Middle Ages and King Arthur terms and background information

Feudal System the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal with all land held in fee and as chief characteristics homage, the service of tenants under arms and in court, wardship, and forfeiture From Webster's

Feudal System - Loyalty and interdependence - Basic Serfs (poor) depended on landowner for protection in the castle and supplying the land for them to work Landowner depended on serfs to serve in battles and help defend the castle when needed Lords owed allegiance to king and depended on King for land King needed Lords to raise armies with knights and warriors to win wars.

Knight Only of good family – no lower class Left home at age 7 to live with a knight Called “page” while studying for knighthood At age 15 became a squire – learned to fight on horseback – would accompany his knight into battle After 5 years- squire is eligible for knighthood

Coats of Arms In 11th century (around Arthurian legend) knights and nobles began displaying these on shields and flags Symbolic identifications of family Used to identify in battle Displayed mottoes – beliefs Handed down through generations Study of this – heraldry –kept in books – armorials no two families could have the same

Castles Closed fort – stronghold built on strategic location to make it difficult to penetrate Cliffs, stone walls, heavy gates, hillsides, moats (large enough so as not to be jumped on horseback) Tall walls – 20 feet or more – could shoot arrows down on attackers

Armor 12th century used chain mail – tiny metal rings linked together – could deflect arrows, swords, and lances - Metal helmets Plate armor came later – covered entire body Included gauntlets (gloves) and sollerets (shoes) Very heavy – knights had to be hoisted onto horse by a machine Later only breast plates and helmets were used

Romance A long poem of tale originally written in a Romance dialect (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or Romanian) about the adventures of knights. Set in an idealized world Deals with heroic adventures – battles between good characters and villains or monsters.

Legend A popular story handed down for generations Some basis on historical fact, but have been embellished over time.

Chivalry Code of behavior for knights and nobles in Middle Ages French word “chevalerie” means mounted soldiers

Camelot Arthur’s Kingdom The Round Table – all seats equal in prestige actual table in Camelot, but also any place where court was held, such as a battle field when all knight were together Siege perilous – empty seat reserved for knight pure enough to find Holy Grail (cup that Jesus used at Last Supper) – Sir Galahad became this knight.

Le Morte D’Arthur The definitive interpretation of the Arthurian myth before the dawn of the English Renaissance. Sir Thomas Malory

Idylls of the King Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809-1892 12 narrative epic poems “Morte d’Arthur” –Framework tale – story within a story Setting- Christmas- four friends- Parson Wells, Everand Hall (poet), Francis Allen (Frank-host), and narrator (Tennyson) Actual story involves Sir Bedivere, King Arthur, Lady of the Lake, and 3 queens of Avalon

The Once and Future King T. H. White 1906-1964 Written in 1958 Four part novel – comic retelling of the Arthurian legend “Arthur Becomes King of Britain” Following characters are in this portion of story: King Pellinore, Sir Ector, Sir Grunmore, Sir Kay, Merlyn, and Wart (King Arthur)