Knights and knighthood in Tudor England

• Main Author: Leonard, Harry
• Published: Queen Mary, University of London 1970
• Subjects: 942; History
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.308271

The first chapters of this thesis attempt to isolate the factors responsible for the making of a Tudor 1aiigt. Birth (noble and gentle), education, wealth, conrtexiona, reli&.on, activity in royal service, war, and the general auninons to take up knighthood are all surveyed and, together with an analysis of the fluctuating numbers of knights throughout the century, provide material f a discussion of royal attitudes towards the honour, Dubbing ceremonies and the occasions deemed suitable are next described and a discussion of the aigniticance of the ceremonies for both crown and subject is undertaken. Finally, a study of the work of knights as members of parliament, justices of the peace, sheriffs and deputy lieutenants seeks to determine whether knights had taken up new duties to replace the moribund military ones, and a brief conclusion suggests how and wby knighthood was transformed during the century to survive the decline of feudalism and chivalry.