Knight

In Medieval times, a knight was a mounted warrior in the service of a Lord. The word 'knight' is derived from the German word 'knecht', which means 'servant'.

In later periods, being made a knight was a great honour. A knight's behaviour, both in battle and normal life, was guided by a code of conduct.

In classical chivalry, the knight was accompanied by a squire, a page and a man-at-arms, the whole then being known as a 'lance. From this comes the phrase free-lance, meaning a lance which was not in fealty to a superior lord.

A knight was, in general, in command only of his own lance, and took orders from a marshall. A number of knights were reckoned to be sufficiently experienced to command other knights: they did so as the marshall's delegate. If a knight rose sufficiently to be viewed as capable of being given a command of his own, it was customary then to make him a knight-banneret -- he was then allowed his own small banner, with his arms upon it, to fly before his sub-division of the army.

In some countries knighthood also indicated that one was of noble birth. In other countries (such as England), the title was not hereditary.

See Also:

• Chivalric Orders
• Chivalry

Knights in the SCA

The SCA has a polling order of peerage that is the Order of Chivalry. Only members of this order are considered knights. SCA knights can be male or female but must swear fealty to the Crown. If a member is invited to become a member of the order but won't swear fealty, then they are considered a Master or Mistress at Arms not a knight.

A white belt is officially reserved for use by knights but most will also wear a fealty chain.

Alternate Titles

The SCA recognises the following alternate titles in other languages as equivalent to Knight:

Language	Alternate Form of Knight	Alternate Form of Sir
Albanian	Kreshnik	Zotni
Arabic	Faris[a]	--
Catalan	Cavaller	Senyor
Czech	Ryti	Lord
Danish	Ridder	Herre
Dutch	Ridder	Mijnheer
Estonian	Rüütel	Söör
Finnish	Ritari	Ritari
French	Chevalier	Sieur
German	Ritter	Sir
Greek	Strâtiotes	Hippôtes / Kûrios
Hebrew	Parash[a]	Sair[ah]
Hungarian	Lovag	Ür (Uram)
Icelandic	Riddari	Herra
Irish Gaelic	Ridire	Sior / An ridire
Italian	Cavaliere	Sir
Latin	Miles	Eques
Middle Norwegian	Riddari	Herre
Old English	Cniht / Ridda	--
Old Norse	Riddari	Riddari
Polish	Rycerz	Pan[i]
Portuguese	Cavaleiro	Cavaleiro
Romanian	Cavaler	Domnule
Russian	Rytsar	--
Scots Gaelic	Ridire	a Shir / Shair
Spanish	Caballero	Don (Dona)
Swedish	Riddare	Herr
Turkish	Sövalye	Sör
Welsh	Marchog[es] / Cyfurdd / Dyl(y)edog / Pendefig	Syr