HISTORICAL AND LITERARY KNIGHTS

 Historical and literary knights

Knighthood emerged in medieval Europe around the 9th and 10th centuries as a response to the need for heavily armed cavalry to defend territories, particularly against Viking, Magyar, and Saracen invasions. Knights became central to the feudal system, swearing fealty to lords in exchange for land (fiefs) and protection. Training began in boyhood, with noble-born children serving as pages before becoming squires in their teenage years. By around 21, if deemed worthy, they were knighted in a formal ceremony, often with religious blessings.

Historically, knights played crucial roles in conflicts such as the Crusades (1095–1291) and the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), excelling in mounted combat and fortified warfare. However, the rise of professional armies and gunpowder weapons led to their military decline by the late Middle Ages. Despite this, the ideals of knighthood persisted in noble orders such as the Order of the Garter (1348) and the Order of the Golden Fleece (1430).

In literature, knights were romanticized as paragons of virtue, courage, and courtly love. Arthurian legends, like those of Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, depicted them as defenders of justice and seekers of holy quests, such as the search for the Holy Grail. Chansons de geste, including The Song of Roland, and medieval romances exaggerated their heroism, emphasizing honour, chivalry, and gallant deeds. While real knights navigated political and military obligations, the literary tradition enshrined them as noble heroes, shaping the enduring romantic image of knighthood that continues to inspire modern ideals of honour and bravery.

The ceremony of investiture or dabbing

The ceremony of investiture, or dubbing, was a significant moment in a knight’s life, marking his transition from a squire to a full-fledged knight. By the High Middle Ages, it had become a highly ritualized event, often infused with religious symbolism.

Before the ceremony, the squire would typically spend a night in prayer, fasting, and confessing his sins, symbolizing his spiritual purification. The next day, he would bathe, dress in white (representing purity), and sometimes don a red robe (symbolizing his willingness to shed blood in battle) and a black tunic (representing his acceptance of death).

During the actual ceremony, which was often conducted by a noble or a king, the squire would kneel before his lord, who would then perform the accolade—a ritual touch or light blow with the flat side of a sword on the squire’s shoulders or neck. The lord would then declare him a knight with words such as "In the name of God, Saint Michael, and Saint George, I dub thee knight. Be brave, be bold, and be loyal."

Afterward, the new knight was presented with his sword and spurs, symbolizing his martial duty. The event often concluded with a feast and jousting tournaments to celebrate his new status. This elaborate investiture underscored the knight’s dual role as both a warrior and a defender of Christian values, reinforcing the ideals of chivalry that defined knighthood in both history and literature.

 Famous literary knights

Many famous literary knights emerged between Chaucer and Cervantes, reflecting both the glory and the critique of knighthood in medieval and early modern literature.

• The Knight (Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, c. 1387–1400) – Chaucer’s Knight is a noble and experienced warrior who has fought in numerous crusades. He embodies the ideal chivalric virtues of honor, humility, and courtesy, contrasting with later, more satirical portrayals of knights.
• Sir Gawain (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, late 14th century) – One of King Arthur’s most famous knights, Gawain is tested in a moral and physical challenge by the mysterious Green Knight. His tale explores themes of honor, temptation, and human fallibility.
• Sir Lancelot (Various Arthurian Romances, 12th–15th centuries) – The greatest knight of the Round Table, Lancelot is a paradoxical figure: an unmatched warrior and paragon of chivalry, yet his love affair with Queen Guinevere ultimately leads to the downfall of Camelot.
• Sir Percival (Perceval, the Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes, 12th century) – One of the earliest Grail knights, Percival is portrayed as an innocent but destined hero whose journey symbolizes spiritual enlightenment.
• The Redcrosse Knight (The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, 1590) – A Christian allegory, the Redcrosse Knight represents the virtue of holiness as he embarks on a perilous quest, battling dragons and evil forces to save the Lady Una.
• Don Quixote (Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, 1605 & 1615) – Cervantes’ knight is a satirical and poignant figure. An aging nobleman, he becomes obsessed with medieval romances and sets out on delusional adventures, mistaking windmills for giants. His story marks the decline of traditional knighthood and reflects the shift to a more modern, realistic worldview.

These knights, whether heroic, flawed, or humorous, illustrate the evolving perception of chivalry—from an esteemed code of conduct to a subject of critique and nostalgia. 

Knights and Knighthood in Walter Scott's Ivanhoe

In Ivanhoe (1819), Sir Walter Scott explores both the romantic ideals and harsh realities of knighthood in 12th-century England, set against the backdrop of Saxon-Norman tensions and the reign of King Richard the Lionheart. The novel portrays knights as both noble champions and flawed individuals, highlighting themes of honor, justice, and social division.

The protagonist, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, embodies the chivalric ideal—brave, honorable, and unwavering in his loyalty to both King Richard and his love, Lady Rowena. A skilled warrior, he proves his valor in the tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, where he defeats several Norman knights, including the formidable Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, a Templar who represents the darker side of knighthood. Bois-Guilbert, though courageous, is driven by ambition and obsession, particularly in his pursuit of Rebecca, the beautiful and intelligent Jewish heroine. When Rebecca is falsely accused of witchcraft and sentenced to trial by combat, Ivanhoe—though wounded—champions her cause. Instead of fighting, Bois-Guilbert dies from internal conflict, symbolizing the collapse of corrupted knighthood.

Other knights in the novel, such as King Richard the Lionheart, uphold the highest chivalric virtues, while villains like Prince John and Sir Reginald Front-de-Boeuf embody knighthood’s corruption. The novel’s depiction of tournaments, feudal allegiances, and trial by combat illustrates both the grandeur and brutality of medieval chivalry.

Through Ivanhoe, Scott both romanticizes and critiques knighthood, portraying it as a noble yet flawed institution. The novel helped shape the modern perception of knights as both heroic warriors and symbols of a bygone era of honor and adventure.

 FIVE BEST MOMENTS IN IVANHOE (MOVIE, 1984)