Spurs“More than a hundred years passed from the first appearance of the wheel to the definitive disappearance of the spurs from the heel of our ancestors” (Lacy)Thinking back to the times of chivalry and the knight, it is not often that we forget of the existence of the spur and the true value it represents. The spur was one of the essential tools that a knight possessed as an equestrian. The spur was first introduced for the purpose of encouraging the horse, but as the Middle Ages approached the spur acquired its decorative aspects and took on a more romantic value for people. The spur became elaborate with beading and embroidery, patterned brass and gilded metals. The spur was essentially an emblem of Knighthood; Ceremonies “to win the spurs” placed spurs at the investiture of a knight, and were cut off on occasions of degradation (Lacy). The spur is a piece of metal that is attached to the heel via a strap usually made of leather. It is Y-shaped and pointed at the horse so the rider can attack it. In the beginning the spur was always attached with a strap, however with the evolution of the spur the strap no longer mattered. The spur also became increasingly elaborate during the Middle Ages, velvet straps, intricate designs and wheels making the spur more of a showpiece than a tool. Before the 13th century period the spur was that of the “sting” style, where basically it is just a point that pushes the horse. However, during the 14th century the “rotola” type spur gained popularity. This type of spur appeared to have a wheel at the end. In the early days, spurs were made of bone and wood, then later of bronze, brass or iron. The wheel spur was definitely the spur of choice in medieval times because it was so elaborate. It was first introduced in 1238 by the Frenchman Simon de Montfort, however it didn't catch on until 1285. Looking at the spur and how it relates to the chivalric time period. The most important spur to know is St. George's Spurs, or Kings Coronation Spurs. These spurs are part of a regular presentation with the Crown Jewels in the Tower, which are used during Sir Robert Vyner's coronation of the Sovereign.