Did Medieval Knights Experience Trauma Similar to PTSD?

PTSD and its historical analogs have long been a subject of debate among experts. Although I am not a psychologist, I bring 30 years of military experience, a personal history of dealing with PTSD, and a deep study of medieval history, bringing a unique perspective to this complex topic.

Understanding Modern PTSD

Modern Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) manifests in individuals who experience extreme stress, often due to traumatic events. For those who serve in combat, this can include witnessing or experiencing extreme danger, significant physical harm, or even the loss of colleagues. In the context of medieval times, the prevalence of such traumatic experiences was indeed high.

The Experience of Combat in the Middle Ages

Our research over a four-year period on returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan revealed that Combat Arms units returning from combat zones had a higher rate of medical issues but a lower rate of behavioral health issues than non-combat units. However, the Support units deployed to combat zones experienced the opposite, with lower rates of medical issues but higher rates of behavioral health issues.

Upon closer examination, the only plausible explanation was the mindset versus the circumstance. Combat Arms units expected danger as part of their daily life, but Support units had unexpected and undesirable exposure to danger, highlighting the mental preparedness and resilience of some units. This difference in expected trauma greatly influenced the psychological response.

Knights, similarly, grew up in a world where trauma was an integral part of daily existence. Their training involved experiencing pain and fear through activities such as hunting, which was both a pastime and a form of war preparation. The constant and expected exposure to traumatic and dangerous situations meant that knights were well-prepared to deal with psychological trauma.

Chaucer's Knight and PTSD

Geoffrey Chaucer’s knight in "The Canterbury Tales" possibilities show signs of PTSD. Given the traumas faced by knights, it is plausible that he would display similar symptoms. However, the conditions of life in the Middle Ages, where death and bloodshed were common, made it challenging to pinpoint whether specific symptoms were due to post-traumatic stress or simply part of a society accustomed to such normality.

The Concept of Shell Shock

Shell shock is a historical term for a condition now recognized as PTSD, but the concept does not apply directly to medieval times. Unlike modern PTSD, which can persist for years after a traumatic event, shell shock was associated with extremely dangerous and stressful conditions, such as those experienced in World War I, where the last known victim died in 1952. In medieval times, the conditions for shell shock did not exist due to the nature of warfare and society.

Medieval knights, despite their rigorous training and exposure to trauma, likely developed various coping mechanisms that would serve them well in combat. The high levels of trauma they faced were an expected and almost daily occurrence, rather than the unexpected and extreme conditions that characterized modern PTSD.

Conclusion

While medieval knights faced significant trauma, their environment and training made them resilient against the specific conditions that lead to modern PTSD. Understanding the unique historical context is crucial to grasping the nature of trauma in both medieval and modern times. Whether medieval knights experienced a form of PTSD akin to the modern condition remains a subject of scholarly debate and reflection.