| Becoming a knight was much more than a tap on | | | | which symbolized his purity, and over it he would |
| the shoulder with the flat edge of a sword. It was | | | | wear a red cloak which symbolized royalty. On |
| often an involved process that spanned several | | | | the morning of the ceremony he would bathe as |
| days. Here is an overview of a typical knighting | | | | a symbol of his new purity. |
| ceremony in the middle ages. | | | | During the actual ceremony the knight would |
| The ceremony of knighthood was the final stage | | | | receive gifts such as spurs, a shield, a sword, and |
| in a process that a man followed since he was a | | | | sometimes armor. Each of these gifts had |
| boy. It was the symbolic culmination of his pursuit | | | | symbolic significance. His sponsor, who was often |
| of proficiency on the battlefield and in the courts | | | | a knight or a lord, would give these gifts to him. |
| of nobility. It marked his transition from boy to | | | | He would say an oath and swear fealty to god |
| man and from commoner to royalty. This | | | | and to his king and he would affirm his devotion |
| ceremony was very important and had a lot of | | | | to the code of chivalry. The ritual part of the |
| symbolic significance to him and to the people | | | | ceremony would end with the sponsor tapping the |
| around him. It focused on three important aspects | | | | knight on both shoulders with a sword then |
| of knighthood: religion, allegiance to the King, and | | | | introducing him as "sir" to the nobility. This |
| the code of chivalry. And it often lasted three | | | | ceremony would often be followed by a large |
| days. | | | | banquet. |
| On the day before the actual ceremony there | | | | On the day after the ceremony there would |
| would be long meals and discussions with knights, | | | | often be a tournament for the new knight and his |
| clergy, and royalty about the roles and | | | | peers to show off their combat skills and abilities |
| responsibilities of a knight. And in the evening | | | | with weapons. |
| before the ceremony the knight would retire | | | | The ceremony of knighthood was a highly |
| alone to the chapel and spend the entire night in | | | | ritualistic and stylized ceremony filled with symbolic |
| prayer and fasting to purify him and prepare him | | | | meaning. And it was a very important part of the |
| for knighthood. He would wear a white tunic, | | | | culture of the middle ages. |