Written by an international team of historians and scholars with specialized knowledge of the medieval era and illustrated with sumptuous images ranging from manuscript illuminations and PreRaphaelite paintings to photographs of authentic armor, swords, and castles, plus maps and a timeline, this book is at once a detailed history of knights and a chronicle of their cultural creations and legacy. This vividly written and lavishly illustrated large hardcover reference volume describes the origins of knighthood, the training and lifestyles of knights, and the vital role these warriors played in medieval military campaigns. It also explains heraldry and the various military and honorific orders of knighthood, and examines the portrayal of knights and literature and art.

Dragons have figured prominently in the legends and folk tales of countless cultures. Thirty ready-to-color images of fire-breathing mythical creatures with batlike wings, scaly skin, and a barbed tail — among them a flying dragon with three heads; Quetzalcoatl, a legendary feather-covered serpent; the Leviathan, a sea monster of enormous proportions; the African amphisbaena, a beast with heads on both ends of its body; and a real dragon, the Komodo, one of the world's largest living reptiles.

This third volume in The Lymond Chronicles, the highly renowned series of historical novels takes place in 1551, when Francis Crawford of Lymond is dispatched to embattled Malta, to assist the Knights of Hospitallers in defending the island against the Turks. But shortly the swordsman and scholar discovers that the greatest threat to the Knights lies within their own ranks, where various factions vie secretly for master.

Foreword by Neil Gaiman The world’s leading Arthurian authority reimagines one of the most beloved and influential legends—the story of King Arthur and his Knights—for a new century in this gorgeous keepsake edition, illustrated with luminous full-color paintings and drawings by internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist John Howe. The stories of King Arthur and Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere, Galahad, Gawain, Tristan and the rest of the Knights of the Roundtable, and the search for the Holy Grail have been beloved for centuries and are the inspiration of many modern fantasy novels, films, and shows. These legends began when an obscure Celtic hero named Arthur stepped on to the stage of history sometime in the sixth century, generating a host of oral tales that would be inscribed some 900 years later by Thomas Malory in his classic Morte D’Arthur (The Death of Arthur). The Great Book of King Arthur brings these legends into the modern age, using accessible prose for contemporary readers for the first time. In addition to the stories in Morte D’Arthur, John Matthews includes many tales of Arthur and his knights either unknown to Malory or written in other languages, such as the story of Avenable, the girl brought up as a boy who becomes a famous knight; Morien, whose adventures are as fantastic and exciting as any found in Malory’s work; and a retelling of the life of Round Table favorite Gawain, from his strange birth to his upbringing among the poor to his ascension to the highest position—Emperor of Rome. In addition, there are some of the earliest tales of Arthur, deriving from the tradition of Celtic storytelling. The epic hero is represented in such powerful stories as “The Adventures of Eagle-boy” and “The Coming of Merlin,” which is based on the early medieval text Vita Merlini and tells a completely new version of the great enchanter’s story. The Great Book of King Arthur includes 15 full-color paintings and 25 pencil drawings.

Guibert of Ghent is only 7 years old when he arrives at his uncle's castle to become a knight and study chivalry. But learning the Ancient Code of Chivalry turns out to be a much harder and much more exciting lesson than he ever expected! Guibert's study of chivalry leads him into adventures involving a deadly encounter with wolves, helping a lady in distress, finding new friends and new enemies, fighting a nefarious political plot against his home, helping in a desperate woodland battle, and solving a mystery with roots stretching into the era of his Viking great-grandparents. Follow Guibert's adventures through the Ten Commandments of Chivalry in this character study of 22 lessons for your little knights. A story lesson alternates with a practical lesson about the specific commandment Guibert is learning, applying Christian principles to everyday situations. The lessons also contain questions to think about, memory verses, reproducible coloring pages, puzzles, crafts, and practical activities to make learning chivalry even more fun! Chivalry is still very much alive today. And that's because it is essentially a list of qualities to help people be better servants to God and their fellow man. It is codified Christian servanthood. It speaks into our broken, modern age in incredibly relevant ways, and it can help your child build a strong foundation for a vibrant life of Christian faithfulness. Those bold boys and girls who set off on the path of Ancient Code Chivalry will find a challenge: but they'll find it the path of real, Christian adventure, a path they'll never want to turn back from!

Twenty-six thrilling illustrations depict scenes from the immortal tales of Camelot. Captions accompany each vignette, recounting the quest for the Holy Grail and other deeds of the Knights of the Round Table.

Thirty-three illustrations bring the legend to life: clashing armies in full battle dress, Arthur and his miraculous sword Excalibur, Lancelot's battle with a fire-breathing dragon and more. Text included.