Rise A Knight - Lord Byron

The Knightly Order of The Republic of Texas: School of Chivalry

The Knight.

Etymology of the term 'Knight':

The Origin of the term 'Knight' comes from the Old English 'cniht' meaning "a youth or SERVANT", related or descended from the nearby Germanic language use of the word such as Old Frisian 'kniucht', Dutch 'knecht', and the German 'Knecht' a "SERVANT, bondman, or vassal".

Knight as Servant:

The Knight in worldly terms, was a servant to his liege lord or someone of higher station in his Order's chain of command. ;) He served as a defender of his liege's lands and worldly causes. In a religious Order, the Knight ultimately serves, not merely the hierarchy of this world, but of the next. In essence, a Knight is foremost a Servant of God.

The Dubbing of a Knight (or accolade, adoubement)

In the video example taken from the film Kingdom of Heaven (2005), we see the principal character Balian d'Ibelin, played by Orlando Bloom, confer the rites of Knighthood, to the young man with all and sundry, at least as they relate to his particular Order. These rites contain sacraments to the Order, 'be without fear in the face of your enemies', etc. and preeminitely to serve God and his Church. These rites are peculiar to the Order bestowing them, and popularly have culminated in the adoubement of a sword tap on each shoulder...and/or

The Slap or ‘colée’:

Incidentally before becoming a knight proper through adoubement, to learn humility, and to 'remember their oath' to their liege/order, and ultimately to Christ who suffered for us, a squire was expected to stand and take a single, unguarded slap to the face from their liege, or another Knight. The idea was that this slap would be the last hit a knight would ever accept unanswered. This slap meant that the knight was honor bound to accept any challenge under God.

Rise a Knight:

Finally, when a Knight rises, he not only rises from his knees as a Knight, but also as a warrior in the Service of God. He rises to become someone greater than his previous station. Christlike, the Knight has risen to a new creation that lives in the Word, no matter his former station, from Servant to Gravedigger...to Saint.

Carry on,
Lord Byron