The first knight appeared in Europe in the era of the early Middle Ages. The very existence of this estate was inextricably linked with the feudal era - the time of the cult of power, as well as hierarchical fidelity. Economically, this state of affairs was justified by a special type of feudal relations. In addition to Western European territories, such combat classes arose in other Cultures: samurai in Japan, sipahi in Turkey, Cossacks of the New Time in Russia. At the same time, the first knights were fundamentally different from their counterparts in weapons in other civilizations.
History of chivalry
The appearance of this class is closely connected with the rise of the feudal system in land relations. Presumably, its inception began in the early medieval Europe. Thus, the first knight of King Arthur is mentioned in the 6th century AD. However, the real flourishing of the estate begins in the 9th-10th centuries. Then on the continent arose a unique for the whole planet tradition. The higher leaders, who became the first kings during this period, gave state lands to their officers for military service. The latter, in turn, swore allegiance to their overlord. Actually, "fe" in Old German meant loyalty, and "od" - possession. Thus, the king in the entire medieval state was actually the senor, and the early knights were the early vassals. This structure had a ladder hierarchy: a vassal for one suzerain at a time Could himself surrender land to other soldiers, becoming a suzerain for them. Such first knights had as their main duty the protection of the possessions of the seignior, perhaps his ransom from enemy captivity, participation in his military offensive campaigns and so on. Very soon chivalry turns into a privileged class: their origin is confirmed by all sorts of letters, their condition allows them to devote themselves to an exceptional cause, forcing the peasants to work for their own needs. They for many centuries became the main strike force of any army, which no foot soldiers could resist.
External appearance of the medieval military elite
The first knights were not at all the same as they are often painted in modern mass culture. Completely encased in heavy armor warriors appeared already closer to the end of the era of cold steel - in the XIV-XV centuries. Already when the first firearms were created. Knights of the 10th-11th centuries were increasingly protected only by mail armor and a steel helmet with an open face. Their main weapon in all Times remained a sword. But the knights never disdained and weapons like an ax or a spear. With the passage of time, the skills and technologies of blacksmiths developed, and along with them, the body's protection also improved. At first they were plate armor, which appeared everywhere from the XIII century, represented by brigantines in western Europe. Especially this type of armor was spread in Russia in the form of scaly and lamellar (riveted to leather-based) plates. And already at the very beginning of modern times, when feudal relations gradually began to die, giving way to capitalism, the knightly class experienced its last surge: their armor reached unprecedented perfection, they became exactly as we imagine them now - with massive all-metal plates covering everything The human body and the head. In addition, even militarily, this class still had something to say to the world - in fact, not least of all, the New World was won by their hands. The developed firearm began to penetrate armor with time, and the military strategists of the era mastered new constructions of foot troops with long glephs and halberds, more and more overturning the knightly order. All this accelerated the departure from the historical scene of such a significant military and social category.