In medieval society, can peasants become knights?

Question

If so, how would that happen?

How could a noble become a knight?

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

Medieval England did not go by the caste system (if you were born in a class you must stay there.) So Yes a peasant could become a noble.

Answer 3

In the early medieval period, granting honorific knighthood was a fairly common practice. Early standards of chivalric practice required at least three knights present to raise another man to knighthood. There are stories of several knights knighting peasants for convenience in subsequent ceremonies. In later eras, the chivalric code was standardized, and, for the most part, knighthood was restricted to the minor nobility.

Answer 4

Yes, it happened, at least in England.
By getting money and prestige in the French wars.
"There was a knight, captain of the town, called sir Richard Sale. He was no gentleman born, but he had the grace to be reputed sage and valiant in arms, and for his valiantness King Edward named him knight." Froissart's Chronicles, Year 1381.

Answer 5

Perhaps, but only very rarely. Maybe if a peasent performed some incredible feat of bravery, found favour with the King somehow or saved his life. Still, it virutally never happened: in the fuedal system, you stayed where you were born.

Answer 6

only in the movies
most end up as foot soldiers
dying a horrific death on the field

Answer 7

No, they couldn't. They were born into their class. If you were higher up, you could fall, but that was it.

Answer 8

no they could not.