An accessible and authoritative history of the world of the medieval knight. It covers every aspect of the knight's life their noble status, rigorous training, horsemanship, military exploits, romantic adventures, quests and crusades and their epic rise and fall in feudal Europe and beyond.. It covers a comprehensive analysis of the ideal of knighthood, with its roots in classical mythology and its flowering into extravagant art and literature of the Middle Ages. Special sections cover the most revered and honoured knights of the times, as well as legendary heroes such as the knights of King Arthur, who inspired a literary tradition that continues today.