knights

Knights

Nothing symbolises the Middle Ages quite like a knight on horseback. The Middle Ages are much more than armoured figures on their warhorses. And yet knights are an undeniable part of the imagery of this period. This is demonstrated by the various insignia of knights from the museum collection.

Tournament knight

Tournaments were popular mass spectacles in the Middle Ages. They also took place occasionally in Ypres. The main market square was transformed into a tournament field, surrounded by temporary stands. Stalls sold souvenirs, tasty drinks and food to visitors. Miniature knights were also sold. They often looked just like the real tournament knights. They were dressed to the nines and sat proudly on horseback.

A knight on horseback. The two fish on the coat of arms probably made him identifiable in the Middle Ages (Ypres Museum, SM 005874)
A knight in full armour with coat of arms on shield, flag and ailette (Ypres Museum, SM 003212)

Heraldry

The shields, flags and ailettes (leather shoulder pieces) of the knights are decorated with their coats of arms. Heraldry is the system of coats of arms as a means of identification that developed during the 12th century. The shape and colour make it clear to spectators who is in the armour. For example, the coat of arms of Ypres shows a red double cross on a white background. The colour component is obviously omitted in the medium of insignia.

The insignia on the left shows a crossbow in the shape of a shield. The lack of colour in this coat of arms is cleverly solved. At the back, there are tabs between which a colourful background made of parchment, fabric or paper can be added. This makes the coat of arms very colourful after all.

A colourful background can be added to the back of this badge (Ypres Museum, SM 003221).

Urban culture

A knight in armour was a rare sight in the city, except when a tournament was taking place. However, you were likely to encounter a member of a marksmen's guild. Marksmen's guilds originated in the 14th century. They were local militias consisting of members of the wealthy bourgeoisie. Their role was to guarantee order and safety for the citizens, but they were also social clubs. The Guild of Saint Sebastian united the archers and the Guild of Saint George the crossbowmen.

Being a member of a marksmen's guild was often a matter of prestige, so it was important to show that you were a member. Could a crossbow insignia be a sign of membership of a St George's guild?

Badge of a crossbow (Ypres Museum, SM 005867)

Would you like to see more knights?

Description: An armoured knight sits on his horse. His shield depicts an eagle, a popular heraldic symbol. Period: 1325-1374 Technique/material: cast tin-lead alloy
Description: An armoured knight on horseback. His shield bears a lion, a popular heraldic symbol. Period: 1200-1500 Technique/material: cast tin-lead alloy
Description: Five men in a group. The central figure carries a sword, the other four a dagger. Are they townspeople, robbers or rebels? Period: 1325-1374 Technique/material: cast tin-lead alloy
Description: This is a miniature sword scabbard that was worn as a badge. The coat of arms shows a climbing, double-tailed lion. In heraldry, the lion is the symbol of courage. Initially, the sword scabbard contained a miniature sword. Unfortunately, this has not been preserved. Period: 1325-1374 Technique/material: cast tin-lead alloy
Description : Saint Georges terrassant le dragon avec sa lance. Le dragon symbolise le diable ou les infidèles. Georges est représenté comme un véritable chevalier. Le bouclier est remarquable. L'encoche indique qu'il s'agit d'un bouclier de tournoi et non d'un bouclier utilisé à la guerre. Saint Georges est donc avant tout le saint patron des guildes et confréries de tir. Il est possible que cet insigne soit un signe d'appartenance. Période : 1300-1349 Technique/matériau : alliage d'étain et de plomb coulé
Tournament helmet Description: This is a tournament helmet. The distinctive mark on the top is broken. A real feather could be placed in the helmet, at the top right. This was used to indicate who one was supporting during the tournament. Period: 1300-1350 Technique/material: cast tin and lead alloy
Description: A figure in armour carries a sword and shield. The crown suggests that this is a king, and the fleur-de-lis on the coat of arms points to France. Could this be the French monarch? Period: 1200-1500 Technique/material: cast tin-lead alloy
Description: Shield with a clawing lion facing left. The lion is a popular heraldic symbol. Period: 1200-1500 Technique/material: cast tin-lead alloy
Description: A knight sits on his horse in full armour. He holds a shield and lance in his hands. An “ailette” or shoulder piece is attached to his shoulder. The same coat of arms can be seen on each item: a lined cross. Period: Technique/material: cast tin-lead alloy