The accounts of chivalry that we have, the actual texts regarding the knight’s code, are from the romantic literature of the time. “ And on the institution of chivalry says “ a knight was expected to be a man of culture and poise as well as of honor and prowess.” But chivalry was more an ambition than an accomplishment it was an ideal that shaped the men of the society and, as Miner points out “ it had the effect of elevating and concretizing their civil righteousness.” Chivalry in Literature In his book “ The Compleat Gentleman” author Brad Miner notes: “ the Crusades (1095-1271) were probably the most important factor in the development of chivalry as a doctrine. He held himself and his fellow knights accountable. The knight would swear and his word was his bond. They swore to defend the crown and/or the church, to always be worthy of respect and honor, to fight with honor, defend the weak and the innocent, etc. Knights swore their allegiance, to serve king and country. There were no written rules governing the knight only the promises he made to the lord of the manner, to the king, or to the church. No Knight’s HandbookĬontrary to popular belief, there was no “Ye Old Knight’s Code of Chivalry.” No pocket edition the knights carried around with them and referred to in a given situation. I could just copy that code directly from the knight’s book of chivalry…Įxcept there was no book. That is to say, the knightly virtues that made up the Chivalric code. Continuing that theme, I want to talk a little about the knight’s code. If these paintings about knights have made you curious to see more depictions, you can explore our Pinterest boards dedicated to Knights or Knights Fighting Techniques.In a previous post, I spoke about my quest, a personal journey based on the ideals of Chivalry and Becoming a Chivalrous Leader. Miniature of Ladies Watching Knights Jousting, c.1410-c.1414. Despite all the dangers, especially for the younger knights, the tournament was an unmissable opportunity, and the chance for the men to obtain what they wanted most: fame and glory, a respected master and a rich woman. In the tournament, the knights proved their skill and courage to an enthusiastic audience. It served not only as entertainment, but as training for armed combat, and often resulted in injuries or even death. Rijksmuseum, Public DomainĪn important part of the chivalrous life was the tournament. Two Fighting Knights, Known as ‘Mort de Monseigneur le Duc de Clarence’ by Alfred Emile O'Hara de Nieuwerkerke, 1838. For those that were deemed eligible, there was a formal ceremony in which a sword was raised by the king, queen or another nobleman in recognition of their new status. Usually, descent from noble, chivalrous ancestors was required. Not everybody was able to become a knight, though. Once his training was complete and he reached the "fighting age", he became a full-fledged knight. First, a knight had to learn to use weapons and, most importantly, the skills of handling a horse in combat. The education of a future knight usually began at an early age. Tents and Mounted Knights by Jean Froissart, c.1470-1472. It was a rough and brutal time and even the knights did not always take their virtues seriously. In day-to-day life, however, ideals and reality were often far apart. We owe knights for this specific code of honour.īravery, loyalty, protection of the weak and the worship of women - all were major moral ideals in the Middle Ages. These values go back to the Middle Ages when the history of chivalry began. Even today, we talk about chivalry when a man is respectful, generous and above all helpful.
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