[Nathan Quarantillo]

The accolade was heavily influenced by the church, with priests often presiding over a mass or so, or in the Knighting itself.
What were some of the blessings and prayers or things a priest would say during a knighting ceremony?

All help is appreciated, thanks.
-Nathan Quarantillo

[Jack W. Englund]

Nathan, Interesting ???

Here are some thoughts -
1. If a "priest" was presiding most likely the Knighthood would/is one conveyed by a Catholic Order.
a. Today the Pope still Knights.
b. The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. + others still Knight.
c. In the past the the Templers +++
( see here - http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/main2.htm )
This may help - http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/572/902

2. If a "non Catholic Order", then although a priest may/or may have said a blessing, but the actual "knighthood" most likely would be conveyed by the secular "authority"

Jack

[Nathan Quarantillo]

I shouldn't post whilst in a rush.
Are there any available prayers or blessings specifically said by a priest for a newly-knighted knight?

[Jack W. Englund]

[Lin Robinson]

I am not aware that priests knighted anyone. That, I thought, was the duty of the head of state. At least the "font of honor" for knighthood has been the head of state for centuries. There were almost certainly religious leaders at the ceremonies of knighthood (investitures) and I would think they might have read scripture and lead prayers but as far as making a man a knight, I don't think so.

[Dan Howard]

He would have read from the Book of Armaments, Chapter Two, verses Nine to Twenty-one.

[Iagoba Ferreira]

The most of the knightings I have read accounts of there was no mention of a priest...they were done just before a battle...

One thing is Raimond Llull descriptions of how he would like to be the ceremony (full of religious simbolism and significance) and whats really done, but the actual descriptions are scarce.

Anyway, check Raimond Llull' s writtings, as they are probably what you are searching for.

There is a book on the subject, limited to Castilla:
Porro Girardi, Nelly R., La investidura de armas en Castilla. Del Rey Sabio a los Catolicos

[Nathan Quarantillo]

In my second post I tried clearing it up. Not the priest Knighting someone, but what prayers would he say for or during the ceremony, or blessings, anointing with holy water, ect

Jack, Thank you, that's a nice bit of what I was looking for

Dan, brilliant! I must read up on this!

[Blaz Berlec]

Knighting ceremonies vary in time and in space. The most informative book I have found "Oboroženi stan srednjeveške družbe na Slovenskem na osnovi materialnih virov. Primer: meči" by Nabergoj Tomaz, a book in Slovene language. There is very extensive bibliography on knighting ceremonies, but most of the works are in German (and old).

Religious elements in knighting ceremonies grew with time as the event became more elaborate. If the knighting ceremony wasn't done in a hurry on the battlefield there was always blessing of the new knight and his weapons, wows to defend the church etc... Tha prayers and ceremony even remained in official payer book of Catholic church (Pontificale Romanorum) until the Second Vatican Council in 1962. I can post the bibliography if anyone is interested, but I will not translate the texts from the book which contains prayers and ceremony in Latin and in Slovene in many forms, from French, English but mostly German sources (since Slovene lands were under Holy Roman Empire).

Oh, I found a thread where I (and others) posted more info on prayers and blessings:

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=19465

[Dan Howard]

[William P]

my personal favorite....

"Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help!
I'm being repressed!"