Medieval Boats: Knights And Their Seafaring Vessels

Knights were closely associated with horsemanship and mounted combat, and this is reflected in the etymology of the term 'chivalry', which is derived from the French word 'chevalier', meaning 'horseman' or 'mounted soldier'. In fact, the concept of knighthood may have been inspired by the ancient Greek hippeis and Roman equites. As such, the type of boat used by knights was one that could accommodate their horses. During the Fourth Crusade, for example, Venetian ships were used to transport knights and their horses. These ships had specially designed slings to carry the horses, and doors below the waterline that allowed a fully armed and mounted knight to charge directly into battle.

Knights' boats had to be big enough to transport horses

Knights were closely associated with horsemanship, and their boats had to be big enough to transport their horses. In the 1204 attacks on Constantinople, for example, the Venetian fleet that transported the knights included horse transports with specially designed slings to carry the horses. Once the ship drew close to the shore, a door below the waterline could be opened to allow a fully armed and mounted knight to charge directly into battle.

The horses were likely covered in cloth coats (called caparisons) in their rider's colours, and signs on the bridles would show who their riders were.

In the Early Middle Ages in Western Christian Europe, knighthood was conferred upon mounted warriors. The older Carolingian ceremony of presenting a young man with weapons influenced the emergence of knighthood ceremonies, in which a noble would be ritually given weapons and declared a knight, usually amid festivities.

Knights' horses were also armoured in later periods; besides caparisons, other armour for horses included facial armouring chanfron and nose guards.

Knights' boats were used to launch surprise attacks

The ships were also used to transport knights, pilgrims, and supplies, including horses, to the Crusader states. These ships were often rented, and the Templars, in particular, rented ships to transport new knights, pilgrims, and supplies to Outremer. The Templars also owned a handful of oared warfighting galleys and at least four merchant/fighting caravels or cogs. These ships were used in the fleet that besieged the sea tower and city of Damietta on the Nile in 1217.

The Templars' reputation in battle was one of fanatical bravery, and they fought as voluntary divisions in the armies of the king and princes of Outremer. Their symbol was two knights riding on one horse, to emphasise their monastic rule that required poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Knights' boats were often rented

The Knights Templar did own a handful of oared warfighting galleys and at least four merchant/fighting caravels or cogs. A Templar church in San Bevignate, Italy, has a fresco that depicts the stern and mast of a Templar caravel. Templar warfighting galleys and caravels were part of the fleet that besieged the sea tower and city of Damietta on the Nile in 1217.

The Templars' pirate, Roger de Flor, captained a Templar-owned vessel called the Falcon. De Flor was the protégé and first mate to a Templar lay-brother sergeant called Brother Vassayll, one of the few ship captains permanently employed by the Templars to transport goods to Outremer. De Flor was brilliant at seamanship, leadership, and fighting, and he rose to captain the Falcon, becoming highly successful at transporting, trading, and, especially, raiding. Unfortunately, he gave in to greed and kept a large part of the profits for himself, and he was ordered to be seized. However, he escaped from the ship at Marseilles and went on to found the notorious mercenary "Catalan Company".

Knights' boats were used to transport pilgrims

The ships rented by the Templars were generally "caravels," similar to the cogs of northern Europe, but with flush hull planks and lateen sails. However, the Templars also owned a handful of oared war galleys and at least four merchant/fighting caravels or cogs. Templar ships took part in the 13th-century Siege of Damietta, where they fought against the Saracens defending the city.

The Fourth Crusade also saw the use of knight landing ships, which allowed fully armed and mounted knights to charge directly into battle from the ship. These ships had specially designed slings to carry the horses and a door below the waterline that could be opened when the ship drew close to the shore.

In addition to their military and protective roles, knights were also expected to display courtesy and chivalry. They were afforded comfortable surroundings when taken as prisoners of war and were customarily held for ransom.

Knights' boats were used to transport goods

In addition to the Templars, other knights and military orders also made use of boats and ships for transportation and warfare. During the Fourth Crusade, the Venetians closed their commercial operations for a year to build and equip a fleet that included troop carriers, horse transports, and battle galleys. The horse transports were specially designed to carry mounted knights, who could charge directly into battle once the ship drew close to the shore. This innovative use of ships by knights demonstrates their importance as a means of transportation and military power projection during the medieval period.

Overall, knights' boats played a crucial role in transporting goods, people, and horses, as well as engaging in naval battles during the Crusades and other military campaigns.

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