There were few honors greater than becoming a knight in medieval times, but few occupations were as great. Those who aspired to become knights were raised from an early age with the sole aim of fulfilling their vocation. Once the young man earned the knighthood, his life was a constant fight to protect his land, his pride, and his faith. For a family who wanted their son to become a knight, they had to overcome several obstacles. First being able to raise a family through five generations of “noble” ancestry. Second, the family needed influential and high-ranking friends, such as a duke. Finally, the family had to have the necessary capital to meet such a heavy expense. If these formalities were completed, the young boy was usually sent as a servant to people of rank, usually noble, often that of his uncle or a great lord, to become a page. At this point he learned how to behave in front of society and how to ride horses. Her duties included serving the knights in the dining halls as well as looking after the noble ladies. At the age of fourteen, the young page would be apprenticed to a knight to be his squire and together they formed a symbiotic relationship. The young squire learned to use various weapons, shoot a bow, and learned the basics of cutting meat for food. His responsibilities included caring for the knight's armor and horses, as well as fighting with him. The young squire would help his master don his armor before battle, and would also assist him if he was injured or dismounted. At the age of twenty-one, if the squire proves capable and successful in his duties, he will be knighted by another knight, often the squire's master. This ordination was originally accepted... middle of paper ...... still continues today. Today we know knights as a concept based on faith, honor and courage. Their respect on the battlefield, as well as in society, was the product of their noble blood and steadfast determination. Although their lives were filled with brutality, the knights maintained a sense of honor throughout the carnage and sought to live a life that honored both their God and their king. Works Cited “Chivalry”. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition (2010): MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Internet. March 20, 2011.Christopher Gravett. Knight. New York: DK Publishing, 2004. Harbison, Robert. “Knights: in history and legend.” Library Journal 134.20 (2009): 119. Academic Research Premier. EBSCO. Internet. March 20, 2011. Phillips, Jonathan. “The call of.” History Today Vol. 59 Issue 11 (2009) p10-17 Academic Research Premier. March 20.. 2011