"A New Flower of Knighthood'': Knighting Ceremony of Geoffrey le Bel, Count of Anjou

In the spring of 1128 Henry the Young King's paternal grandfather, young Geoffrey of Anjou, was about to get married. His father, Fulk V struck a deal with the king of England himself. Geoffrey, his heir, was the key point of this deal. As was Henry I's only surviving legitimite child, a daughter, Matilda. Geoffrey was fourteen at the time, Matilda twelve years older and a widow. Her first husband, Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V died three years before the described events, but she continued to style  herself ''the Empress'' (and she was to do so until her death in 1167). The match with the young count of Anjou certainly did not impress her, but she followed her father's wishes and became Geoffrey's reluctant wife. The dislike was mutual, but obedience to their fathers prevailed and the wedding was planned to be held at Le Mans. But before it came to this, Geoffrey had to be knighted. Following his future father-in-law wishes he travelled to Rouen to be knighted there. The ceremony was performed on 10 June, being Whitsun. 

It was described in meticulous detail by the author of the Chronicle of the Counts of Anjou and remains an invaluable source of information on the matter. 

I'm including the English translation of the original description (from The Plantagenets Chronicles, ed. dr Elizabeth Hallam, 2014)

So, on his father's command, the future son-in-law of the king of England set out for Rouen with five barons: Jacquelin of Maille, Robert of Semblancay, Hardouin of Saint-Mars. Robert of Blou, Paien of Clairevalle and fifteen of his contemporaries, accompanied by many knights. Rumour, ahead as ever, announced the arrival of the count's son to the king. Henry rejoiced at what was being said about Geoffrey's arrival and sent some of his more distinguished nobles as his representatives to lead the young man into the royal presence with due honour and attention.

Geoffrey entered the hall of the royal palace surrounded by his own men and the king's with a crowd of the common people standing around. The king, who was accustomed to stand for nobody, rose and went to meet him and, clasping him in an affectionate embrace, gave him a little kiss, as though he was his son. Then he took Geoffrey by the hand and bade him sit down with him. The king spoke of all manner of subjects to the young man, putting a great variety of problems to him to discover how wise his responses were during their private conversation. Geoffrey replied succintly but, as is the wont of the wise, he embelisshed his words with rhetoric known to few. The king, whose profound admiration grew at every moment, was delighted by the youth's sense and his replies and so the whole day was spent in rejoicing and exultation. As the next day was dawning, Geoffrey was prepared for his solemn bath, as custom demands of a young man about to become a knight. When the king learned from his chamberlains that the Angevin and those who had come with him had arisen from the ewer, he summond them to his presence. 

After cleansing his body, the noble offspring of the count of Anjou was wrapped in crisp linen, dressed in a ceremonial robe interwoven with gold  and covered with a cloak, dyed purple in the blood of oyster and murex. He was shod in silken shoes which has soles that were decorated with lion cubs. His comrades, who were expecting to receive the gift of knighthood with him, were likewise clothed in linene and purple. Checked out in such finery as I have described, the king of England's future son-in-law proceeded from a secret chamber into public view, accompanied by the assembled nobility of his country, bright like the flower of the lily and covered in red like a rose. 

The horses were drawn up, the arms brought, and distributed to each as was appropriate. To the Angevin, a Spanish horse was led, marvellously bedecked and reputed to outstrip many birds as it ran. Then the young man was fitted with a cuirass second to none, whose double layer of mail could be pierced by the blow of no lance or javelin, and with iron boots which were also reinforced with two thicknesses of compact mail, his feet were bound with gold spurs and a shield covered in gold motifs of lions was hung from his neck. On his head was placed a helmet, resplendent with many precious stones, which was of such a quality that it could be cut or destroyed by the blade of no sword, a  spear of ash lengthened with Poitevin iron was brought, very last of all, a sword from the royal treasury was carried out to him. It had been preserved from long before, when it had been carefully crafted by that master, Weyland. 

Armed thus, our young soldier, who was to be the new flower of knighthood, set forth on his horse, wonderfully fleet and poised, and graceful in his speed. What more? That day, dediocated to the honour and glory of the first campaign, was completely devoted to the practice of military games and to attending to the glory of the body. For no less than seven days, the magnificent celebration of the first campaign of knighthood continued at court. 

Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik