The Knight: A Portrait of Europe's Warrior EliteWiley, 2003 M02 4 - 224 pages An up-close introduction to the most admired warriors in history "They mounted their horses, grasped the lances made of fine Bordeaux Steel, closed the visors of their helmets, and made their way to their stations for the first course. Spurring their horses on, they advanced toward each other at full gallop, lowering their lances as they approached. The tip of Clifford's lance caught Boucmel high on his breastplate and was deflected off . . . directly into the young squire's mail hood, piercing his neck clean through." This tragic account of an ambitious young Frenchman's senseless death during a "friendly" joust with an English knight underscores the ever-present danger that stalked the flower of European youth in the Middle Ages. In The Knight, you'll meet John Boucmel, Nicholas Clifford, and scores of other warriors who risked their lives to fill the medieval lists and battlefields in a relentless quest for fame, glory, and victory. This vivid, fast-paced narrative whisks you from the blood-soaked fields of Normandy in the Hundred Years' War to the battered walls of Jerusalem in the first Crusade, from a sumptuous feast in an English castle to the pomp and pageantry of a spectacular thirty-day jousting tournament. You'll discover how knights were trained; how they paid for their expensive weapons, armor, and horses; and how the solemn vows they took influenced their behavior both on and off the battlefield. Discover the truth behind the countless legends of the Age of Chivalry in The Knight. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Mounted Warrior | 6 |
From Blood to Laughter | 21 |
Copyright | |
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Albert of Aix Alexius Anna Comnena Antioch archers armor arms army arrived attack bailey Baldwin battle became began besiegers Bishop Bohemond Boucmel Bradbury Byzantine Calatrava cannons castle Catalan Company century Château Gaillard chivalry Christian church Coloman course crossbow Crusaders defenders duke emperor enemies England English Europe feudalism fighting fire force France French knights Gate Godfrey Godfrey of Bouillon Godfrey's grand master Greek fire Hawkwood helmet Holy Land horses Hospitalers Hugh of Payns Jerusalem jousting Kerbogha killed king knighthood lance later Lord de Saimpi mangonel medieval period mercenaries military mounted Muslims named Nicaea Order of Calatrava Peter Philip pilgrims Pope protection Raymond Roman siege engines siege towers Sir Boucicaut Sir John Sir Reginald soldiers squire to touch sword Templars Teutonic Knights tilt took tournament town trebuchet Turks vassal walls warhorse warriors weapons William William of Tyre wooden Yaghi-Siyan