Rules and Regulations For Knighthood

in the

Teutonic Knights

Section 1: Pages

The title of page is the beginning of the path to chivalry. It is a time when the new page can learn the basics of medieval and renaissance life, as well as basic Dagorhir rules, regulations and customs,  gain basic skills and equipment and in the end, develop the necessary knowledge to be able to become a squire. Often times, a page is a youth that must learn many lessons before becoming a squire. However, the Page rank is held by citizens of any age who have chosen the path of chivalry

Requirements To become a page:

1.      Must be a member in good standing

2.      Must possess basic medieval or renaissance clothing (A long sleeve black tunic, belt, black, brown or green pants and black shoes

3.      Must present themselves to a Knight and request to become their page and then have their knight announce their status as page at Court.

Once a member is accepted into the knighthood as a page they are now on the track to becoming a Squire. The page’s knight now is responsible for the basic instruction in courtly manors, fighting arts and to help them acquire equipment necessary for the rank of Squire.  The Knight will provide the page with a basic white surcoat with black cross. This is to signify that the individual is a page in the order.

Jobs of the Page ( Required before attaining squire) :

Section 2: Squires

A Squire is the backbone of the basic fighting force of the Teutonic Knights. They are beginning to become skilled in the fighting arts and have already learned service as a Page. The Squire is learning the Code of Chivalry, becoming proficient in some period craft or skill and has all of the equipment required to defend the faith.

Requirements to become a Squire:

1. Must have completed the page qualification to the satisfaction of their knight
2. Must be presented at Court to take the Oath of the Squire (Below)
3. Must conduct the Squires Vigil

 

The Oath of the Squire

I,______________ vow to give myself over into service to God, the Order, and Knight. I vow to defend the word of God and Protect his faithful with my life, my sword and my heart.

 The Squires Vigil (optional)

The Squires vigil is a time of contemplation. Usually lasting an hour, the Page is allowed time to privately contemplate the tasks and oath he or she has made at court. They must contemplate the agreement they are making with the kingdom, their knight and themselves. The Page may choose to not become a squire without dishonor.

The vigil (like the knights vigil) is set up by the Knight and the details are left to his or her discretion.

Once Becoming a Squire, the real work begins. It is a time where the squire is tested on all manner of tasks. It is a time when he or she will become proficient in many weapons forms, acquire more advanced medieval items and continue to serve his or her knight both on and off the field.

The Squire must do the following to become a Knight:

1. Must possess basic combat harness: a proper helmet, neck protection, gloves and gambeson or appropriate armor.
2. Must possess basic feast gear
3. Must help the Lord of Arms develop and register heraldry
4. Must possess a steel sword and scabbard as well as a way to carry it (Basic  European Crusiform Sword )
5. Must serve their Knight at feast at all gatherings save their knighting
6. Must not disgrace their Knight or the Order through drunkenness or boorish behavior
7. Must possess court garb
8. Must memorize the Code of Chivalry
9. Must qualify in 2 weapon forms and possess the weapons required for those forms
10. Must acquire a formal surcoat of the Order.
11. Must possess a Heater, Kite or Scutom type shield with the Order's heraldry on it
12. Must procure an Order Flag to fly at events, encampments
13. Must endure the Knights Vigil
14. Must show a basic understanding of the Measure
15. Must be presented in court to recite the Code of Chivalry and to be knighted by the Crown and receive the accolade.

 

The Code of Chivalry:

A Knight is sworn to valor, his heart knows only virtue, his blade defends the helpless, his might upholds the weak, his word speaks only truth, his wrath undoes the wicked. The 9 Knightly Virtues called “The Measure” as the quality of the knight is measured by his or her adherence to the ideals stated in the measure.

1.      Honor

2.      Truth

3.      Justice

4.      Largess

5.      Discipline

6.      Bravery

7.      Humility

8.      Piety

      9.      Service 

The Knights vigil is very much like the squires vigil. It requires at least 3 hours. The Squire is asked to remove all fineries except those required for decency. The Squire is allowed to also wear their Order Surcoat with a red cord to bind it. At this vigil, his/her formal surcoat, helmet, steel sword and shield as well as gloves and boots are arrayed in front of him/her along with a mead horn. The horn is filled with wine or mead (grape juice for those under age) and placed on a table along with the weapons and equipment listed.

Each item represents a different virtue of Knighthood. The Squire who is to be knighted should supply the wine or mead.

·        Helmet: the helmet covers the head, symbolically where untruths are born, the helm represents the armor of the oath  and measure against the speaking and believing of lies for all speech is measured by such.

·        Surcoat: The surcoat represents the honor of the knight and the Order. When worn, it proclaims to all who this warrior is and what they stand for. Any actions done while wearing the surcoat, both good and ill are marks on the honor of the wearer and the Order.

·        Shield:  The Shield represents Bravery and Discipline as these two virtues are  necessarily combined to make an effective knight. The shield represents bravery as all knights require bravery when going into battle. It also represents the protection that Faith represents for evil. It represents discipline in that it tempers bravery with prudent defense. This also represents the verbal actions of the knight in that the knight must stand up for what he believes in but not in a boorish or insulting way; but instead, shielded by the measure. 

·        Sword: the sword represents Justice. The sword is the instrument of the will of the knight, it allows the knight the ability to use force in meting out justice in the lands he or she protects. That the sword is double edged reminds the knight that he is not above the law and that the same justice he/she enforces applies to him/her.

·        Boots: the boots represent humility. They are a reminder that all people walk the same earth and that the dirt on the knights boots is the same dirt found on the shoes of the lowest commoner. Likewise, the knight must bear in mind that he holds his station in SERVICE to the people, not so they may serve the knight.

·        Gloves: The Gloves represent service and piety. These two virtues go hand in hand as by the hand of the knight, service is rendered. The gloves represent Piety in that they remind the knight that his/her hands should not be sullied by sin as those same hands render supplication to God

·        The Mead horn: the mead horn represents Largess. The freely giving of oneself to others. The lack of greedy and selfish thoughts or actions. The mead horn is carried from the vigil chamber at the end of the vigil. At this point the Squire will give the mead horn to the assembled knighthood and guests for the Sumbel.

 The Sacred Sumbel. 

This ancient Norse ceremony pays homage to God, the ancient heroes and modern heroes. In this ceremony, the mead horn is passed from one to another and toasts are made to the afore mentioned people. During a Knighting Sumbel, the deeds of the Squire are recounted and toasted. It is a reminder to the Knight-to-be of where he/she started from and how far the journey is. The Assembled knights will discuss the oath and measure with the Squire and what it means to become a knight.

 

The Knights Lieutenant, Bannerette and Commander

The following ranks represent the leadership of the Knighthood before the Crown. In other words, they are the Officers within the knighthood who answer directly to the Crown.

 

Knights Lieutenant:

This rank is bestowed upon a lay Knight who has shown exemplary service to the Order.The definition of which is left to the Hochmeister but examples may include: Defense of the faith from physical or political attack, going above and beyond the call of duty in battle against a foreign foe, representing the best of the Order and the Church in some great way whilst in the presence of allies or foreign powers or any other worthy action the Hochmeister finds reasonable.

 

Knights Bannerette:

This rank is granted to those knights who have squired three members to knighthood. This shows that the individual in question has good leadership skills and is an asset on the battlefield

 

Knights Commander: This is the leader of the knighthood , also known as the Hochmeister. This person is voted into office by the assembled knights with a vote granted to the Crown and serves for a term of one year. The term limit can be waved in times of war and the Knights Commander can be re-elected every year should the assembled knights agree. The decision rests on a 2/3 vote of the knighthood. This person is known as the First Among Equals and reperesnts the Order to foreign powers as well as maintaining the peace within the Order. The Knights Commander enforces the will of the assembled Knights.

 Section 3)  Rights and Responsibilities of the Teutonic Knight.

A Teutonic knight is a shining example of the christian chivalric ideal and must reflect this in their conduct on and off the list field.

 

2. They will be courteous at all times and will remain vigilant for any threats to the Faith, the One True Church and her allies.
3. A knight must maintain proficiency with his or her weapon of choice and will demonstrate such in at least three Battles
4. A knight must make every effort to take part in any military action in defense or service of the Faith.
5. A Knight may register legal heraldry with the collage of arms within 3 months of his knighting; this may be displayed as a partition of the Heraldry of the Order on a Capelet, Cloak or upon their shield.  The Order Herald must approve the heraldic submission.
6. A Knight must instruct others in the values of chivalry  by word and deed. This can be seen in the taking of squires and pages or in instruction at events of non chivalry based units.
7. While we are a Crusading Order, ours is not a Missionary role, but a Military Role. We represent the best of our faith upon the Battlefield and A knight shows the value of his or her faith based on their actions in that area.
8. A knight must show due respect to other knights and nobles, even in battle regardless of what banner they fight under. Light banter and the exchange of insults before battle are allowable as long as they are not vulgar.

 

 

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Section 4: Ranks and Symbols of office of the Teutonic Knights

Rank                           Addressed                                                      Symbol                                                                                              

Page	Page	Red Cord Necklace and basic Order Tabard
Squire	Squire	Red belt and silver chain around neck (with Basic Order Tabard)
Knight	Sir/Dame	White belt and silver chain with Full Order Surcoat
Knight Lieutenant	Worthy Sir	Blue belt and gold Chain
Knight Bannerette	Right Honorable Sir	Blue Belt, Gold Chain  and Heraldic Banner
Knight Commander	Honored Royal Sir	White Belt, Gold Chain, Gold trimmed banner