Despite the common image of knights in the Middle Ages as brave and chivalrous warriors who protected the downtrodden, many knights did not live up to those expectations. This illuminating account of knighthood debunks myths about the warrior class and explains how knights arose as vassals to protect the land in the feudal system of medieval European society. Readers will learn about the training for knighthood, jousting, the life of a knight, and the role of knights in the Crusades.