Knights and Samurai: What Are the Differences?

During the Middle Ages in Europe and Japan, knights and samurai were both key military forces in their societies and enjoyed high social standing. However, you might wonder why samurai and knights had notable differences in their origins, social status, combat techniques, and values. Let's explore this in our article.

Origins and Social Status

Knights: The knightly system emerged in medieval Europe as part of the noble hierarchy. A knight's title was not inherited; it had to be earned through personal merit and loyalty to a lord. While most knights were nobles, being noble was not a strict requirement for becoming a knight. During the Middle Ages, knights held a very high status, with even kings and lesser nobles aspiring to achieve knighthood. As firearms and artillery became more common, the role of knights in warfare declined, leading to a decrease in their status. Eventually, knighthood transformed into more of an honorary title rather than a practical military position.
Samurai: The origins of the samurai in Japan were more intricate. Initially, they were simply retainers or warriors serving the aristocracy and the imperial court, holding a relatively low status and often looked down upon by court nobles. It wasn't until the Taira clan gained power that the samurai class began to acquire political influence. Later, Minamoto no Yoritomo overthrew the Taira and established the shogunate, positioning samurai as the ruling class of Japan. However, despite wielding real power, samurai were still regarded as socially inferior to the court aristocracy (kuge). Even the ruling shoguns sought to enhance their status by obtaining court ranks or marrying into noble families.

Combat Methods and Military Culture

Knights: Knights primarily depended on land ownership for their income and formed the backbone of heavy cavalry units. They utilized long lances during cavalry charges and switched to swords or war hammers for close-quarters combat. Knights were effective both while mounted and on foot.
Samurai: Samurai were mainly supported by their lords through stipends rather than land ownership. Their combat approach often involved riding to the battlefield but dismounting to engage in combat, making them resemble mounted infantry more than traditional cavalry. Samurai primarily wielded katanas, spears, and longbows, and they were generally more open to using ranged weapons compared to knights.

Captivity and Loyalty

Knights: If a knight was captured during battle, they could typically be ransomed and released, and being taken captive did not carry a significant stigma.
Samurai: In contrast, samurai placed immense value on honor and loyalty. Being captured was seen as a profound disgrace, and many would opt for seppuku (ritual suicide) rather than endure the humiliation of capture. Even in battle, samurai sometimes chose to commit ritual suicide upon their lord’s death as a testament to their loyalty, a practice that was not observed among knights.

Ethics and Beliefs

Knights: Knights were deeply influenced by Christianity and were expected to be devout followers. They adhered to the code of chivalry, which highlighted virtues like mercy, the protection of the innocent, and humility.
Samurai: The Samurai enjoyed greater religious freedom, with many practicing Buddhism or Shintoism, though no specific faith was mandated. Their moral code focused on martial skill and strict discipline. In contrast to knights, samurai could be quite ruthless, following the Bushido code, which prioritized absolute loyalty to their lords and encouraged them to use any means necessary to achieve their objectives.

Honor and Actual Power

Knights: In medieval Europe, knights wielded military power and enjoyed significant social prestige, possessing both real authority and honorable status.
Samurai: During the shogunate, samurai held genuine political power but were socially subordinate to the aristocracy (kuge). High-ranking samurai often sought noble titles or marriage alliances to elevate their status. For instance, Toyotomi Hideyoshi tried to become the adopted son of an aristocratic family to gain legitimacy, while Tokugawa shoguns frequently married into noble or imperial families.

Conclusion
Both knights and samurai were pivotal in their respective histories. However, at their height, knights possessed both real power and high social standing, whereas samurai, despite having political control, were still eclipsed by the traditional aristocracy in terms of prestige. Therefore, knights enjoyed both "real authority" and "honor," while samurai had power but did not receive the same level of social recognition.