Norman Knighthood

The institution of knighthood within Norman society represented a complex hierarchy of service, land tenure, and loyalty. Knights were not a uniform class but rather divided into several categories, distinguished by their relationship to their liege lord or lady, their degree of dependence, and the resources available to them.

While some knights were essentially retainers, dependent on their masters for sustenance and pay, others possessed their own estates and exercised considerable influence over the peasantry and armed men within their holdings. The two most significant categories of Norman knights were the épée lige and the chevalier fieffé, though within these groups further distinctions could be made, such as bouclier lige and chevaliers de la maison.

Épée Lige

An épée lige (literally sworn sword) was a knight who dedicated zir services to a master or mistress in exchange for material support. Typically, this arrangement included food, shelter, and money provided by the lord or lady, in return for military service during times of conflict.

Nobles often employed large numbers of épées liges on a temporary basis during campaigns. These knights formed an essential part of the noble’s retinue, bolstering military strength without requiring long-term commitment. Once the campaign concluded and the noble had no further need for such a large force, the épées liges were dismissed. Upon dismissal, they reverted to the role of chevaliers errant, or wandering knights, who sought new patrons or opportunities for employment.

Bouclier Lige

Among the épées liges, a special role was reserved for those who acted as personal protectors. These knights were known as boucliers liges, meaning sworn shield in the Norman–Walsch language. Their primary responsibility was to guard the body of their master or mistress, and they were often selected for their loyalty and martial skill. The bouclier lige embodied the intimate bond between knight and lord, serving not only as a soldier but as a symbol of fealty and trust.

Chevaliers de la Maison

Some épées liges attained a permanent role within the household of their noble employer. In the Storish dialect, such retainers were referred to as chevaliers de la maison, or household knights. Unlike their wandering counterparts, chevaliers de la maison were maintained year-round and became fixtures within the noble household.

Because of their stable position, household knights were able to build careers of prestige and authority. Some rose to important offices such as master-at-arms, responsible for training soldiers and squires; captain of the guard, commanding the defense of the noble’s estate; or even castellan, entrusted with the management of castles in the absence of their lord or lady.

Chevalier Fieffé

A chevalier fieffé was a knight distinguished by residence within a keep and control over associated lands. Unlike the épée lige, who depended upon a noble for subsistence, the chevalier fieffé enjoyed a degree of independence, supported by peasants who worked the land and men-at-arms who served as retainers.

Chevaliers fieffés could themselves take on épées liges, thereby replicating on a smaller scale the system of military obligation that bound nobles and knights. In this way, they acted as both vassals to their liege lord and as lords in their own right over their households and retainers.

Despite their relative wealth and local power, chevaliers fieffés lacked certain rights enjoyed by nobles. In particular, they had no authority to dispense justice within their territories. Any legal disputes or punishments required appeal to their liege, demonstrating the limits of their autonomy.

Wealth and Status

The fortunes of chevaliers fieffés varied considerably. The wealthiest among them managed estates larger and more prosperous than those of some minor nobles. Such knights wielded influence far beyond their formal rank, shaping the economic and military fortunes of their regions. At the other end of the spectrum, poorer chevaliers fieffés controlled little more than a modest keep and a few acres of farmland, living closer to the condition of a prosperous peasant than that of a landed aristocrat.

Role in Norman Society

Together, épées liges and chevaliers fieffés formed the backbone of Norman military society. Nobles depended upon these classes of knights to staff their armies, defend their estates, and provide loyal service in times of war and peace. Knights without land—especially wandering chevaliers errant—relied on the system for patronage and survival, while landed chevaliers fieffés embodied the aspirations of martial service tied to property and prestige.

The distinctions between these categories reflected broader themes of loyalty, hierarchy, and obligation that defined Norman feudal culture.

The knighthood was disbanded after the collapse of Stormark in 1685 AN. The existing knights then split into smaller factions and subsequently began to lose their existing territories. In 1744 AN, Theodoric van Orton re-established the Normandie, but the duties of knighthood were restricted. Military affairs were added to the Normandokarum Fyrd, but knighthoods were still awarded for meritorious deeds. Especially for the pro wrestlers at the Norman Wrestling Company.