Any info on knights from medieval europe?

Question

does anyone know any websites where i could find out the following:
1) what did knights of medieval europe eat
2) what did knights of medieval europe wear (did they wear anything else besides their armor)
3) where did knights of medieval europe live (dwell)?
4) what was the job of knights of medieval europe?
5) what did knights of medieval europe do for fun?
i NEED TO KNOW ASAP!!!!!! please don't say "just look in yahoo! or google, a link please!! thank you!!
=)

Answer 1

Actually I can help you.

http://www.medieval-life.net/life_main.htm

That link right there you click on the different catagories and it speaks on those exact things you're requesting.

Good luck,

Answer 2

The following is from
http://www.knightsofmalta.com/history/history.html

The earliest members of the Order were drawn from throughout Europe. Most were of noble birth, being the younger sons of enfeoffed knights and other feudal lords. They belonged to one of three ranks, namely knights, who were of noble birth, chaplains, and serving brothers. Much later, the Order instituted the practice of investing as knights worthy gentlemen who, though not of noble birth, were received by the grace of the Grand Master. In our own times, this has become a specific grade of the Order (that of Magistral Grace), and the one into which into which the majority of knights and dames are accepted. This is due in part to the three American associations which do not demand noble proofs of candidates.

To arrive in Palestine, postulants might travel over land across the Balkans. More often, however, they would travel by land down the length of the Italian peninsula to Calabria, the toe of Italy, then cross over to Messina to board a galley for Palestine. Each aspirant would pay his own passage. Thus was instituted the tradition of making a monetary donation (droit de passage) upon entering the Order.

At first, the surcoats and habits of the knights of the Order were of coarse black cloth bearing a simple Latin cross in white. A little later this was forked at the ends, what a herald terms a "cross moline," when later still the cross had straight sides, so famous as the cross of Malta. In 1126, the Blessed Raymond du Puy, second Grand Master of the Order, adopted as its distinctive emblem the white Cross of Malta, whose eight points represent the Beatitudes. The heraldic insignia, on which the flag of the Order was based, became a plain white Cross of Malta on a red field. This appears to have been used for some years before its approval by Pope Innocent II in 1130, and is generally considered the oldest extant vexillogical device used by a sovereign European government.

The following URL talks about what knights did, what they ate, and other interesting things:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1385gaunt-portugal.html

Answer 3

The KNIGHT (which was famous in medieval europe) originated in the amoured horsemen known as the CATAPHRACTI and the more heavily armoured horsemen known as the CLIBINATI of the fourth and third centuries of the ROMAN and SASSINIAD PERSIAN empires. The knights of the Arthur were more than likely heavy armoured ex Roman or Roman trained cavalry.

Being of aristocratic birth the knights ate rather well. Meat at every meal mostly (beef, lamb, venison, poulty, bacon, ham, pork and some fish), also cheese, beans, leeks, legumes, berries, honey and of course wine. A more expensive drink was mead made from honey. If the knights were in the middle east (the crusades) or of fortunate circumstances they also had dates, figs and oranges.

Most knights wore long underwear, then a rough robe over that. Over that of course came their armour. When they were not in armour they wore, especially in the high and late middle ages(12th-13th centuries and 14th- 15th centuries) they wore over their underwear a tight fitting shirt and tight fitting pants-often of fancy colours. If they were in the middle east or fortunate they could wear a looser fitting silk or satin shirt and/or a more comfortable luxury robe(like the Arabs). Otherwise their clothing was made of cotton and wool.

Most of the knights lived in castles. Either they had a small castle themselves as lieges of a lord, lived with their lord in his castle or if they were wondering knights, were mostly taken in to castles to stay the night under the rule of hospitality. Sometimes however they would stay at inns. However being aristocrats they almost always had at least a small comfortable room to themselves to sleep.

In Medieval Europe there were basically three classes. The first was the clergy whoes job was to pray and administer to the souls of people. The second were the peasants and workers whoes job it was to produce. The third, military aristocracy to whom the knights belonged , their job was the protection and defence of society. Amoung the knight's many jobs were: PROTECTION OF THE INNOCENT(WOMEN, CHILDREN AND CLERGY AND THE HELPLESS AND DEFENCELESS).: TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF CHIVALRY: TO FIGHT WHEN REQUIRED BY HIS SUPERIORS: TO ESCORT PEOPLE AND GOODS: TO GO ON CRUSADES:TO BE SENT BY HIS LORD ON ERRANTS: TO PRACTICE AND BE PROFFICENT IN THE ARTS OF WAR.

The most obvious thing the knights did for fun was the TOURNEMENT. This was a test of skill between knights. A knight would have to prove his lineage to participate. This was also an opportunity for another of his leisures. Womanising. The women at the tornement would give the knights bits of their clothing as standards. Eventually much of the clothing of the lady would be removed. Should a knight win or please a lady he would have a geat chance in going to bed with her. Also knights went out to local taverns WENCHING. That is basically picking up local women. Another was MUSIC. Many knights liked to listen to minstrels and were somewhat musicians themselves. Also listening to STORY TELLERS and entertained by FOOLS (fools being more of comedians in those days and many were very wise-they acted like buffoons for entertainment and thus the origin of our modern meaning). They also went to DANCES, FEASTS, HUNTS and PLAYED WITH A BALL ATTATCHED TO A CONE THAT THEY YANKED IN AND OUT. Also they played an original form of football with teams of hundreds. Some even read books.

The knights of europe were famous in history. Many legends were attatched to them. Many of these were untrue. They were not all virtuous as the medieval world was a rough and tought world. They were not invinciple as they suffered defeats at the hands of the Saracens and were crushed in the Mongol invasions of 1241-1243. They had various orders such as the HOSPITILLARS, TEMPLARS , TEUTONIC KNIGHTS and CASTILLIAN ORDER. They generally fought well and valiantly. They were intensly loyal and most of the time they took their vows of chivalry seriously. And after all they were the defenders of Europe- our Europe for those vital thousand years. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Well, I'd like to be your knight and shining armor and I do have European blood 4 generations back.

Would that count?

Answer 5

http://www.suelebeau.com/medievaltimes.htm
Maybe this will help.