The Paladins, also called the Twelve Peers, are twelve legendary knights, the foremost members of Charlemagne's court in the 8th century. They first appear in the medieval 12th century chanson de geste cycle of the Matter of France, where they play a similar role to the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian romance. The knight of the popular chessboard, was emblazoned on shields, flags & garments in the middle age, to represent the Paladin Knights. The horse icon on this bike was borrowed from the shield of a soldier in the army of Alexander The Great. Dedicated to my late brother Edward, who never saw the chance to ride a noble steed of his own. The magnificent backdrop is Yosemite in California.