====== Man at Arms ======
A **Man-at-Arms** (referring to nobles of all genders; some individuals may prefer Lady-at-Arms or Noble-at-Arms) is an armoured combatant who is a dependent of another armoured combatant. In many cases, Men-at-Arms fulfill the same role as a squire, as it is a personal relationship between the master and the Man-at-Arms. Some require fealty or service of their Men-at-Arms, while others view the relationship as a declaration of mutual inspiration. As with all such relationships, it varies.

Unlike [[squire|Squires]], who are exclusively dependents of a member of the [[awards:order_of_the_chivalry|Order of the Chivalry]], a Man-at-Arms can be taken by a fighter of any rank. In some lands, Men-at-Arms are often in the employ of a [[squire]], who is in turn in the employ of a [[knight]]. By the same token, there is a tradition with some Knights, who were never themselves taken as a Squire, to take Men-at-Arms instead. Yet other knights will take someone as a Man-at-Arms for a period of time as a trial run before squiring them.

If there can be said to be any consistent requirement for taking a man-at-arms, it is that the master should be a skilled enough fighter to be able to teach said Man-at-Arms in armoured combat - but even this is only a guideline.

===== Men at Arms in History =====
The term "man at arms" is used to describe professional soldiers of social standing less than a knight but above that of a levied man. They were generally part of the retinue of a lord or knight. 

===== Symbols =====
Men-at-Arms are marked by the wearing of a [[scaism:sumptuary_law|blue belt]].

===== See Also =====
  * [[people:men_at_arms:start|Men-at-Arms in Ealdormere]]