Knights

Knights first appeared during the reign of Charlemagne in the 8th century. As the Carolingian era progressed, Frankish warfare relied increasingly on mounted warriors who accompanied the emperor on campaigns of conquest. In return, they were granted lands, laying the foundation of a hereditary warrior class. The collapse of central authority in the 9th and 10th centuries further entrenched this system, as local knights played a central role in defending against Viking, Magyar, and Saracen attacks. Clerics sometimes condemned knights for their abuses against women and other civilians.

By the 12th century, knights were firmly established as a distinct social rank, separate from non-noble cavalry. While all knights fought as men-at-arms, not all men-at-arms were knights. Over time, especially during the Crusades, knighthood grew in prestige and influence. Though primarily a military title, “knight” could also denote members of the lower nobility, especially landholding vassals. 

Medieval literature, such as the Matter of France (associated with Charlemagne and the Paladins) and the Matter of Britain (associated with King Arthur), popularized an idealized version of chivalry. For example, in The Song of Roland, the hero Roland embodies the ideal knight, exemplifying values of loyalty, martial skill, and fellowship. Reality was quite different, however. The chevauchée, for example, was a common tactic used by knights: large-scale mounted raids that devastated the countryside by burning villages, destroying crops, and terrorizing populations. This strategy was especially prominent during the Hundred Years' War, notably under Edward the Black Prince.

Becoming a knight. Most knights were born into noble families (usually sons of knights or lords) though commoners could be knighted for exceptional military service.

The knighting ceremony (accolade) often took place on major feasts such as Christmas or Easter, or at noble weddings. It included a ritual bath, a night-long vigil, an oath, and the dubbing of the knight with a sword. 

Lords granted land (fiefs) to knights in exchange for loyalty, protection, and service. Knights typically held land by military tenure, serving around 40 days per year, during which their lord would provide lodging, food, arms, horses, and pay. A knight serving under another’s banner was a knight bachelor; one commanding his own was a knight banneret. 

RULES

In Chainmail (1971), a typical mounted knight fights as Heavy Cavalry (Norman Knights, however, fight as Medium Cavalry) and a dismounted knights fight as Armored Infantry. Chainmail knights seem to want glory on the battlefield above which translates to the rules as the following behavior:

Knights' Behavior (Chainmail):

During a battle, whenever there is an enemy within charing range of a knight unit, roll a d6: on a six, the knight follows orders normally; on any other result, the knight unit will charge that enemy regardless of orders unless a 6 is rolled on an obedience die. 

If a knight unit can see other friendly troops moving toward the enemy, it will always charge an enemy within charging range.

If multiple enemy types are within charge distance, Knights will target them in this order:

1. Other Knights

2. Any other mounted troops

3. Baggage or missile troops firing upon them

4. Armored Foot

5. Missile-armed troops

6. Artillery or siege equipment

7. Heavy Foot

8. Light Foot, Peasants, or Levies

9. Pike-armed troops 

Chainmail (1971) has an illustration of a crusader knight on its cover and an Arthurian knight chasing a dragon on its Fantasy Supplement.

(this post will be updated as the reading of Chainmail and OD&D progresses)