Knight Facts for Kids

You might think a knight's suit of armor was impossibly heavy, crushing them like a giant metal suit! But a full suit of plate armor, which peaked in the 1500s, usually weighed between 30 and 65 pounds.

That’s like carrying a backpack loaded with textbooks—not exactly easy, but manageable!

A modern US soldier can carry over 110 pounds of gear, showing that knights were trained to move well in their protection. They needed to run, jump, and even swim in it!

You didn't just wake up and become 'Sir'! The training to be a proper knight was a serious, multi-stage commitment that lasted over 14 years.

It began around age seven when you became a page, learning manners and serving at the noble's table.

At age 14, you became a squire, learning combat, armor care, and chivalry. Only after all that—usually around age 21—could you be knighted!

Castles weren't just stone walls; the central tower, called the keep or donjon, was the ultimate power move.

While 20 meters (about 65 feet) was a common height, some of the biggest keeps, like the one at Vincennes, stretched up to nearly 40 meters (131 feet) tall!

That’s taller than a 12-story building, making the lord look super important and safe!

When you hear about knights fighting in the Crusades, it sounds like one quick war, but it was a super long series of events!

The major expeditions to the Holy Land began with the First Crusade in 1095 and generally ended when the Latin Christians were expelled from Syria in 1291.

That’s a span of 196 years—longer than the entire United States has existed! Talk about dedication to a long mission.

Forget the giant, heavy swords you see in movies! A typical knight's one-handed arming sword was designed for balance, not just brute force.

The average blade was about 29 inches long and weighed only around 1.0 kg (or 2.4 pounds)!

For comparison, a modern baseball bat can weigh 3 pounds or more. This light weight let knights use speed and skill in battle.

Jousting wasn't just two guys riding at each other; it was a physics battle! The force of impact depends on speed squared.

If a knight went just twice as fast, the impact force was four times stronger! That's the secret to knocking someone off their horse.

This meant aiming perfectly—like hitting a tiny target on a shield—was the most important part of the whole game.

The amazing interlocking metal rings we call chainmail didn't just appear with knights; it’s ancient! It was first used militarily as early as the 3rd century BC.

Knights wore it as the primary defense for hundreds of years before plate armor became common, and even after, small pieces were used for joint protection.

That means this awesome, flexible armor was in use for nearly 1,900 years in total across different cultures!

Being a knight wasn't just about fighting; it was about having amazing manners, which was called Chivalry.

The code included being generous, performing your duties, and never telling a lie or breaking a promise.

Most importantly, knights were supposed to respect all weaknesses and defend the helpless—a true hero's job!

The greatest knight ever, Sir William Marshal, proved his worth by being honorable, not just winning.

In one battle, when he had the young Prince Richard (later Richard the Lionheart) completely defeated, Marshal spared his life!

Instead of hurting the prince, he killed his horse. That move showed immense respect and earned him massive fame!

Because fighting in armor was such hard work, knights had to eat like champion athletes to stay strong!

While a peasant might eat around 2,900 calories a day, nobles—including knights—often consumed 4,000 to 5,000 calories!

They relied on lots of protein from meat (three days a week!) and hearty bread to fuel their training and battles.