Knight

## Chivalry and Steel: The Honor of Knighthood

Knighthood, especially in the southern parts of Westeros, is intertwined with the Faith of the Seven. Becoming a knight is seen as a sacred ceremony, with the potential knight often keeping a vigil in a sept the night before being knighted.

Knighthood in Westeros is not just a title; it is a way of life. The expectations are high, but so are the rewards. A knight can earn honor, lands, and prestige through valor in combat, chivalry, and loyalty to their lord. However, with these rewards come responsibilities. Knights are expected to lead, protect, and serve as shining examples of the ideals of knighthood. Whether they're participating in tournaments, defending their lands, or training the next generation, knights play an integral role in the fabric of society.

### Duties and Responsibilities

* **Taking the Vows:** Upon becoming a knight, they must take their vows, a crucial rite that solidifies their commitment to knighthood. This event should be proclaimed in the *roleplay chat* for the broader community to acknowledge their knighthood.
* **Pledge of Sword**: Every knight must pledge their sword to their liege lord, symbolizing their unwavering loyalty and commitment to service and announce it in the *roleplay channel*.
* **Fealty to Liege Lord:** Above all, a landed knight owes fealty to their liege lord. This includes answering the call to arms, paying taxes, and acting in the best interests of their lord.
* **Protection of the Realm:** Knights must defend their lands, the smallfolk, and their own honor. They are expected to maintain a garrison and be ready for any threats.
* **Chivalry:** Chivalry is the code by which knights live. This includes defending the weak, showing mercy to foes, being loyal, and acting with honor.
* **Tournaments and Feasts:** Knights participate in tournaments to display their martial prowess. It's also an opportunity to earn glory, reputation, and sometimes wealth.
* **Land Management:** As landed individuals, these knights are responsible for the administration of their estates, collection of taxes, and ensuring the well-being of the smallfolk living on their lands.
* **Training:** Knights should constantly hone their martial skills. Additionally, they are responsible for training pages and squires under their care, preparing the next generation of knights.

### Rights and Privileges

* **Right to Bear Arms:** Knights have the right to bear arms and wear armor, distinguishing them from common folk.
* **Display of Sigil:** Knights have the privilege to display their coat-of-arms, a symbol of their lineage and honor.
* **Command in War:** During wartime, knights often lead troops, leveraging their martial expertise.
* **Titled 'Ser':** A knight is addressed as 'Ser', a mark of respect and distinction.
* **Land and Income:** Landed knights own land, which brings them income through taxes, agriculture, or other endeavors.

### Limitations

* **Subordination to Liege Lord:** Knights must always defer to the wishes of their liege lord. They are bound by oaths of fealty.
* **Cannot Deliver High Justice:** Unlike high lords, landed knights cannot sentence people to death. They must defer such decisions to their liege lord.
* **Dependence on Reputation:** A knight's influence is heavily based on his reputation. Dishonorable actions can lead to disgrace, affecting their standing in society.

### Types of Knights

**Landed Knights**

These are knights who have been granted lands and possibly a keep of their own. They possess peasants, sworn swords, and men-at-arms, and are obliged to serve the lord to whom they owe fealty. Their land management duties often resemble those of lords, though they do not possess the same authority, especially in delivering high justice.

**Hedge Knights**

Often considered the "wandering" knights of Westeros. They possess no fixed residence and travel the Seven Kingdoms looking for employment or taking part in tournaments. Often viewed with suspicion, as some might turn to banditry or become "robber knights."

**Household Knights**

These knights do not have their own land but are retained by lords or wealthier knights in their household.

Their duties often involve guarding, serving as sworn swords, and participating in battles under their lord's banner.

**Knights Inquisitor**

These are special agents of the Iron Throne, tasked with investigating threats to the realm and administering the king's justice.

**True Knights**

While more of an ideal than a specific type, a "true knight" embodies all the noble and chivalrous qualities that knighthood stands for. It's a term used to describe those who uphold the highest standards of the knighthood, from martial prowess to moral rectitude.

**Religious Knights**

**Warrior's Sons:** They were a militant religious order who swore allegiance to the High Septon, forsaking personal wealth and dedicating their lives to the Faith of the Seven. They were disbanded after the Faith Militant uprising but signify how knighthood can also serve a religious purpose.

### Significance of Knighthood Origins

While any man can be knighted, regardless of birth, the prestige of the knighthood often depends on the one bestowing the honor. Being knighted by renowned individuals or members of royalty carries significant weight.

However, sometimes the traditions and standards of knighthood can be subverted by lords for personal or political reasons. It's important to remember that while knighthood is surrounded by ideals of honor and chivalry, the practicalities of power, influence, and politics in Westeros can overshadow these noble aspirations.

## Becoming a Knight

**1. Pathway through Pages and Squires**

* **Pagehood:** Nobly born boys, usually starting around six or seven years old, serve as pages. This is not strictly limited to nobles, as boys of various origins can be found in this role. Pages are typically introduced to the basics of courtly behavior and begin their martial training.
* **Squirehood:** After serving as a page for several years, a boy can ascend to the role of a squire. Squires undertake more direct martial training, help knights into their armor, tend to their master's animals, run errands, and assist during battles and tournaments. The age at which boys become squires varies, with some notable examples being at nine or ten.

**2. Age at Knighthood**

* While many knights are dubbed around the age of sixteen, exceptional fighters or those of significant importance may be knighted earlier. Famous characters were knighted at fifteen. In rare cases, knighthood can be received as young as twelve while some waited until they were seventeen or eighteen.

**3. Conditions for Knighthood**

* Proving one's martial prowess, either in tourneys or on the battlefield, can hasten knighthood. Political motivations or exceptional circumstances, such as a dying squire's last wish on the battlefield, may also lead to a dubbing.
* Some acquire knighthood through less honorable means, including bribery, threats, or political manoeuvring. Tales of knights earning their status through dishonourable means have become cautionary tales in Westeros.

**4. Conditions Preventing Knighthood**

* Physical disabilities, obesity, mental disabilities, and aversions to martial training can bar one from knighthood. F
* Religious beliefs can also play a role. Followers of the old gods, for instance, seldom become knights, as knighthood is rooted in the Andal tradition and the Faith of the Seven.
* There are also those who reject knighthood for personal reasons or because they're a woman.

**5. Ceremony of Knighthood**

* The act of knighting is both secular and religious. Typically, the soon-to-be knight stands a vigil in a sept the night before, especially before the figure of the Warrior. The ceremonial rituals may involve walking barefoot to showcase humility or being anointed by a septon.
* The act of dubbing involves the existing knight (or a king) speaking the aspirant's name and house, touching the right shoulder with the sword, and then moving the sword to the other shoulder while reciting specific vows. Witnesses might be present, but their presence is not a strict requirement.

The road to becoming a knight is steeped in tradition, and while the idealised vision of knighthood emphasises valor and chivalry, the reality is often far more complex.