Knight, now a title of honor bestowed for a variety of services, but originally in the European Middle Ages a formally professed cavalryman. The first medieval knights were professional cavalry warriors, some of whom were vassals holding lands as fiefs from the lords in whose armies they served.
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization. Founded in 1882, we are a brotherhood of Catholic men dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism.
Discover the detailed rankings of knights and the hierarchy of chivalry. Learn about the journey from page to Grand Master and the roles each knight held in medieval society.
Medieval knights were the most skilled and feared warriors of the Christian world of their time. They were cavalrymen in service of the church and the state and they went through extremely rigorous training to attain the title and position of a knight.
Knights were essentially mounted warriors, and in the hierarchy of medieval society, were considered to be part of the lower nobility. Nevertheless, knights could rise to the ranks of the higher nobility as well by acquiring land and becoming landlords.
Knights were medieval gentleman-soldiers, usually high-born, raised by a sovereign to privileged military status after training as a page and squire. Originally knights were attendants or specialized foot-soldiers, but the status of knights was elevated around 800 A.D.
There were legendary knights such as King Arthur and Saint George, patron of all knights, famous tournament winners like Sir William Marshal, and even a few non-Christians were allowed the honorary title of knight such as the great Muslim leader Saladin.