Chevalier was the medieval French title commonly used for a knight or armored horseman.
The term comes from the Old French chevalier, derived from cheval, meaning horse. It therefore connected the social identity of the knight with mounted service. In medieval French-speaking societies, a chevalier was a member of the warrior class who had been admitted to knighthood and was expected to follow military and social obligations associated with that status.
The title appears frequently in chronicles, romances, legal documents, and records of military campaigns. It could identify a knight without implying that he was a duke, count, or other high-ranking noble. Some chevaliers possessed substantial land and wealth, while others served more powerful lords.
Chevalier is sometimes translated simply as “gentleman,” but that can obscure its medieval military meaning. Modern French uses the word in broader contexts, including honors and personal names, so historical context matters when interpreting it.