# How does one become a knight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 1, 2000, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389 "2000-01-01T19:24:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2000, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/1 "2000-01-01T19:24:00Z")
Howdy. My 11 year-old son, the bottomless question pit, wants to know how a person becomes knighted. I found your topic about becoming an “Esquire” enlightening, [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mesquire.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mesquire.html) but, unfortunately, I do not have a copy of the book you referenced. Well, to tell the truth, I’m lazy. I’d rather you do the work, than me make a trip to the library. Besides, I already owe too much on overdue books. * * * I have edited this post to include a link to the Mailbag article being referenced. – CKDH [Note: This message has been edited by CKDextHavn] ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2000, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/2 "2000-01-01T21:24:00Z")
Are we talking British knight? Or perhaps just a general knight errant? I think you should buy your son a copy of “Don Quixote”, have him read it, and then have him pattern his life accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/3 "2000-01-01T22:20:00Z")
For a general history, try the online Britannica. If the following link fails [http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,46858+1,00.html](http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,46858+1,00.html) go to [http://www.britannica.com/](http://www.britannica.com/) and search for _knight_. If you still have questions, bring 'em back and we’ll give them a try. * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/4 "2000-01-01T23:08:00Z")
**mmcoy** , you and/or your son may also wish to view the webpage on [Knighthood and Orders of Chivalry](http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/) and its subsidiary pages. It also includes a bibliography and a set of links to other web resources. * * * “Kings die, and leave their crowns to their sons. Shmuel HaKatan took all the treasures in the world, and went away.” ---
**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/5 "2000-01-01T23:10:00Z")
Drat, I seem to have made some error in that post. In any case, view [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/](http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/) for more information on the subject, including a bibliography and set of links to other resources. * * * “Kings die, and leave their crowns to their sons. Shmuel HaKatan took all the treasures in the world, and went away.” ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2000, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/6 "2000-01-01T23:14:00Z")
Does this topic relate to a mailbag column? If so, please provide a link. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/7 "2000-01-03T13:50:00Z")
I have edited the OP to include the link to the column mentioned. Frankly, this question is so remote from the Mailbag column that I think it would be better posted in GENERAL QUESTIONS, but I ain’t gonna bother at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/8 "2000-01-04T00:59:00Z")
Well, if your son wants, he can join DeMolay at the age of 13 (I believe that’s the minimum (you can check [http://www.demolay.org](http://www.demolay.org) )) and then at the age of 17, he can join their Knighthood. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2000, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-knight/1389/9 "2000-01-07T02:24:00Z")
Find this little green guy with pointed ears on a swamp planet. Ask him to teach you the ways of the Force. Works for me… * * * “Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.”----Jung