Knights of the Middle Ages Knights and foot soldiers had to be strong and good to handle the weapons and armor of the Middle Ages. Bows and arrows and long sticks with a blade on the end were the usual weapons of peasants (foot soldiers.) Knights preferred lances and swords and morning stars. Riding at a full gallop on a hoarse in the battlefield, a knight tried to knock his opponent to the ground with a 10-foot metal-tipped pole (lance.) On his feet a knight used his sword with a lot of strength and ability. The whole entire sword formed to what looked like the shape of a