Introduction
Knights were individuals granted knighthood by a monarch, the church, or a ruling authority. While warrior elites existed long before the Middle Ages, the knights most people recognise today emerged in medieval Europe, bound by warfare, social rank, and a moral code shaped by the wider world of the period 15 Intriguing Facts About the Middle Ages.
The word chivalry comes from the Old French chevalier, meaning horseman. To be a knight was not only to fight, but to embody loyalty, discipline, and honour at least in theory. Below are ten legendary medieval knights whose lives reveal both the ideals and the realities of knighthood.
The anatomy of a medieval knight
Contrary to popular belief, a full suit of late-medieval plate armour weighed around 50 pounds (23 kg) and was carefully balanced across the body. A trained knight could run, mount a horse, and fight effectively while fully armoured.
Armor was also extremely expensive. A custom-made suit could cost the equivalent of a modern high-end sports car, placing knighthood firmly in the realm of wealth and privilege.
Edward the Black Prince (1330-1376)
Edward of Woodstock, known as the Black Prince, was the eldest son of Edward III. Knighted at just 16, he proved his reputation at the Battle of Crécy (1346), where English longbowmen reshaped medieval warfare.
He later captured John II of France at the Battle of Poitiers, one of the greatest knightly victories of the Hundred Years’ War. Though he never became king, he defined the image of the ideal medieval knight.
Was Joan of Arc a knight?
Joan of Arc was never formally knighted, yet she stands among history’s most legendary warrior figures. Claiming divine visions, she persuaded Charles VII to let her lead troops against the English, placing her among a wider tradition of extraordinary women who shaped medieval history 10 Famous Women of the Middle Ages.
Her leadership lifted the Siege of Orléans in just nine days. Captured in 1430, she was executed at 19. Declared innocent decades later, she became both a saint and a national symbol of France.
Geoffroi de Charny was considered the moral authority on knighthood in his lifetime. He wrote extensively about honour, sacrifice, and battlefield conduct.
He died holding the Oriflamme, the sacred French battle banner, at the Battle of Poitiers, making his death both symbolic and literal proof of his ideals. He and his wife were also early custodians of the Shroud of Turin.
Götz von Berlichingen – The knight with the iron hand (1480–1562)
Götz von Berlichingen lost his right hand during a siege in 1504. Rather than retiring, he commissioned a highly advanced prosthetic.
His second iron hand featured spring-loaded fingers that could lock into place, allowing him to hold a sword, shield, reins, or even a quill pen. It remains one of the most remarkable feats of medieval engineering.
Hugues de Payens – Founder of the Knights Templar (c. 1070–1136)
Hugues de Payens co-founded the Knights Templar which emerged during the era of relegious warfare known as the Crusades, a series of campaigns to protect pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem which reshapoed Europe and the Middle East. Under papal protection, the Templars became wealthy, militarised, and politically influential factors that later led to their suppression in 1312.
El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar)- The most famous Spanish knight (c. 1043-1099)
El Cid is another legendary knight in history. He is commemorated for his temporary conquest of Valencia. The moors gave him the title of El Cid which means ‘the Lord’ and the English gave him the title of ‘the Champion’. He was born into a Castilian family of minor nobility and served under two kings of Castile. He became famous for being a formidable military leader and strategist.
In 1094, he led a siege on the city of Valencia and subsequently became its ruler. Additionally, he had the popular support of Muslims and Christians during his rule. After his death in 1099, his wife succeeded him as a ruler but was eventually forced to surrender to the Almoravids in 1102.
El Cid remains one of the most famous Spanish knights in history. The famous poem ‘El cantar de Mio Cid’ is written in his honour. Additionally, he is commemorated as a Spanish national icon and many folk tales, songs and video games are based on him.
William of Poitiers (c. 1020-1090)
William of Poitiers was a Norman Knight. He was born into an influential Norman family. He trained to become a knight and later decided to enter the church and become a priest. When William the Conqueror became King of England he appointed William of Poitiers as his chaplain. It was then that he wrote detailed accounts of the King’s life. This book is called the Gesta Guillelmi. It tells how William the Conqueror prepared for the battle and what exactly took place.
Additionally, it provides a lot of detailed information and valuable insights about the Battle of Hastings. The Gesta Guillelmi, however, faces a lot of criticism and is called a biased and unreliable account of what took place in the battle. But in spite of being deemed as biased, William of Poitiers did provide accurate accounts of the battle as well.
William Wallace- An iconic Scottish Knight (c.1270- 1305)
William Wallace was one of the key figures during the First War of Scottish Independence. He became an important figure in the Scottish rebellion after murdering the English High Sheriff of Lanark. Additionally, is also instrumental in defeating an English army in the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
He was known for his tactical and strategic use of terrain and made use of clever tactics during battles. He was captured after a Scottish knight loyal to the English King Edward turned him in. Following the capture, he was charged with treason, to which he famously responded that he wasn’t a traitor to King Edward because he was never his subject. He was executed on August 23, 1305.
Moreover, the 1995 academy award-winning movie Braveheart is based on the legendary life of knight William Wallace.
Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy (1364-1403)Knight Henry Percy was a famous English Knight. He fought several battles against the Scots and the French. The Scots nicknamed him Hotspur for his readiness to attack. He was the son of the 1st Earl of Northumberland, Henry Percy. He was made a knight by King Edward III at the age of 13 in 1377. In 1399, his father and he were instrumental in helping Henry IV overthrow King Richard II. Subsequently, they were rewarded with territories in northern England and Wales.
However in spite of the favours, Henry IV bestowed upon them, the Percys were growing discontent with the king. They had various grievances. Due to that, they decided to rebel against the king and bring him down. Hotspur raised a rebellion against the king but was defeated and killed in the Battle of Shrewsbury.
William Marshall (c. 1146-1219)
The last in our list of legendary knights is William Marshall. He is one of the most famous, respected and admired knights in history. He was a knight who served under 5 kings. During his youth, he used to compete in tournaments. Travelling and winning these tournaments made him rich. He became the official Earl of Pembrooke after his marriage to Isabel de Clare.
He was the regent for the 9-year-old King Henry III, and it was during this time that he negotiated in the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. Additionally, he also fought and secured victory in the Battle of the Lincoln despite his advanced age (he was 70 at the time). On his deathbed, he claimed to have captured over 500 knights during tournaments which was medieval Europe’s equivalent of professional sports.
From knights to modern “butchers”
The medieval knight was celebrated for honour and personal combat. In later centuries, power took darker forms. A stark contrast can be seen in figures like Reinhard Heydrich: the notorious Butcher of Prague, where authority replaced chivalry with bureaucracy and mass violence.
Sources
- Royal Armouries, Leeds
- Matthew Bennett, Medieval Warfare
- David Crouch, William Marshal
- British Library manuscripts
- Musée de l’Armée, Paris
William Marshal is widely considered the greatest medieval knight due to his unmatched tournament success and service to five English kings. Culturally, El Cid and Joan of Arc are among the most famous.
A boy typically began training as a page, progressed to a squire, and was formally knighted around the age of 21 after proving loyalty, combat skill, and discipline.
A full suit of late medieval plate armour weighed about 50 pounds (23 kg). It was carefully balanced, allowing trained knights to move, fight, and ride horses effectively.
While rare, women did lead armies and hold knightly roles. Joan of Arc is the most famous example, and some medieval orders, such as Spain’s Order of the Hatchet, were specifically created for women.
No. Tournaments were controlled combat events similar to professional sports. Knights like William Marshal made fortunes capturing opponents and ransoming them.
