gentleman , from Latin Caballarĭus, is a person what goes riding or what ride . Since, in ancient times, the person riding a horse belonged to a certain social class, the concept acquired various connotations and meanings.
In the Middle Ages , the cavalry was a armed institution that served a king or at feudal power . The knights, therefore, were warriors who rode horses and carried weapons such as spears or swords. For example: “The knights of King Eduardo approach the people”, "An enemy knight killed the prince", "I won't let my daughter marry a gentleman in Bath".
Knights used to receive land or money as compensation at your service. Usually the gentleman was a noble which began as a page and squire and then was promoted by his superiors to knight. Upon reaching this rank, he should swear allegiance and promised to be courteous and brave. The gentleman, therefore, had to respect a code of conduct .
Throughout history there have been many gentlemen who have played a fundamental role in it. Thus, for example, we could highlight the Knights Templar who, as their name suggests, belonged to the Order of the Temple, military and Christian.
The role of those was to protect the lives of all Christians who, from Europe, decided to travel to the Holy Land, to Jerusalem. For approximately two centuries, these knights performed this work from its foundation in 1118, although the Order was not approved by the Catholic Church until 1129.
The great military preparation of these men as well as their bravery were two of the main characteristics that identified them. However, at the image level they were clearly recognized for wearing a white cape on which a red pate cross was represented.
Nor can we ignore other gentlemen of great relevance. We are referring to those who made up the mythical round table of King Arthur. They are the protagonists of a medieval legend that established the creation of an order of cavalry of Brittany that was founded by the monarch, once he took possession of the throne and founded what would be the kingdom of Camelot.
The fact that this table was made up of the most distinguished gentlemen of the time as well as that it was round so that no one was established as a leader are two of the singularities of this legend.
By extension, the notion of knight began to be used in reference to the person of nobility , which boasts its courtesy and solidarity : “Juan is a true gentleman: he always brings me flowers and chocolates and opens the car door for me”, "I'm sorry Miguel is so little gentleman", “I like that men are still gentlemen and treat women as ladies”.
Knight is also a courtesy term to refer to a man , in what supposes a use similar to the term sir: “Excuse me gentleman, but this table is reserved”, "Gentleman, how can I help you?", “Approach the gentleman who is sitting next to Marta and ask if she wants to drink something”.
