight a real battle. Although blunt weapons are usually used, casualties are still common, as in Neuss in 1240. In one battle, 60 knights died. At the same time, the loser was captured as a prisoner and extorted for ransom and loot. After the game, the surviving knights participated in a singing and dancing banquet with the nobles, and the victorious knight could kiss a lovely girl. women, and received the praise of the poems in the ceremony. Therefore, in this kind of joust, "pride, honor, love and art provide the traditional motivations for the competition", and the loyalty and heroism of the knights are celebrated in some famous events. People have also built monuments on the site of the tournament. The spirit of knightly competition and dueling has always been the source and model of the heroic spirit in the European Middle Ages, so much so that Richard II of England wanted to compete with his uncles, the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Lancaster. The Duke of York and the Duke of Grosses went out to challenge King Henry IV of England, King Charles IV of France, and his uncles, the Dukes of Anjou, Burgundy, and Berry.

Henry V of England marched to France before marching to Agincourt