Final answer:
The process of becoming a knight began in childhood with education as a page, advancing to squire, and finally being dubbed a knight upon proving valor and skill, while adhering to the code of chivalry which included religious and moral obligations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Process of Becoming a Knight
The process of becoming a knight involved several stages and was deeply rooted in the social and military customs of medieval society. Initially, a boy born into nobility would start as a page around the age of seven, serving a lord and beginning his education in the arts of combat and chivalry. After reaching adolescence, he would become a squire, acting as an assistant to a knight, caring for the knight's armor and horses, and continuing to develop his martial skills. Finally, if he proved his valor and skill, he would be ceremonially dubbed a knight in a process that often included a religious ritual and a public ceremony.
To place this in a broader context, knights were expected to follow the code of chivalry, which blended martial aspects with religious and moral obligations. This code advised knights to protect the church, women, the defenseless, and to observe sacred truces. The aim was to channel the knight's prowess and capacity for violence into a force for good that upheld Christian virtues and social order.
In reality, not just younger sons of aristocrats, but also commoners, women, and even the less able-bodied could participate in the crusading movement, reflecting the wide appeal and social significance of knighthood. Yet, the idealized pursuit of becoming a knight often required significant sacrifice, dedication to martial and religious responsibilities, and adherence to a prescribed noble conduct.