Knights = nobles. For a variety of reasons: #1 - Few people could afford to be knights. read more
the knights were always soo good at building and the nobles used their building skills to kill them and take their slaves. read more
Knights were vassals rewarded for military skill by nobles; Knights were pious militant followers titled by the Church; Knights were made nobles, via inherited title, not necessarily for military skill; Knighthood becomes a paid title, with no relationship to the military. read more
Knights and nobles would provide protection for serfs and other classes in exchange for labor and production. relationship between king and noble king grants land to noble. read more