Knapsack. A bag of canvas or skin, containing a soldier’s necessaries, and worn suspended by straps between his shoulders. Those used in the British army are ordinarily of black painted canvas, but a new sort of knapsack, called the valise equipment, has been issued to some regiments. Some other nations, as the Swiss, make them of thick goat-skin, dressed with the hair on.
Knight. From the Saxon cniht, a servant or attendant, was originally a man-at-arms bound to the performance of certain duties, among others to attend his sovereign or feudal superior on horseback in time of war. The institution of knighthood, as conferred by investiture, and with certain oaths and ceremonies, arose gradually throughout Europe as an adjunct of the feudal system. The character of the knight was at once military and religious; the defense of the Holy Sepulchre and the protection of pilgrims being the objects to which, in early times of the institution, he especially devoted himself The system of knight-service introduced into England by William the Conqueror empowered the king, or even a superior lord who was a subject, to compel every holder of a certain extent of land, called a knight’s fee, to become a member of the knightly order; his investiture being accounted proof that he possessed the requisite knightly arms, and was sufficiently trained in their use. After the long war between France and England, it became the practice for the sovereign to receive money compensations from subjects who were unwilling to receive knighthood, a system out of which grew a series of grievances, leading eventually to the total abolition of knight-service in the reign of Charles II. Since the abolition of knight-service, knighthood has been conferred, without any regard to property, as a mark of the sovereign’s esteem, or a reward for services of any kind, civil or military. The ceremonies practiced in conferring knighthood have varied at different periods. In general, some religious ceremonies were performed, the sword and spurs were bound on the candidate; after which a blow was dealt him on the cheek or shoulder, as the last affront which he was to receive unrequited. He then took an oath to protect the distressed, maintain right against might, and never by word or deed to stain his character as a knight and a Christian. A knight might be degraded for the infringement of any part of his oath, in which case his spurs were chopped off with a hatchet, his sword was broken, his escutcheon reversed, and some religious observances were added, during which each piece of armor was taken off in succession, and cast from the recreant knight. For the different orders of knighthood, see separate articles, under their appropriate headings, in this work.
Knight, To. To dub or create a knight, which in modern times is done by the sovereign, who gives the person kneeling a blow with a sword, and says, “Rise, Sir ——.”
Knight Baronet, or Baronet. A dignity or degree of honor next below a baron and above a knight, having precedency of all orders of knights except those of the garter, and being the only knighthood that is hereditary. The order was founded by James I. in 1611, and is given by patent. The word, however, in the sense of lesser baron, was in use long before the time of James I.
Knightage. The body of knights taken collectively.
Knight-bachelor. One of the lowest order of knights, who were expected to remain unmarried until they had gained some renown by their achievements.
Knight-banneret. A knight who carried a banner, who possessed fiefs to a greater amount than the knight-bachelor, and who was obliged to serve in war with a greater number of attendants. He was created by the sovereign in person on the field of battle.
Knight-errant. A wandering knight; a knight who traveled in search of adventures, for the purpose of exhibiting military skill, prowess, and generosity.
Knight-errantry. The practice of wandering in quest of adventures; the manners of wandering knights; a quixotic or romantic adventure or scheme.
Knight-erratic. Pertaining to knight-errantry.