A Knight's Tale - Plot

Plot

In 14th century Europe, squires William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), Roland (Mark Addy), and Wat (Alan Tudyk), discover their master, Sir Ector (Nick Brimble), has died with one final pass to complete to win a jousting tournament. Destitute, William wears Ector's armor to impersonate him, win the tournament, and secure the prize. Although only nobles are allowed in tournaments, William is now inspired to compete and win more prizes. Roland and Wat would rather take their share of the winnings and leave, but William convinces them to stay and train him to joust.

Along the way to his first tournament in Rouen, the trio encounters Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany), who is also destitute and agrees to forge the patent of nobility that will allow William to enter under the assumed name of "Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein" from Gelderland. At the tournament, William is brought before Simon the Summoner and Peter the Pardoner. Chaucer has a gambling problem and is in their debt, but William orders him released and promises payment.

In the course of competition, William's armour is damaged. He goads Kate (Laura Fraser), a female blacksmith, to repair it without advance payment and goes on to win the sword event at the tournament. In the joust, he faces a Sir Thomas Colville (James Purefoy), who withdraws from the tournament after being injured by William, though they exchange a ceremonial pass so that Colville might retain the honor of never having failed to complete a match. The proceedings are observed by Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon), a noble lady whom William has become infatuated with, and Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), a rival both in the joust and for Jocelyn's heart. In the final joust of the tournament, William is defeated by Adhemar. Kate joins William's party and forges new lightweight armour allowing him greater mobility.

In the following tournament, Adhemar and William are both assigned to tilt against Sir Thomas Colville, but they learn that he is actually Edward, the Black Prince. Adhemar withdraws, but William continues the match, further earning Edward's respect. William continues to achieve victories as Adhemar is called to the battlefield. He proves his love for Jocelyn by complying when she first asks him to deliberately lose (in contrast to the countless knights who promise to win tournaments in her name), and then, just before he would be eliminated, to win the tournament in her name after all.

The group travels to London for the World Championship. William recalls leaving his father to squire for Sir Ector and learn to become a knight hoping to "change his stars". Adhemar has also arrived in London and announces that he is in negotiations with Jocelyn's father for her hand in marriage. William dominates at the tournament and he returns to visit his father, now blind and living alone in Cheapside, but is discovered by Adhemar, who alerts the authorities as to William's false identity. William is placed in the stocks but is defended from the hostile crowd by his friends. Just as the mob reaches its frenzy, Prince Edward emerges from the crowd. He declares that William is in fact descended from a noble lineage and knights him "Sir William."

William returns to the tournament to face Adhemar in the final match, but Adhemar cheats with an illegal sharpened lance, piercing William's shoulder and seriously injuring him. Entering the final pass, William is losing by two lances. He demands to be stripped of his armour and tilts against Adhemar. With Jocelyn and William's father in attendance, William bellows his true name and knocks Adhemar to the ground with a crushing blow to win the tournament. In the ensuing celebration, as Jocelyn and William embrace, Chaucer remarks that he should write this whole story down.