In ancient times an army of knights was a sight that could engender fear or relief depending on which side you were on. That was an era in which honor, piety, and service to king and country were considered the highest marks to which one could subscribe, and one’s deeds were backed by skills in swordsmanship and horsemanship. A knight of days gone by was a hero by definition.
In these modern times a knight is no longer defined only by deeds of war, but by what good he brings to the kingdom. Although some orders are of a militaristic nature, the majority of those brought into the various knightly orders are done so by the deeds that they do. People become knights for a variety of reasons, ranging from scientific discoveries to artistic accomplishments to saving the lives of others; in short, knighthoods are given out for a variety of reasons, but all are given out based on the good that they do.
In the medieval era becoming a knight was relatively straight-forward; one merely had to have the proper training and come from the right stock. Once the training was complete the potential knight had to swear proper fealty to a local lord, and serve in his armies. A knight was expected to follow the code of chivalry, even though not all did. Although non-nobles could become knights, such were rare and limited to those who had demonstrated valor beyond common measure.
In today’s world, there are no such easy roads. It’s a bit more complicated, and yet easier; after all, one doesn’t need rely on the vagaries of genetics and hope to receive the correct training. The title is still awarded mostly to men, although the number of women has slightly increased over the centuries. There are some titles that are given knighthoods, but those titles are rare (such as Prime Minister).
However, the ideal that potential knight must demonstrate an uncommon nature is still part of the nature of the title. The potential recipient must demonstrate not only excellence in some sphere of influence, but that the achievement is of worth to the country. Because of this artists, entertainers, and high-ranking soldiers are likely candidates as it’s easy to determine their worth. Scientists and entrepreneurs have also become more likely to become knights, as their skills have become more valued over the last century. However, judges and civil servants are awarded knighthoods most often, as they require some level of nobility in order to do their job and knighthood is the easiest way to award that nobility.
Nonetheless, each country that awards knighthood has some procedure to becoming a knight, even if that procedure is usually subjective and therefore creates a certain amount of controversy. Be advised that some countries allow their citizens to accept knighthoods, but with some red tape (an Act of Congress if required for Americans, for example). It is an honor that should be attempted by all, even if they don’t have a chance; the beliefs that make a true knight are worth following, even without reward.
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