Knights. Illustrated Atlas

Röv pipes, rusting horses, roar hoofs, clang swords and combat cligs tearing rural silence. Plumes on helmets and bright flags arise from the impending clouds of dust, raised by the knights of the knights of the knights with a spear. The weapons of terrible warriors in the sun rays sparkle, they flutter on the wind of the raincoats, shields are decorated with images of discontinued predatory beaks or tempered heraldic eagles, dragons, lions ... such represents many historical films and adventure novels of Fearless Warriors Middle Ages - knights. But were there such a terrible knights really? And was the life of medieval people so romantic, what is it painted in artistic works?
I must say, everything was somewhat more complicated. Initially, the knights were ordinary armed riders, at the sight of which hiking warriors threw in a shiver. Equestrian warrior has huge benefits: it is higher, faster and stronger than his hiking opponent. In the XI-XII centuries, the knights turned into a leading class of a medieval society