Famous Knights of the Renaissance

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When we hear the word ‘knight’ we tend to think of medieval feudalism, landlords own the land and peasants work it. The knights had a primary duty to the king and would go off at a moment’s notice to serve in battle. His war outfit is quite distinct ‘ chain or plate mail, a helmet, a sword at his side, sometimes a shield and usually chased by hordes of adoring women. This image might have died out around the 15th century however there are a few notably exceptional names from the period where the medieval moved into the renaissance.

1. Henry Percy ‘Hotspur’

Henry Percy 'Hotspur'
Henry Percy ‘Hotspur’

The eldest son of Henry Percy, he is one of history’s most famous knights. Becoming discontent with his lot from King Henry IV (particularly the lack of wages following several notable victories in battle), Hotspur led his family in open rebellion against the Plantagenets and the two armies met for battle just outside of Shrewsbury. It was a disaster for Hotspur; he was killed during the battle and his armies fled, ending the rebellion immediately.

2. Zawisza Czarny

Zawisza Czarny
Zawisza Czarny

Poland’s most famous knight, in life he was known as ‘The Black Knight’ (which he acquired because of his signature black armour). He was both a soldier and a diplomat under King Wladyslaw II. Still held up today as the epitome of knightly virtues in Slavic literature, Czarny was a legendary sportsman too, taking part in jousts and sword fights. He died fighting against Ottoman Turks protecting his retreating men. It is not clear whether he died in the battle or was executed later by his captors.

3. Henry VII (King) of England

Henry VII (King) of England
Henry VII (King) of England

Perhaps as far as England is concerned, the last true knight at the end of a period of seemingly unending wars that had blighted England ‘ firstly in France with the Hundred Years War, and at home with the War of the Roses. After defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, he married Elizabeth of York and founded the Tudor line ‘ changing England forever and moving it toward being a real powerhouse in Europe. He was a great military leader and a fine statesman, demonstrating all of the required attributes of being a knight.

4. grippa d’Aubigné

Agrippa d'Aubigné
Agrippa d’Aubigné

A member of the French aristocracy and a great military leader, he also fancied himself as a poet and a writer. He is best known for assisting Henry IV (Of France) to the throne when he joined the Huguenot cause. When Henry became king, Agrippa left his service and retreated to tend his land. This isolation did not bode well when Henry was assassinated; in 1620 Agrippa fled France for Geneva and lived out the rest of his days there.

5. Ulrich von Jungingen

Ulrich von Jungingen
Ulrich von Jungingen

This man was the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights and an accomplished military leader. He was at its head at the order’s most noteworthy defeat to a combined Polish-Lithuanian army. He died alongside fifty of his fellow knights in a single battle and he alone is considered responsible for the outbreak of the war in the first place. Perhaps by definition, he was also responsible for the Order’s slow and painful end. Though he was not the last Grand Master, it would enter terminal decline thereafter.

6. François de Créquy

François de Créquy
François de Créquy

One of the latest chronologically on our list, Créquy was another French aristocrat who came from a long line of military men. The youngest son of King Charles II (of France), he fought in the Thirty Years War ‘ one of the longest and most complicated wars ever fought. In battle he was considered one of the most talented of the young officers. He quickly rose through the ranks to lead armies and even in old age he claimed several noteworthy victories.

7. Alvaro Obertos de Valeto

Alvaro Obertos de Valeto
Alvaro Obertos de Valeto

An Andalucian knight of the 15th century (but of Genoese ancestry), he is most notable for donating the land to the Carthusian Order to build a Charterhouse monastery at Jerez in Spain. Pious in life, in battle he was a distinguished military commander who fought alongside Fernando III and Alfonso X in capturing Seville and Jerez. His tomb is inside the monastery though the complex is no longer in the hands of the Carthusians.

8. Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam

Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam
Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam

One of the longest serving orders of knights was the Knights Hospitaller who, despite coming close to bankruptcy at the time the Templars were dissolved, had a long and successful period right across the Mediterranean. Philippe was elected to Grand Master in 1521 and is most remembered for commanding Hospitaller forces during the siege of Rhodes. Hopelessly outnumbered, he still managed to hold out for six months before the surrender and successfully negotiating for his men to leave for Malta.

9. Suero de Quiñones

The bridge over the Ã'œrbigo and the field of battle to its right
The bridge over the Ã’œrbigo and the field of battle to its right

A Leonese knight who was so famous that his exploits were mentioned in Don Quixote. He led a pretty uneventful life until he and a group of companions camped beneath a bridge for a whole month. While there, they challenged every passing Knight to a joust. Determined to stay until they had ‘broke 300 lances’, after 166 battles injury got the better of them and they declared their mission over.

10. Giovanni Paolo Lascaris

Giovanni Paolo Lascaris
Giovanni Paolo Lascaris

Though of Italian descent, he was elected to Grand Master of the Knights of Malta (renamed from Hospitaller) late on in life. Until that point he had been a monk and then an ambassador before chance permitted his election. His early career in Malta would see the building of massive fortifications around the island. In 1639 however, he would be petitioned to enter combat by Pope Urban VIII, something that the allies would resist. He did send ships but in the end the fleet would not fire a single shot.

Conclusion

Though our concept of knighthood remains stuck in the medieval period, in reality the idea lasted a few hundred years more ‘ until nations starting to consider the idea of a standing waged army and elsewhere, the last of the Orders were becoming irrelevant. As we see from this list, there are many individuals who can be considered like the Knights of earlier generations. War and the structure of armies may have changed by then but the philosophy of the knight at a shrewd diplomat and tactical genius continued.

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