Knight of the shire facts for kids

A Knight of the shire (which means soldier of the county in Latin) was a special name for a member of parliament (MP) in the British Parliament. These MPs represented large areas called counties (or shires) from the Middle Ages until 1885. Other MPs had different titles, like burgess for towns or baron for special port towns. Knights of the shire were seen as more important than burgesses. Sometimes, burgesses would try to become knights of the shire to gain more respect in Parliament.

The name "knight of the shire" first meant that the person had to be a real knight. Even until the 1800s, official papers still called them "belted knights." But by the 1300s, people who weren't knights were often chosen. A law made by King Henry VI said that those who could be elected were knights or "notable esquires and gentlemen" who were rich enough to be knights. It also said that yeomen (farmers who owned land) or people of lower rank could not be knights of the shire.

From 1265, each county usually sent two knights to Parliament. This stayed the same until 1826, when Yorkshire got two extra knights. After the Great Reform Act of 1832, bigger counties could send more knights. In 1885, the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 changed things again. Each county was split into smaller areas, and each area sent only one MP. This made county MPs and town MPs much more similar.

Today, the term "knight of the shire" is sometimes used in a joking way. It describes older, senior MPs from the Conservative Party who represent countryside areas in England and Wales.

Early Parliament: The Middle Ages

The idea of the English Parliament started with a "Great Council." This was a group of important people, including nobles, church leaders, and two knights from each county. They advised the king. In 1264, this council grew to include representatives from towns, called burgesses. All members had to be elected. By 1295, this group, known as the Model Parliament, gained the power to make laws.

In 1341, King Edward III split Parliament into two parts, just like it is today. These parts are the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In 1376, the House of Commons chose Sir Peter de la Mare to speak for them. He complained to the Lords about high taxes and asked for an explanation of how the king was spending money. He also criticized the king's military decisions. Even though de la Mare was put in prison for this, many people saw how important it was for the Commons to have one voice. So, the job of Speaker of the House of Commons was created. De la Mare was released after King Edward III died and became Speaker again in 1377.

Before 1430, many people could vote for knights of the shire. Historians believe that most free householders who lived in the county could vote. But Parliament decided to make a new law about who could vote. The Act of 1430 said that elections had become too crowded with people of low status. To fix this, the law limited voting to people who owned land worth 40 shillings. This was called a "forty-shilling freehold."

The Parliament of England made this new voting rule in the Electors of Knights of the Shires Act 1429. Another law in 1432 made it even clearer. It said that a person had to live in the county and own land worth 40 shillings in that specific county to be able to vote there. Over time, many different types of property were counted as a "forty-shilling freehold." Eventually, the rule about living in the county was removed.

Changes and Reforms

Until the Great Reform Act of 1832, most counties still sent two knights. The only exception was Yorkshire, which started sending four knights in 1826. How these knights were chosen changed over time and varied from county to county. The 1832 Act increased the number of knights sent by some counties with large populations to as many as six.

The Term Today

The term "knight of the shire" became old-fashioned after 1885. This was because counties were split into smaller areas, and more people were allowed to vote. The term quickly disappeared during the 1900s when talking about Members of Parliament who represented county areas. This was because they no longer represented an entire county.

Sometimes, the term is still used by journalists. It describes older MPs, usually from the Conservative Party, who have served a long time and represent rural areas. They often have a knighthood.

See also

• House of Commons of England
• Parliament of Scotland
• Knights of Buckinghamshire