This bronze knight is riding his bronze horse into battle, wearing armor from the 1200s. His face is protected by a visor on his helmet, which is closed. So how can he see? He’s able to look through two narrow slits, and breathe through little holes in the visor. Now look at the shape of the saddle. It’s high in front and back—to help him stay on the horse. If you wanted to be a knight, you started training when you were about seven years old. First you served as a page in the castle of your lord, and learned how to ride and behave like a gentleman. When you were about 14, you became a squire. A squire assisted a knight, and learned how to use weapons like swords and lances. When you grew up, if you proved yourself worthy, you might be made a knight, and given the title “Sir.” Or sometimes a king gave the rank of knight to one of his soldiers on the battlefield, for service in war.