Squires

afro-elf · 10-22-2003, 07:32 AM

I just read that many did not make it past being a squire due to the cost of being a knight.

How were this men viewed? As failures or worthy servants

elendili · 10-22-2003, 09:53 AM

personally i wouldn't class them as failures coz they got past being a page so they must be decent but i'd view them as men who had the personality to become a knight but not the pocket.
i'd respect them as they stuck at something even though they knew they didn't have the resources to succeed and i always thought squires were treated quite well especially if their knight was rich/handsome/successful etc.

Coney II · 10-22-2003, 10:26 AM

It depends on the position of the Squires family.

Many wealthy (titiled) families would send sons to serve as a Squire to a knight. This often led to many years of servitude for the young nobleman, his development from servitude to a titled knight being up to his masters descretion. And, of course, monies for the trappings of knighthood had to come from his family.

If the tales are to be believed then many knights simply chose worthy commoners to act as their Squires. These would certainly be seen as worthy folk, although their progression to knighthood would be exceptionally rare.

(a purely fictional example of this is in Malory's work, Launcelot du Lac had the same Squire for most of his career as a knight)

afro-elf · 10-22-2003, 10:00 PM

Thanks for the replies.

10-22-2003, 07:32 AM	#1
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	Squires I just read that many did not make it past being a squire due to the cost of being a knight. How were this men viewed? As failures or worthy servants __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

10-22-2003, 09:53 AM	#2
elendili Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: a galaxy far far away (aka Manchester) Posts: 320	personally i wouldn't class them as failures coz they got past being a page so they must be decent but i'd view them as men who had the personality to become a knight but not the pocket. i'd respect them as they stuck at something even though they knew they didn't have the resources to succeed and i always thought squires were treated quite well especially if their knight was rich/handsome/successful etc. __________________ Dovie'andi se tovya sagain "Courage my soul, now learn to wield The weight of thine immortal shield Place on thy head thy helmet bright Ballance thy sword against the fight See where an army strong as fair With silken banners spreads the air Now if thy bee'st that thing divine In this days combat let it shine: And shew that nature wants an art To conqeur one resolved heart" Andrew Marvell

10-22-2003, 10:00 PM	#4
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	Thanks for the replies. __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

10-22-2003, 10:26 AM	#3
Coney II Elven Warrior Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: uk Posts: 134	It depends on the position of the Squires family. Many wealthy (titiled) families would send sons to serve as a Squire to a knight. This often led to many years of servitude for the young nobleman, his development from servitude to a titled knight being up to his masters descretion. And, of course, monies for the trappings of knighthood had to come from his family. If the tales are to be believed then many knights simply chose worthy commoners to act as their Squires. These would certainly be seen as worthy folk, although their progression to knighthood would be exceptionally rare. (a purely fictional example of this is in Malory's work, Launcelot du Lac had the same Squire for most of his career as a knight)