Page vs. Squire — What's the Difference?

In medieval European societies, a page typically started their training at a young age, around 7, in a noble household, tasked with basic duties like serving at tables and attending important ceremonies. Whereas, a squire began their role at a later stage, usually in their early teens, and their responsibilities were more centered around assisting a knight directly in various capacities, including care of armor and weapons.

A page's education was primarily focused on learning courtly manners, etiquette, and sometimes basic literacy, which prepared them for various roles within the royal court. On the other hand, squires were trained rigorously in the art of warfare, horsemanship, and the code of chivalry, essential for their eventual knighthood.

The role of a page was often seen as a preparatory stage before becoming a squire. Pages worked in safer, more stable environments like castles or manors. Conversely, squires often followed their knight into battles and on journeys, experiencing the harsh realities of medieval warfare and diplomacy firsthand.

While pages wore less distinctive clothing, mainly the attire suitable for court appearance and service, squires often donned armor or practiced with weapons, making their attire more functional for their duties and training.

Socially, both roles were stepping stones to higher statuses within the feudal system. However, the progression from page to squire to knight was a more structured and formalized path toward knighthood, whereas pages could sometimes transition into other courtly or administrative positions if they did not continue on to become squires.