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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 2003-07 > 1057446315
From:
Subject: Re: It's A Question of Title
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2003 19:05:32 EDT
Debbi,
>
> In an effort to get all of my ducks in a row, I need to know some things
> about titles. During the middle ages,
>
> 1) Was the title "Sir" used only for knights? If a man is identified as Sir
> So-and-So does that automatically mean he was a knight, or could his title
> have been something else?
>
No, it is also a title sometimes used for priests
> 2) If he has the letters KG after his name, does that always mean Knight of
> the Garter or could it mean other things?
Always Knight of the Garter
>
> 3) If he was a knight, was he necessarily a "Knight of the **** Order" or
> could he just have been a knight without belonging to a particular group or
> order?
>
Most were knights bachelors and in official documents would usually be
written as "Sir xxxxx kt", but often the kt is omitted. When appropriate KG is more
likely to be stated being more prestigious title than a knights bachelor
> 4) Did the title of "sir" given to a knight, automatically pass to his
> sons?
>
No, knighthood is not hereditary
> 5) Is there a list accessible to someone in the south Louisiana swamps
> (me!)
> that would help me verify that these gents were truly entitled to be called
> "sir?" I can order books from the ILL at our local library, but my language
> skills are limited to English, a smidgen of Spanish, and I'm picking up
> Cajun English (not the usual language of the middle ages, I'm sure!!!!!)
> Anyway I'd need it in English.
>
_The Knights of England_ by W.A.Shaw (two vols) is good for later periods,
but before around 1500 is far from complete. There is a CD available called
_Knights of Edward I_ which seems v good to me for this reign, but I don't know
if it is complete. This CD can be obtained from Archive CD Books Ltd - their
CDs usually cost around 15 UK pounds (about $25 I guess)
Adrian
> Thank you so much for your help.
>
> Debbi
> My life changes so often I'd better have my epitaph etched in sand.
>
>
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