Landed knight

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A landed knight is a knight that takes residence in a keep with accompanying land. They have their own peasants and men-at-arms and may take sworn swords.

Landed knights are not lords,[1] and there are many more of the former; House Osgrey once had a score of lesser lordlings and a hundred landed knights as vassals,[2] and House Manderly claims a dozen lords and hundred landed knights as bannermen.[3] Landed knights are members of nobility; they sent girls to the Maiden's Day Cattle Show,[4] but normally are too low in rank to marry into great houses.[5] While the wealthiest knights manage more land than the poorest lords, landed knights do not have the authority to deliver justice in their land, the right of pit and gallows. Rather, they must appeal to their liege lord.[6][2] Landed knights are sworn to fight for the lord who holds dominion over their land.

Some landed knights are more powerful than smaller lordlings. These knights are usually of ancient houses, with extensive lands, and strong castles. Their status is often reflected by taking a style that incorporates the name of their castle, such as Symond Templeton being the "Knight of Ninestars". A landed knight has less prestige and is outranked by lords at feasts and tourneys, nonetheless,[7] and marrying a highborn woman like Brienne of Tarth would be a great achievement for one.[8]

According to a semi-canon source, "masters" in the north are similar to southron landed knights.[9]

Examples

References