"Best Knight?" Topic

Which historical figure best represents the Age of Chivalry?

Henry II of England.

Sir John Chandos

Sir Elton John. No just kidding.

James Butler, 12th Earl of Ormond.

Bayard

William Marshal

Bertrand du Guesclin. Pretty impressive resume.

Charlie Bassett

Lancelot.

If you look for a representant of the best in medieval times, then my candidate is the stupor mundi:

Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

Multilingual, multicultural. Leading one of the two crusades that actually gained Jerusalem, by negotiation. Patron of science and arts, and what better recommandation can you get then being excommunicated four times …

If you look for a shining knightly exemplar showing the proper military prowess, then there are other candidates.

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.
Representing the very best of English aristocracy

I'll second William the Marshal.

William Marshal for me too.

Best Knight; William Marshal, without a doubt.

Which historical figure best represents the Age of Chivalry though, is really a different question; and the answer is Edward III.

Or Robert the Bruce. Henry de Bohun would agree. ;)

5th on William the Marshal

Another vote for William Marshall as the best knight.

Sir James Douglas.

Simon de Montfort

I go with the Chevalier Bayard

Another for Bayard

Hard to beat William Marshal.

Is Roland allowed?

James Douglas and Robert the Bruce get my vote! Hard to beat the accomplishments of that duo!

William Marshal

Edward of Woodstock, the Black Prince, deserves mention:

"A knight of great courage standing near the experience to despair of defeating so mnany men, and exclaimed: 'Ah, we're beaten!' The prince, trusting in Christ and His mother the Virgin Mary, answered: 'You're a liar and a fool! How can you say we're beaten wile I'm still alive?'"

From Geoffrey le Baker: the Chronicle

His father Edward III also should make the field.

Both, like all great knights, were defined as much by their failings as there noble deeds.

We should assemble a field of nominees and then resolve the issue by a playoff. Points for battles won, deeds of arms, chivalerous acts. Points off for the inverse.

TomT

Montfort

Black Prince

Hotspur

Yet another vote for Willy M

John of Bohemia

link

..for all that he was nigh blind, when he understood the order of the battle, he said to them about him: 'Where is the lord Charles my son?' His men said: 'Sir, we cannot tell; we think he be fighting.' Then he said: 'Sirs, ye are my men, my companions and friends in this journey: I require you bring me so far forward, that I may strike one stroke with my sword.' They said they would do his commandment, and to the intent that they should not lose him in the press, they tied all their reins of their bridles each to other and set the king before to accomplish his desire, and so they went on their enemies. The lord Charles of Bohemia his son, who wrote himself king of Almaine and bare the arms, he came in good order to the battle; but when he saw that the matter went awry on their party, he departed, I cannot tell you which way. The king his father was so far forward that he strake a stroke with his sword, yea and more than four, and fought valiantly and so did his company; and they adventured themselves so forward, that they were there all slain, and the next day they were found in the place about the king, and all their horses tied each to other.

Giles D'Argentan…..courageous and daft in equal measure; what's not to like about that?