20 Bizarre Knight Facts Almost No One Knows
20. Fearless Fighters...and Fancy Dancers?
You thought knights were just tough warriors, but these medieval badasses had to master more than swordsmanship. To earn their elite status, they had to become skilled courtly dancers too, gracefully waltzing across ballrooms when not hacking enemies on the battlefield!
19. The Knightly Knight-Dog?
Think all knights were humans? You'd be wrong! Local French legend claims a brave pooch named Guinefort was knighted in the 1200s after heroically saving a baby from a slithering snake. Now that's one very good boy!
18. Mercenary Medievalists Coined "Freelance"
Those roving sell-swords of medieval times who'd fight for the highest bidder? Their lack of sworn loyalty to any lord meant they were "free lancers" - the origin of our modern freelancer term!
17. Codpiece Catwalk
Knights didn't just carry swords - they rocked codpieces too! These decorative crotch-covers became over-the-top virility symbols and status icons, proving medieval knights definitely didn't lack...confidence.
16. Prayer, Fasting and...Wolf Livers?
To prove their knightly worthiness, aspiring squires spent nights praying in full armor. And some knights even ate crazy "power foods" like wolves' livers and crushed diamonds to boost their battlefield bravery!
15. Knight Nurses in Jerusalem
While some knights just fought, the unique Knights Hospitaller combined brawn and medicine, operating hospitals in the Holy Land to treat sick pilgrims between crusades.
14. Status, Stripped
Medieval times were harsh - knights could lose their knightly status through "degradation" rituals that publicly disgraced them by hacking off their spurs and inverting their coat of arms.
13. Templar Tellers?
You can thank the Knights Templar for modern banking! Their "traveler's checks" letting pilgrims cash drafts across Europe basically turned them into the first money-lenders of the Western world.
12. Crane Calvary
In the 14th century, some knights wore armor weighing up to 60 pounds, which required a small crane to hoist them onto their horses for battle!
11. Poet Warriors
Chivalry wasn't just about combat; knights were also expected to write poetry, with tournaments awarding prizes not only for jousting but for the best verses.
10. Matrimonial Restrictions
Surprisingly, knights were sometimes forbidden to marry and could face severe penalties for breaking this rule, as it was believed marriage distracted them from their duties.
9. Armored Affluence
A knight's armor was so expensive that it could cost the equivalent of buying a modern-day luxury sports car.
8. Murderous Mock Battles
In times of peace, knights didn't rest; they participated in mock battles called "tournaments," which were as dangerous as real combat, often leading to death or severe injuries.
7. Bizarre Bravery Boosters
Knights sometimes adopted bizarre ritual fasts, eating bizarre diets such as wolves' liver or crushed diamonds believed to enhance their strength and courage.
6. Holy Hospitallers
The Knights Hospitaller, another group of medieval knights, operated hospitals in Jerusalem to care for sick pilgrims, blending combat skills with medical care.
5. Tooth Trophies
Legend has it that after battles, some knights collected the teeth of dead nobles to sell as relics or use in magic rituals.
4. Cultured Combatants
Despite their tough exterior, knights were expected to be patrons of the arts, sponsoring troubadours and poets who composed music and literature to celebrate their deeds.
3. Heraldic Shields
Knights used "shields of arms" not only for protection in battle but also as early forms of identification in the chaos of combat.
2. Spur Stripping Shame
A knight could be stripped of his title and status through a process called "degradation," where his spurs were hacked off and his shield was hung upside down as a mark of disgrace.
1. Knight Hermits
In the late Middle Ages, some knights opted for a life of solitude and penance, becoming "knight hermits" who dedicated themselves to spiritual pursuits in remote locations.