<P> The institution of knights was already well - established by the 10th century . While the knight was essentially a title denoting a military office , the term could also be used for positions of higher nobility such as landholders . The higher nobles grant the vassals their portions of land ( fiefs ) in return for their loyalty , protection , and service . The nobles also provided their knights with necessities , such as lodging , food , armour , weapons , horses , and money . The knight generally held his lands by military tenure which was measured through military service that usually lasted 40 days a year . The military service was the quid pro quo for each knight 's fief . Vassals and lords could maintain any number of knights , although knights with more military experience were those most sought after . Thus , all petty nobles intending to become prosperous knights needed a great deal of military experience . A knight fighting under another 's banner was called a knight bachelor while a knight fighting under his own banner was a knight banneret . </P>
<P> The institution of knights was already well - established by the 10th century . While the knight was essentially a title denoting a military office , the term could also be used for positions of higher nobility such as landholders . The higher nobles grant the vassals their portions of land ( fiefs ) in return for their loyalty , protection , and service . The nobles also provided their knights with necessities , such as lodging , food , armour , weapons , horses , and money . The knight generally held his lands by military tenure which was measured through military service that usually lasted 40 days a year . The military service was the quid pro quo for each knight 's fief . Vassals and lords could maintain any number of knights , although knights with more military experience were those most sought after . Thus , all petty nobles intending to become prosperous knights needed a great deal of military experience . A knight fighting under another 's banner was called a knight bachelor while a knight fighting under his own banner was a knight banneret . </P>
term for a knight commanding troops under his flag
term for a knight commanding troops under his flag
knight banneret
knight banneret