Medieval Glossary

Esquire

In chivalry, the esquire was the shield-bearer or armour-bearer to the knight. Promoted from the rank of page at about the age of fourteen, esquires were further trained in knightly pursuits. The esquire was a candidate for the honor of knighthood, and thus stood to the knight in relation of a novice or an apprentice, performing any tasks that the knight might require. Typically, esquires were knighted at the age of 20-21. When fully equipped each knight was attended by two esquires. Also called a 'squire.'

Related term(s): Knight; Squire; Squire of the Body; Armiger; Damoiseau; Page
Category: Knighthood and Chivalry
Added: 09.04.04
Last modified: 08.05.05
Source information: Wilhelm, Thomas. A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer. Philadelphia: L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1881. 151; Wise, Terrence. Medieval Warfare. New York: Hastings House Publishers, Inc., 1976. 21.

Browse

Browse by medieval glossary category:
Agriculture (26)Architecture (19)Armour and Shields (130)Arts and Literature (4)Buildings, Goods, and Materials (35)Castles and Fortifications (148)Clothing (28)Dynasties and Groups (19)Eastern Christianity (3)Feudalism (41)Food and Drink (11)Government and Law (89)Heraldry (68)Islam (6)Knighthood and Chivalry (43)Military - General (108)Occupations and Positions (25)Places (5)Siege Weapons and Artillery (17)Society (71)Trade and Coinage (14)Troop Types (21)Universities and Education (7)Village, Town, and City (9)Weapons (88)Weights and Measures (50)Western Christianity (132)
*Numbers in parantheses indicate the number of terms in the medieval glossary category

List medieval glossary terms alphabetically:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Enter an exact medieval glossary term to look up: