The Definitive Illustrated Book on Medieval Knights

Discover The Knight, Death and the Devil, the most comprehensive digital book ever created on the world of medieval chivalry. This 200-page digital manuscript transports you to the heart of the Middle Ages (12th–15th centuries) through more than 150 high-definition illustrations sourced from the world’s most prestigious libraries.

Illuminated Medieval Manuscripts: An Exceptional Collection

This book is based on the most precious illuminated manuscripts preserved at the National Library of France (BnF – Gallica), the British Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other major heritage institutions. Each medieval illumination has been digitized in high resolution to preserve the finest details: gold leaf, pigments, and facial expressions.

You will discover extremely rare excerpts from the Romance of Lancelot (BnF MS Fr. 112), the Book of Tournaments by René of Anjou, the Très Riches Heures of the Duke of Berry, and dozens of other medieval codices normally inaccessible to the general public.

Medieval Armor: From Chainmail to Plate Armor

Medieval armor underwent a spectacular evolution between the 12th and 15th centuries. This book documents that transformation through both technical and artistic illustrations:

• Chainmail (hauberk) worn by crusading knights
  
• The emergence of the first metal plates in the 13th century
  
• Full plate armor of the 15th century, a masterpiece of engineering
  
• Jousting armor specifically designed for tournaments
  
• Decorative armor of Renaissance princes and kings
  

Each type of knightly armor is presented with detailed diagrams, technical cross-sections from armorers’ manuals, and illuminations showing knights in action.

Medieval Weapons: Swords, Lances, and Legends

The medieval sword occupies a central place in this work. We explore:

• Legendary swords: Excalibur, Durandal, Joyeuse
  
• The technical evolution of the sword from the 12th to the 15th century
  
• Different types: longsword, bastard sword, thrusting swords
  
• The craftsmanship of blacksmiths and the religious symbolism of weapons
  
• Other knightly weapons: jousting lances, maces, flails
  

Medieval weapons were not merely instruments of war—they bore heraldic symbols, Latin inscriptions, and religious blessings. This book reveals that often-overlooked spiritual dimension.

Medieval Tournaments: Spectacle and Feats of Arms

Medieval tournaments were the most spectacular events of the Middle Ages. This dedicated chapter explores:

• Different types of tournaments: jousts, mêlées, pas d’armes
  
• The full course of a tournament, from the herald’s proclamation to the rewards
  
• Chivalric rules and the code of honor
  
• Accidents and the real violence behind courtly appearances
  
• The most famous historical tournaments on record
  

Illustrations from the Book of Tournaments by René of Anjou provide unique visual documentation of these competitions, which combined sport, politics, and spectacle.

Heraldry and Coats of Arms: The Language of Knights

Medieval heraldry is a complex system of signs and symbols. This book explains:

• Heraldic rules: metals, colors, and divisions
  
• How to read and understand a medieval coat of arms
  
• The arms of major European noble families
  
• The role of heralds of arms in tournaments and battles
  
• The evolution of heraldry from the 12th to the 15th century
  

More than 50 authentic, full-color coats of arms are reproduced with complete heraldic descriptions—a true guide to decoding knightly heraldry.

Arthurian Legends: The Grail and the Round Table

The Matter of Britain and the Arthurian legends shaped the medieval imagination. We explore:

• King Arthur and his court at Camelot
  
• The Knights of the Round Table: Lancelot, Percival, Galahad, Gawain
  
• The Quest for the Holy Grail, a central mystical symbol
  
• Merlin the Enchanter and his spells
  
• Manuscripts of the Arthurian cycle (Lancelot-Grail, Mort d’Arthur)
  

Illuminations from the Arthurian cycle held by the BnF and the British Library offer a vivid visual immersion into these foundational tales of chivalric culture.

Courtly Love: Poetry and the Chivalric Ideal

Courtly love is one of the most refined concepts of the Middle Ages. This book examines:

• The origins of courtly love among Provençal troubadours
  
• The service of love: the knight devoted to his lady
  
• Great courtly romances: Tristan and Iseult, Lancelot and Guinevere
  
• The poetry of the trouvères and its literary influence
  
• The code of conduct of the perfect courtly lover
  

Delicate miniatures illustrate scenes of seduction, love gardens, and courts of love where ladies judged amorous behavior.

Dragons and Demons: The Fantastic Bestiary

Medieval creatures populate the margins of manuscripts and the collective imagination:

• Saint Michael slaying the dragon, symbol of the triumph of good
  
• Saint George fighting to save the princess
  
• 
  Medieval dragons in bestiaries: wyverns, basilisks, amphipteres
  
• Demons in Christian iconography
  
• Representations of death: danse macabre, memento mori
  

The illustrations of fantastic creatures come from the most famous medieval bestiaries, offering a comprehensive panorama of the imaginary fauna of the Middle Ages.

A Book for Lovers of Medieval History

Whether you are:

• A student of medieval art history
  
• A historical reenactment enthusiast
  
• A medieval role-playing gamer (Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer)
  
• A lover of medieval literature
  
• A collector of history books
  
• An artist seeking inspiration in Gothic art
  

This book is made for you. Each chapter can be read independently, making this work a visual encyclopedia to consult according to your interests.

High-Definition Digital Format

The high-resolution PDF format (300 DPI) allows you to:

• Zoom in on illumination details without loss of quality
  
• Print pages in A4 format or larger
  
• Read comfortably on tablet, computer, or smartphone
  
• Search keywords in the complete index
  
• Annotate and highlight your favorite passages
  

The file is optimized for all devices and requires no special software—any PDF reader will do.

Verified Historical Sources

Unlike many popular books that rely on generic illustrations or low-quality reproductions, this book is based exclusively on authentic primary sources:

• Original manuscripts digitized by major institutions
  
• Precise attribution of each illustration (shelf mark, date, location)
  
• Complete bibliography of reference works consulted
  
• Historical glossary with academic definitions
  

This rigor makes the book both a reliable research tool and a beautiful volume to browse.

Why Choose a Digital Book on Medieval Knights?

Printed medieval art books usually cost between €50 and €150, often with only average-quality reproductions. This digital book offers:

✓ An affordable price for all budgets

✓ Superior image quality (native high resolution)

✓ Instant access with no shipping fees

✓ Free updates with new illustrations

✓ The ability to print only the pages you need

✓ An eco-friendly format (zero paper, zero transport)

In addition, you receive a bonus album of original medieval music, created specifically to accompany your reading.

Keywords and Themes Covered

This book is the ultimate resource for research on: medieval knights, medieval armor, illuminated manuscripts, tournaments and jousts, heraldry and coats of arms, Arthurian legends, King Arthur, the Round Table, the Holy Grail, legendary swords, medieval dragons, courtly love, troubadours, Gothic art, BnF illuminations, medieval bestiaries, chainmail, plate armor, 12th century, 13th century, 14th century, 15th century, chivalry, the chivalric code, crusades, the Hundred Years’ War.