In theMiddle Ages, asquire was theshield- orarmour-bearer of aknight.[1] He was responsible for taking care of the horse and arms of the knight. Other duties included carving the knight's meat. Despite being a servant, it was a high status job and could serve as training for future knights.[2] Many squires were hired servants with no known pedigree.[3]
Use of the term evolved over time. Initially, a squire could be a knight's servant that fought with his lord. It could also refer to sub-knightly Men-at-Arms and was used interchangeably with valet. Over time it referred to a broad social class of men, just below the rank of knight.[4] Eventually, alord of the manor might come to be known as a "squire".
Squire is a shortened version of the wordesquire, from theAnglo-Frenchesquier itself meaning ("shield bearer").[5] Other terms includescutifer and the Latinarmiger ("arms bearer").[6]
The duties of a squire was to take care of the knight’s armor, ensuring it was well-maintained, cleaned, and ready for battle. This also included helping the knight put on his armor. The squire was also responsible for grooming and saddling the knight’s horses. Squires would accompany their knights into battle. Additionally, a squire would serve his lord by making his bed and waiting on him during meals. A lord with multiple squires would give each squire a specific role such assquire of the chamber.[7]
A squire was typically a young boy, training to become a knight. A boy became apage at the age of 7, then a squire at age 14.[8][9] Squires were the second step to becoming a knight, after having served as a page.[10] Boys served a knight as an attendant, doing simple but important tasks such as saddling a horse or caring for the knight's weapons and armour.[11] Many squires were hired servants with no known pedigree.[3]
While many squires were young men who would eventually become knights, others were of too low a rank to become a knight. These squires often still owned amanor. Some squires who were capable of becoming knights remained squires, resulting in two classes of landholding squires. A third class of squire were squires based on employment, their lord providing their military equipment. All three classes were official recognized by the tax law of 1379[12][13]
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