The Knight in History (Medieval Life)

It would be pretty hard to find a better concise history of European knighthood than this book by Frances Gies. Her research is very thorough and she understands the Medieval world well. At the same time, she brings her subjects alive and never lets her erudition intrude to interrupt the flow of the story. In little more than 200 pages of well-written text she traces the whole arc of the knight's history, from Charlemagne to the end of the Hundred Years War -- and beyond into the long twilight of knighthood down to the Victorian era. After tracing the origins of knighthood she gives a vivid description of the First Crusade. Then she turns to the troubadours and the development of the literature of knighthood, as well as its impact on the knights themselves. Next she takes up the career of a very notable knight of the second half of the 12th century, William Marshal in an account filled with details that reveal his character and that of knighthood in his time. The story of the remaining Crusades is organized around an account of the crusading orders, particularly the Knights Templar. Next comes a vivid mini-bio of one of the most remarkable characters of history, the mid-14th century French knight and commander Bertrand Du Guesclin. Then the story of Sir John Fastolf, a major English commander of the 15th century (only very tenuously related to Shakespeare's Falstaff) nicely illustrates the transition between the world of knightly warfare and that of armies on the modern pattern. A final chapter traces the lingering influence of knighthood in early modern Europe. There are many well-chosen black-and-white illustrations, extensive source notes, and a good bibliography. The book addresses the knight's armor and fighting techniques, but only briefly. Combats and battles, too, are treated largely in schematic fashion. The focus is on the knight's character, his views of himself and his world, and his place in his society. There is also a clear summary of the overall development of the patterns of Medieval warfare. Although there is some mention of knighthood elsewhere, the book concentrates very strongly on England and France; treatments of Southern and Central Europe of comparable quality would be very welcome. Gies does not have an ideological slant or a theory to defend -- she neither "debunks" nor extolls. Since the book's writing, two decades ago, further evidence has been discovered which naturally alters some details, but on the whole the book holds up very well.

My wife got this book for me after my interest in Old England was piqued by a series of Sharon Kay Penman books. Not sure what I was expecting - probably a historical novel - but this was a highly engrossing, informative book on what knights and their times were like. While it was good, it was a bit dry and textbook-like.

If you study the Middle Ages, this book will tell you all you need to know about knights and it gives you details that are hard to find elsewhere. Frances and Joseph Gies have written a whole series of books about the middle ages. These books have been a great resource for study, they are "go to" books, if you need to remind yourself of those pesky little details that can mess you up. These books are wonderfully written, the Gies are experts on this genre, and if I could give it 10 stars I would.

The Knight in History is an excellent summary of the evolution, maturity, and dissolution of the knight in Europe. Provides context, details, and scholarly rigor to an oft-neglected topic in Western history.Recommended!

Great read for our older (ages 10 and 14) campers at Camp Memaw and Grandaddy a la Knights earlier this summer.

A very interesting history book. I enjoyed it.

Awesome book

good information, but lacks a more chronological approach that I was hoping for.

I have read a number of books by this author and this was exactly what I expected, beautifully written and very well researched. It covered the truth and myths of knighthood in detail. I have read a number of books about knights and this is the best.

A lot of historic information, still reading it.