Knighthood and Knight-Errantry
Discover the ideals and trials of knighthood in Arthurian legend — from Lancelot’s vows to the perils of knight-errantry and the code of chivalry.
- Introduction
- The Origins and Duties of the Knight
- Examples of the Worthy
- The Age of Knighthood: Legend vs Reality
- The Humility of Combat
- The Dangers of Chivalric Life
- Knighthood and Knight-Errantry: The Dual Ideal
- Knighthood vs. Knight-Errantry
Introduction#
The concept of knighthood in medieval literature and legend combines religious duty, moral integrity, and martial skill. In the Arthurian world, a knight is not only a warrior but also a defender of justice, faith, and compassion. Yet, alongside this ideal stands the more adventurous figure of the knight-errant, who roams in search of quests and trials to prove his worth.
The Origins and Duties of the Knight#
In the Prose Lancelot, when Lancelot was eighteen years old and eager to be knighted, Viviane – the Lady of the Lake – taught him what it truly meant to join this sacred order:
“At the beginning all men were equals; but when envy and covetousness grew, when force triumphed over right, it became necessary to appoint defenders for the weak against the strong. They were called knights…”
The passage continues to describe the knight as merciful, kind-hearted, liberal, just, and fearless, a champion who must protect the Holy Church and uphold divine justice. Each piece of armor symbolizes a spiritual duty:
- The shield guards the Church from harm.
- The hauberk safeguards the body as the knight safeguards the faithful.
- The sword, with its double edges, signifies service both to God and the people.
The knight’s very life is an allegory: his horse represents the people he leads; his sword, the justice he upholds; his heart, divided between mercy and stength. Failure to live by these principles meant disgrace on earth and the loss of salvation.
Examples of the Worthy#
Viviane named great examples to guide Lancelot. These figures represented the ideal synthesis of holiness and heroism, foreshadowing the spiritual dimension of Arthurian knighthood.
From the Old Testament
Judas Maccabeus, John the Hircanian, and King David.
From Christian tradition
Joseph of Arimathea, Galahad, and King Pelles – holy warriors who united faith and valor.
The Age of Knighthood: Legend vs Reality#
In romance, youthful heroes like Galahad, Percivale, and Helin le Blank were dubbed as early as fifteen, showing their divine favor and precocious virtue. Historically, however, knighthood usually came later – around twenty-one – after years of training as a page and squire. The ceremony was both martial and sacred, a recognition of duty as much as prowess. Newly made knights, though courageous, often lacked experience in mounted combat – below is a quote of Sir Mordred, explaining the struggles of young knights:
“He that shall be a good horseman it must come of usage and exercise…”
Their agility made them formidable on foot, even when they faltered in the saddle. Many legends recall Lancelot’s early defeats in jousts, redeemed by victories on foot, showing that true knighthood was measured in spirit more than skill.
The Humility of Combat#
Even the greatest knights were not invincible. As Malory reminds us:
“The knight was never formed that all times might stand, but sometimes he was put to the worse by mal-fortune…”
Defeat was not shameful; rather, it revealed human limitation and the need for perseverance. Knights like Sir Dinadan, more wry than warlike, often mocked empty bravado:
“It is ever worship to a knight to refuse that thing that he may not attain…”
His words remind us that honor lay not in reckless pride but in wisdom and humility.
The Dangers of Chivalric Life#
The battlefield of chivalry was rarely pure. Weapons could be poisoned, as with Sir Marhaus’s venomous spear, or battles clouded by treachery. Yet even these darker moments underscore the knight’s moral struggle – to remain just amid violence. Sir Lancelot:
“It is an old saw, A good man is never in danger but when he is in the danger of a coward.”
Knights risked wounds and betrayal, and even friendly contests could turn deadly:
“When men be hot in deeds of arms oft they hurt their friends as well as their foes.”
Still, courage demanded endurance. Even gravely wounded, Tristram (Tristan) rose from his bed to fight again:
“For as yet my wounds be green… I will do battle-to-morn.”
He triumphed, proving that valor was as much the triumph of will as of strength.
Knighthood and Knight-Errantry: The Dual Ideal#
Knighthood embodied the fixed duties of loyalty, faith, and service. Knight-errantry celebrated the wandering spirit, the pursuit of adventure and justice beyond the court’s walls. Together, they formed a complete vision:
The knight as guardian of the order.
The knight-errant as seeker of truth and personal honor.
In Arthurian legend, these two roles merge into a single quest: the Grail Journey, where valor and virtue become one.
Knighthood vs. Knight-Errantry#
In the Arthurian world, true chivalry is born from the harmony of these two paths. Knighthood provides the sacred vows, discipline, and loyalty that anchor a knight within the divine and social order; knight-errantry tests the soul in solitude, proving virtue through trial, temptation, and peril.
A knight who serves faithfully yet never ventures beyond the court may remain untested, while a wanderer without loyalty risks losing purpose. In the balance between duty and quest, service and adventure, lies the essence of the ideal knight – a defender of the realm and a seeker of truth, whose deeds shine in both the eyes of men and the grace of Heaven.
Definition#
Knighthood: The formal, sacred order of knights bound by oaths of loyalty, service, and faith.
Knight-Errantry: The wandering practice of knights seeking adventure, testing virtue through quests and trials.
Primary Duty#
Knighthood: Serve a lord or king; defend the Church, the weak, and the realm.
Knight-Errantry: Pursue personal honor and glory through independent deeds and adventures.
Setting#
Knighthood: The court or castle, center of feudal duty and organized society.
Knight-Errantry: The open road, wilderness, and unknown lands, where trials await.
Symbolism#
Knighthood: Represents stability, service, and order.
Knight-Errantry: Represents freedom, testing, and self-discovery.
Moral Focus#
Knighthood: Loyalty, obedience, justice, and protection of others.
Knight-Errantry: Courage, perseverance, courtesy, and spiritual growth through experience.
Guiding Authority#
Knighthood: The Church, the king, and the code of chivalry.
Knight-Errantry: Providence, fate, and the knight’s own conscience.
Examples#
Knighthood: Sir Gawain serving Arthur; knights guardin the realm.
Knight-Errantry: Sir Lancelot seeking adventures; Percivale on his Grail Quest.
Outcome#
Knighthood: Public honor, recognized title, and social responsibility.
Knight-Errantry: Personal enlightenment, spiritual reward, or tragic self-realization.
Ideal Image#
Knighthood: The faithful vassal – strong, just, and obedient.
Knight-Errantry: The questing hero – brave, restless, and introspective.
Summary#
The world of knighthood and knight-errantry reveals the tension between ideal and reality, faith and force, youth and wisdom. Through their trials, knights sought not only glory but moral perfection – a journey mirrored in every quest of Arthur’s court.
