The traditional 'knight in shining armour' has become a staple figure in popular culture and the images of bloody battlefields, bustling feasting halls and courtly tournaments have been shown time and again in film and fiction. But what was the knight truly like? From the post-Norman knights of King John's reign to the last knights who defended the Tudor court of Elizabeth I, the world of the English medieval knight, and their involvement in politics and warfare, was complex and ever-changing. In this richly illustrated book, Christopher Gravett, an authority on medieval military history, describes how the knight evolved over four centuries of English and European history, the battles they fought, their lives both in peacetime and on campaign, their weapons, armour and clothing, and the fascinating code and mythology of chivalry.