hsz20.txt 2.6 KB

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  1. In Medieval Times, A Knight was a mounted man-at-arms of medieval Europe. He served a king
  2. or other feudal superior, usually in return for the tenure of a tract of land, but sometimes he served his
  3. lord for money. The knight was generally a man of noble birth who had served in the lower ranks as page
  4. and squire before being ceremoniously inducted into knighthood by his superior. At his induction the
  5. knight usually swore to be brave, loyal, and courteous and to protect the defenseless. After the 15th
  6. century, knighthood was conferred on civilians as a reward for public services.
  7. A knight in armor would present a very strange appearance on a modern battlefield. His prancing
  8. steed and metal coat of mail, the heavy iron helmet that covered his head, the shield that he carried on his
  9. left arm, his lance and shining sword—all of these belong to bygone days and have little place among the
  10. swift airplanes, the rapid-shooting automatic weapons, and the scorching flame-throwers of modern
  11. warfare. Knighthood flourished before the time of guns and gunpowder when battles still were won by
  12. hand-to-hand conflicts of heavy-armored knights. Even in peacetime knights looked for conflicts in which
  13. to engage. Fighting was almost an everyday occurrence, and the common people generally could not
  14. protect themselves against an invading foe. In times of danger they fled to the castles or strongholds
  15. owned by the nobles. To obtain protection the poorer folk became the serfs or villains of their powerful
  16. neighbors, and those in turn were the vassals of those still more powerful. The institution of knighthood
  17. was part of this feudal system.
  18. In modern-day Britain, knighthood is an honor conferred by the monarch on both men and women in
  19. recognition of outstanding personal merit. The knight is usually created through appointment to an
  20. order of knighthood. The title sir or dame is prefixed to his or her first name, and initials standing for
  21. the order of knighthood follow the name. For example, John Smith, on receiving the title of Knight
  22. Commander of the Order of the Garter, is afterward known as Sir John Smith, K.G. Knighthood is
  23. also occasionally conferred without membership in a particular order. A knight so created is known
  24. as a Knight Bachelor, and the name is followed by the abbreviation Kt., standing for knight.
  25. -modern day British soldiers
  26. Modern Day Knights known as soldiers is a military force of the British with the chief responsibility for land combat. The British Army includes the active-duty army, the British Army Reserve, and civilian employees, all under the direction of the Department of the Army. The Army
  27. <br><br>
  28. Words: 439