![]() Anthony," and the anchorites of the African deserts. More modest inquirers have been content to go no further back than to Constantine's supposed "Order of the Golden Angel" (313), or to the equally imaginary Ethiopian "Order of St. Under the impulse of the same uncritical spirit which referred the descent of the Britons to Brutus and wanderers from Troy, the origin of knighthood has been traced back to the judges of Israel or to the heroes of the Iliad. Hence arose the old adage: "BonĮscuyer vault mieulx que pauvre chevalier." But the reality or the obligation of personal military service was always entailed by knighthood. Many entitled to claim the dignity declined to do so, though holding land by knightly tenure, because unable to bear the expenses incident to the rank. But, until the dignity was conferred, the aspirant was no knight. Compulsory writs for the latter purpose were frequently issued from the proper courts. ![]() The knight's estate was held by knight- service, or chivalry, and the heir at full age was entitled and could be compelled to receive knighthood. It cannot be assumed by one's own act, but must be bestowed by another of knightly or of superior rank. Ful worthi was he in his lordes werre, And therto had he riden, noman ferre, As wel in Cristendom as in hethenesse, And ever honoured for his worthinesse." The character of knighthood, however, as distinguished from the mere tenure of land by knight-service, was entirely personal, and hence it is conferred and attaches only for life, and is not descendible by inheritance. "A knight ther was, and that a worthy man, That from the tyme that he ferst bigan To ryden out, he lovede chyvalrye, Trouthe and honour, fredorm and curtesye. The lord mayor of London is knighted for the presentation of an address to the sovereign, and Michael Faraday is deservedly made an officer of the Legion of Honor for chemical and other scientific discoveries but in the main conception and strict usage of the term knighthood, liege service in war is implied. The characteristics of knighthood have undergone many modifications in the lapse of long centuries. Knighthood in this application corresponds closely with the French designation chevalerie, and its consideration is inextricably intertwined with that of chivalry. Neglect of this precaution has occasioned much of the extravagance and complexity which-are noticeable in speculations on this subject.Ī knight under the feudal system-miles in the Latinity of feudal jurisprudence-was one holding land by military service (servilium militare), with horse, and shield, and lance, and armor cap-a-pie (Blackstone, Commentaries, ii, 62-3). Its explanation is thus necessarily intricate and multifarious, and care is requisite to avoid confounding different things, or different phases of the same thing, under the single common name. ![]() The term is one of various significance, and is, therefore, apt for ambiguities it is one whose applications were of gradual development, and which is, accordingly, of diverse historical import. In these remoter meanings it becomes identical with Chivalry,Īnd it is in this point of view that it will principally be considered here. In a secondary sense, the word is employed to denote the class of knights-the aggregate body of any particular knightly association the institution itself, and the spirit of the institution. ![]() Knighthood, the condition, honor, and rank of a knight, also the service due from a knight, and the tenure of land by such service. ![]()
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