Renaissance Stationery - Renaissance Faire Festival Party Invitations - Medieval Knight of Arms - Renaissance Wedding Invitations

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Renaissance Stationery and Renaissance Faire Festival Party Invitations.

Description: Knight of Arms Stationery is a coat of arms for all renaissance lovers. This design has a classic knights helmet with a hand axe and sword overtop a banner. In some ways it has a pirate/outlaw feel about it, which in my opinion fits more of the reality of the true nature of a knight as they had to be tough as nails and almost madmen to do what they did.

I designed this especially for all those who enjoy going to medieval renaissance faires and festivals. Today medieval renaissance faires and festivals have become very popular. When you go to a medieval renaissance faire or festival you can expect to find jugglers, magicians, people wearing medieval clothes, kings and queens, medieval arts and crafts, human chess, stage performances and more. Perhaps one of the best things at medieval renaissance faires and festivals is the Jousting Tournament! Here you will see people dressed in knights armor who then re-enact a real joust on horses.

Renaissance Knights History –

Renaissance knights were men who at one time were simply people in villages who took to arms to defend themselves. They performed heroic acts to defend their people. As these men became better at fighting they became well trained and were called renaissance knights to distinguish them from the average solider. One thing that sets a renaissance knight apart from a regular foot soldier is that they fought from horseback. Renaissance knights were cavalry troops. Renaissance knights were soon hired by kings and lords to defend them and so knighthood became a job unto itself and a means of income. In time a renaissance knight had to be a wealthy person as the cost of armor, horses, and equipment was very expensive. A man could only become a renaissance knight if they were the son of a renaissance knight or a brave solider in combat that the king knighted. Renaissance knights would serve about 40 days a year. In return renaissance knights swore loyalty to their king for land. Renaissance nights were also paid for their services when they served past their 40 days. The life of a renaissance knight was hard and deadly at times, however a renaissance knight could earn money, become a lord or king in time, and build castles and own land, which was worth the difficulties that came with the position.

It took many years to become a renaissance knight due to the extensive training of riding horses into battle and fighting from the top of a horse. Young boys would begin as a page which is an apprentice to become a renaissance knight. The son of a renaissance knight could begin training as early as the age of eight. They would start with basic chores like serving food and running errands. Later they would receive a formal education and learn to ride horses. At 14 they became a squire and would start learning to fight with swords and shields. By the time they turned 21 they were ready to be renaissance knights and were declared to be a renaissance knight if they had proven the ability to fight and protect as a renaissance knight should.

One of the most important parts of being a renaissance knight was the ability to ride a horse and fight, as that was the purpose of a renaissance knight. A renaissance knight on horse would be like a tank to a foot soldier in modern times. Since renaissance knights wore full armor they often had several horses. Renaissance knights would ride their lesser horses to the battle scene and then ride their strongest horse called a destrier into battle. Many believe that a renaissance knight's armor was extremely heavy, but actually a renaissance knights armor was very light. All renaissance knights would mount their horses by themselves and a good renaissance knight would not even use the stirrups. From horseback a renaissance knight would use swords, lances, battle-axes and maces against their foes.

Renaissance knights were to protect not only the king but the king's people as well and they were considered to be men of honor who stood for truth and protected the weak. Renaissance knights lived by a code of chivalry, which taught them to be honest, brave and well mannered to nobles and women. They swore allegiance to the king and God. Although there is some hypocrisy since renaissance knights went to war over land and wealth accumulation. Renaissance knights became noblemen and moved up in power as they married royalty, took land and property while ransoming captured renaissance knights and noblemen.

When renaissance knights were not at war they would keep their skills up by having a renaissance knight's medieval tournament where the renaissance knights would have mock battles and joust. Today we hold a Renaissance Faire or Renaissance Festival to re-enact those times. Renaissance knights fought for honor and for prizes. At first these medieval tournaments were friendly events, but they soon turned into heated competitions for glory. A renaissance knight won the tournament by knocking his opponent off their horse, capturing and disarming him. He would then hold the losing renaissance knights goods for ransom. Medieval tournaments were full on battles except that no one was supposed to die, although sometimes some renaissance knights were killed in the battles.