In the Middle Ages, kings depended on the fighting men of local nobles to maintain their power, and the knight was their most feared weapon.
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Knights trained for years, dominated Europe’s battlefields, and entered the history books as the elite soldiers of the Middle Ages.
That is why HISTORIE has compiled a top 10 list of the greatest knights of the medieval period, which you can explore below.
10. Ulrich von Liechtenstein (1200–1275)
- Strength: The German knight became famous for his achievements in numerous knightly tournaments.
- Weakness: Although skilled in tournaments, he never distinguished himself on the battlefield.
9. Jacques de Molay (1244–1314)
- Strength: The Frenchman eventually became Grand Master of the famous and notorious Knights Templar.
- Weakness: He and the other Templars were accused of heresy. Molay was burned at the stake in 1314.
8. Count Roland (736–778)
- Strength: A trusted knight of Charlemagne and the central figure in the heroic epic The Song of Roland.
- Weakness: Despite the epic’s praise, historians know very little about his actual deeds.
7. El Cid, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (1043–1099)
- Strength: A Spanish knight of humble origins who, among other achievements, conquered the city of Valencia on behalf of his king.
- Weakness: A treacherous turncoat who fought for Muslims and Christians alike, depending on his own interests.
6. Jean Le Maingre, Boucicaut (1366–1421)
- Strength: A celebrated tournament knight who gave away his money to live in poverty, as a true knight was expected to do.
- Weakness: The Frenchman fought unsuccessfully against the English during the Hundred Years’ War and died in captivity.
5. Richard I the Lionheart (1157–1199)
- Strength: The English king became famous as a courageous warrior who threw himself into battle at every opportunity.
- Weakness: Lionheart was naturally arrogant and often made himself unpopular with other European knights.
4. Saladin (1137–1193)
- Strength: A Muslim military commander whom his Christian enemies regarded as a knight in spirit.
- Weakness: Despite his chivalrous virtues, Saladin was never formally knighted.
3. Edward, the Black Prince (1330–1376)
- Strength: Led an outnumbered English army from victory to victory against the French during the Hundred Years’ War.
- Weakness: Edward showed little respect for the lower classes and was responsible for several massacres.
2. Geoffroi de Charny (1300–1356)
- Strength: Regarded in his own time as the ideal knight, he wrote three works on chivalry.
- Weakness: He lost France’s royal battle standard, the Oriflamme, to the enemy when he was killed at the Battle of Poitiers.
1. William Marshal (1146–1219)
Strengths:
- Defeated more than 500 knights in tournaments.
- Became a loyal adviser and protector to four English kings.
- Took pride in protecting poor citizens from abuse.
- Was one of the few men ever to defeat Richard the Lionheart in combat.
Weaknesses:
- Spent two years in the Holy Land, but his contribution was so insignificant that nobody bothered to write about it.
- Was accused of having an affair with Margaret of France, who was the daughter-in-law of King Henry II.
