Squire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In feudal times a squire was a man-at-arms in the service of a knight, often as his apprentice.
[edit] Squire in various European languages
The English word squire comes from the Old French escuier (modern French écuyer), itself derived from the Late Latin scutarius ("shield bearer"). The Classical Latin equivalent was armiger, 'arms bearer'.
A squire was originally a young man who aspired to the rank of knighthood and who, as part of his development to that end, served an existing knight as his attendant or shield carrier (hence the name). However, during the middle ages the rank of esquire came to be recognized in its own right and, once knighthood ceased to be conferred by any but the monarch, it was no longer to be assumed that a squire would in due course progress to be a knight. The connection between a squire and any particular knight also ceased to exist, as did any shield carrying duties.
An Esquire or Squire then became nothing more than the holder of a certain social rank or status.
| Language | Title |
|---|---|
| Croatian | štitonoša (lit. "shield-bearer") |
| Czech | panoš, zeman |
| Dutch | schildknaap, jonker |
| French | écuyer |
| German | Knappe, Junker, see also "Gerok" |
| Greek | πυργοδεσπώτης (pyrgodespotes — lit. "shield-master") |
| Italian | scudiero |
| Macedonian | штитоносец (lit. "shield-bearer") |
| Polish | giermek |
| Portuguese | escudeiro |
| Spanish | escudero |
| Latin | scutarius, armiger (see above) |
| Russian | сквайр, оружено́сец (lit. “arms-bearer”) |
| Finnish | knaapi, asemies |
| Swedish | knape, väpnare |
[edit] Present status
In an English village since the 17th century and possibly to this day, the squire was the person of pre-eminent social position in the community by virtue of being the principal landowner. Squires were gentlemen with a coat of arms and were often related to peers. Many could claim descent from knights and had been settled in their estates for hundreds of years. The squire more often than not lived at the village manor house, and owned an estate in or comprising the village with the villagers being his tenants. If the squire owned the living (was patron) of the parish church—and he often was— he would choose the rector which role might often be filled by a younger son of the squire. Some squires also became the local rector themselves and were known as squarsons - a combination of the words squire and parson. The squire would also have performed a number of important local duties in particular that of justice of the peace or MP. Politically, during the 19th century squires tended to be Tories whereas the greatest landlords tended to be Whigs.
The position of squire was traditionally associated with occupation of the manor house which would often itself confer the dignity of squire. Acceptance is today more likely to be dependent upon a recognition of good manners, lineage and long family association than upon acreage, which, while relevant, is nowadays likely to be considerably smaller than in former years due to high post-war death duties and the prohibitive costs associated with maintaining large country houses which forced many squires to break up and sell their estates. The position is today less recognised but in many communities, where the family remains in occupation of the manor house, the tradition continues.
The term Squire comes from Esquire, a title of gentility immediately above that of Gentleman and can be conferred by the Crown through the College of Arms, or through certain appointments (e.g. legal or military) or through family descent (the helmet displayed on a coat of arms distinguishes Esquire from Gentleman). The title is placed at the end of the name, abbreviated to Esq., and is used in place of the style for a Gentleman, that of "Mr". Traditionally, it was a senior title to that of "Mr" but this distinction, though technically extant, is often overlooked today and both titles are often used indiscriminately.
In the United States, attorneys often style themselves "Esq" borrowing from the English tradition whereby all barristers-at-law were styled Esquires (solicitors were only entitled to the style "Mr").
In Scotland, whilst Esquires and Gentleman are technically correctly used at the Court of the Lord Lyon, the title Laird, in place of Squire, is more common. Moreover, in Scotland Lairds append their territorial designation to their names as was traditionally done on the continent of Europe (e.g. Donald Cameron of Lochiel). The territorial designation fell into disuse in England early on, save for peers of the realm.
[edit] Squires in literature
The most famous squire, albeit as a caricature, in world literature is probably the babbling Sancho Panza. In English literature, people usually remember Squire Trelawney. Trelawney, one of the many literary creations of Robert Louis Stevenson, is a Cornish squire who protects young Jim Hawkins from the murderous pirates who are seeking his treasure map, and helps him engage a crew to sail to Treasure Island. Another Squire in literature is Squire Hamley in Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters. There are numerous squires in English literature, too many to mention.
