Medieval Knights Weren’t the Good Guys You Think They Were
A Spanish horse of wonderful beauty was provided for Geoffrey, swifter than a flight of birds. He was then armed with a corselet of double-woven mail which no lance or javelin could pierce, and shod with iron boots of the same double mesh; golden spurs were girded on; a shield with golden lions was hung around his neck; a helmet was placed on his head gleaming with many precious stones, and which no sword could pierce or mar; a spear of ash tipped with iron was provided, and finally from the royal treasure was brought an ancient sword.
The knighting of Geoffrey of Anjou from the chronicler Jean of Tours
Ahh, to be a Knight
Oh, to be a man of impeccable character who, donned in shining armor, saves beautiful damsels from distress. Always fair, always courteous, and always righting wrongs — imagine the magnificence of it all. Just look at that description of Geoffrey of Anjou. If that isn’t glamorous, I don’t know what is. But, if we dig down into the facts, would we find the medieval knight’s armor shining as brightly as we think? Were these men really of impeccable character? Unfortunately, it seems they were not.
