Osprey - General Military - Knight - The Warrior and ... - Brego-weard

KNIGHT
A trebuchet being used
against the walls of a
town. (Bridgeman Art
Library)
120
seen, even kings like Richard the Lionheart might add their skill with a bow to the
besiegers' efforts). However, Joinville and Louis IX's brother the Count of Artois,
and their familiae, knights all, stood guard over the belfries at Damietta. As well-
equipped and well-trained warriors it was the knights who were at the forefront of the
action, leading the assaults and sallies. Even without their mounts they were still the
most effective combatants.
When the siege lines had settled down for the long haul the slower pace of the siege
might allow knights the opportunity for more chivalric endeavours. The chronicler
Froissart records a large number of pad d'armed taking place during sieges. Like
behourds, these were ad hoc small scale engagements, such as the daily outings of
Matilda's garrison out of Winchester to joust against Stephen's besieging knights, or
the joust fought by Bertrand du Guesclin against Guillaume de Blancbourc during
the siege of Rennes in 1347. Although fought a L'ontrance, they were more diversions
than battles.