Knighthood

(Adapted from Greg Stafford's Pendragon Campaign Rules) 
Knights are the premier warriors of the Great Realm. Knights are not simply made on a whim - every animal, whatever their rank, has to earn their knighthood. Therefore training is intense and the warriors that are produced are deadly. A twice yearly ceremony is held in Stormont and the king can designate members of the King's Shields to knight those who have completed their training and been deemed worthy of knighthood. Those that are particularly deserving are knighted at the king's own hand, making them "King's Knights" (knights with the ability to knight others). 
There are multiple ranks of knights. 
RANKS OF KNIGHTHOOD
KNIGHT ERRANT
Knights without a lord are the lowest class of knights. They are called errant because they must seek to sustain themselves through work for money. Since knights are fighting animals, they generally make their living by seeking mercenary soldier employment, and differ from ordinary mercenary cavalry (sergeants) only in that they have taken the oath of knighthood before a lord.
KNIGHT BACHELOR
Knights bachelor derive their income directly from their lord, either through direct maintenance or by cash payments. (The word bachelor derives from bas chevalier, or “low knight.” It has come to be associated with unmarried animals because bachelor knights were generally not rich enough to support a wife.) Knights bachelor are also called “household knights” because they live in their lord’s household, not on their own land. They are his bodyguard and standing army, and travel wherever their lord takes them. Their loyalty is crucial to the lord’s success, perhaps even to his survival, so they are usually treated well and receive great honour.
A knight bachelor may bear a pennocelle (a small pennant) upon his lance to distinguish his rank from mercenary knights and commoners, who wear no decoration.
KNIGHT VASSAL
Knights who own their own land are knight vassals. They have their own manor and lands, and are thus substantial landlords capable of equipping themselves for war. Knights vassal generally live at their own home, but are obliged to serve for forty days per year at war, plus a customary extension of twenty more if the lord demands it. They must also appear at court to offer advice whenever the lord demands it. A knight vassal may bear a pennant on his lance.
KNIGHT LORD
Knights are sometimes lords over other knights, and are thus called knight lords. Knight lords are the upperrank noblemen, the lords of the land. In this context a “lord” means any knight who has taken on other knights as followers. The lowest grade of lord is a banneret knight, such as Sir Cearbhall Kingshield. The highest is the High King.

Career

Qualifications

A formalized sequence for learning the skills of knighthood is an established part of the feudal tradition, originally in Forte but now across the Great Realm. Except under exceptional conditions, every aspirant to knighthood must follow the steps noted under career progression.

Career Progression

PAGE
Pages are young boys or girls between the ages of ten and fifteen who are learning the ways of courtly life by observing their elders and doing those tasks assigned to them. After serving as pages, most girls become maids-in-waiting and wives. Boys become squires.
SQUIRE
Boys may become squires at age fifteen. Squires are servants of their knights, studying the ways of knighthood as they serve. Those who are confident in themselves, who show promise, and who have the right connections may become knights. Most will remain squires.
KNIGHT
Most aspirants must wait until age 21 to be knighted, after serving six years as squires. Men knighted younger are exceptional, but not unknown. Sometimes a young heir must be hastily knighted and ennobled upon reaching his majority at age eighteen or, even rarer, at fifteen.

Perception

History

Knighthood is an organisation long associated with Forte and the warriors who dwell there. They trained nobles in the art of war and took on greater roles of protection of the people due to the instability of Forte before the days of the First King. This tradition eventually spread to the other kingdoms. 
Leondric VI introduced knighthood to all areas of the land during his reign (from 460 AF to 466 AF) but the greatest development was when the Statute of Knighthood was introduced in 706 AF. This created “King’s Knights” and formalised elements of the knighthood ritual, as well as the code of conduct knights should live by. Before this time they had followed tradition and expectations placed upon them but after this, the code was set down in law and to be adhered to by all knights.

Alternative Names

Knights, Samurai

Type

Military

Ranks & Titles

• High King of the Great Realm