The halbard
The halberd was one of the weapons knights could use in battles. It was a mix of an axe and a spear and was usually 5 to 6 feet long.
The halberd was used by the Swiss army and become their major weapons because they rode on horseback. This is because fighting with swords was difficult and hard to control on moving horses.
Knights
Knights code
Chivalric Code
The chivilaric code was what was expected of knights.
Knights where expected to show courtesy, fight with bravery, and show military professionalism.
When a knight was captured they where held in a comfortable area and held for ransom.
Squires
At 15 years old before becoming a knight a boy became a
squire. A squire would swear on a sword during a religious ceremony.
The knighting ceremony was held during major christian holidays like Christmas or Easter.
A knight would have to be knighted by a religious leader like a bishop.
Knights would swear an oath and the bishop would tap the knight on the shoulders with a sword.
At 21 a squire was able to be knighted.
A squire was able to own his own armor.
Knights where looked at as a class of lower nobility.
Knights had to be born into nobility
Weapons and armor used by knights
horses
Horses were used as the primary transportation for knights and the army's of nations. During battles knights and soldiers rode on horses and newer soldiers learned how to ride horses and fight on horseback. Horses were used so often in the middle ages because they could cover vast amounts of land which allowed army's to get into battle faster. Horses also had armor they could wear like plate armor.
armor
The armor that knights wore depended on what king or nation they served, but most armor was made out of mail which was a type of flexible armor made out of iron rings which provided less protection then plate armor. Plate armor was a more sturdier form of armor made from steel or iron plates which in turn provides more protection then mail armor. Knights also wore gauntlets which protected their arms and hands which included gloves or metal gauntlets depending on which versions of armor the knight was wearing.
Battle axes
Battle axes were used by armored English foot soldiers.
There were two types of battle axes the smaller version of the battle axe could be held with one hand. The smaller one handed battle axe could also be used as a club and could be thrown at enemy's. The second type was a larger axe that was held with both hands and required strong soldiers who could wield it.
Siege Warfare
Siege Warfare was used because many large medieval towns where surround by walls
Medieval Town
Some of the siege engines they used
Catapults
Ballistas
Battering Ram
Knights and Warfare
Crusades
The Second Crusade
The second crusade was launched after the county Edessa fell to the Turks.
It lasted from 1147–1150.
It was declared by the pope and European nobles.
Area of the Second Crusade
The first Crusade
The first crusade was a holy war in an attempt to take back the holy land.
It was declared by Pope Urban II
Lasted from 1096-1099
First Crusade Map
