A vivid account of the life and times of the medieval knight, an examination of the code of chivalry, and a detailed history of the crusades. This book examines both the life and position of the medieval knight, from courtly page to war hero, including the training, tournaments, obligations, honours and exploits of these 'men of iron'. It describes how the order of the knight began, his rigorous apprenticeship, the world of his castle, and his pursuit of the noble arts of hawking, jousting, hunting and music.
It also discusses the code of chivalry and debates how knights attempted to live up to its ideals, and how legend, romance, art and literature have been inspired by their history and mythology. This violent, turbulent world with its epic battles, romantic ideals and the entertainment extravaganza of the tournament is brought to life in this expertly researched and beautifully illustrated volume, containing over 850 fine art images.
