- See also Chivalric order
Bors' Dilemma - he chooses to save a maiden rather than his brother
Lionel
Chivalry[1] is a term related to the
medieval institution of knighthood. It is usually associated
with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and
courtly love. The word is derived from the French
word chevalier, indicating one who rides a horse (Fr. cheval), though the term has come to signify more than
this.
Origin
The terms originated in the early history of mounted "knight" (French: chevalier), which happened in France in the late
10th century. Knights possessed military training, a war horse and military equipment which required a substantial amount of
wealth and prestige to acquire.
Between the 11th century and 15th centuries Medieval writers often used the word chivalry, but its definition was never
consistent between authors, and its meaning would change on a regional basis, and even over time.[2] Further, its modern meanings are different from its medieval
meanings.[2] Thus, the exact meaning of
chivalry changes depending on the writer, the time period, and the region, so a comprehensive definition of the term is
elusive.[2]
Medieval written references
The term chivalry is very commonly found in medieval chronicles, vernacular literature and other written records, but its
meaning varies. It can refer to a company of mounted knights. It can mean the status of being a knight, either as an occupation
or as a social class. In legal documents, references to lands held in chivalry imply a type of land tenure in which military
services was owed, as in feudalism. In literary texts, such as The Song of Roland, chivalry means a worthy action on the battlefield.
From the 12th century onward chivalry came to be understood as a moral, religious and social code of knightly conduct. The
particulars of the code varied, but codes would emphasize the virtues of courage, honor, and service. Chivalry also came to refer
to an idealization of the life and manners of the knight at home in his castle and with his court.
Medieval knights glorified and identified with the valor, tactics and ideals of ancient Romans.[2] For example the ancient hand-book of warfare written by
Vegetius called De Re
Militari was translated into French in the 13th century as L'art de chevalerie by Jean de Meun. Later writers also drew from Vegetius such as Honore Bonet who wrote the 14th century
L'arbes des batailles, which discussed the morals and laws of war. In the 15th century Christine de Pizan combined themes from Vegetius, Bonet and Frontinus in Livre des faits d'armes
et de chevalerie.
History
Regardless of the diverse written definitions of chivalry, the medieval knightly class was adept at the art of war, trained in
fighting in armor, with horses, lances, swords and shields. Knights were taught to excel in the arms, to show courage, to be
gallant, loyal and to swear off cowardice and baseness.[2]
Related to chivalry was the practice of heraldry and its elaborate rules of displaying coats
of arms. When not fighting, chivalric knights typically resided in a castle or
fortified house, while some knights lived in the courts of kings, dukes and other great lords. The skills of the knight carried
over to peacetime activities such as the hunt and tournament.
Christianity had a modifying influence on the virtues of chivalry. The Peace and
Truce of God in the 10th century was one such example, with limits placed on knights to protect and honor the weaker
members of society and also help the church maintain peace. At the same time the church became more tolerant of war in the
defense of faith, espousing theories of the just war; and liturgies were introduced which blessed a knight's sword, and a bath of chivalric purification. In the 11th
century the concept of a "knight of Christ" (miles Christi) gained currency in France, Spain and Italy.[2] These concepts of "religious chivalry" were
further elaborated in the era of the Crusades, with the Crusades themselves often being seen as
a chivalrous enterprise.[2] Their ideas of
chivalry were also further influenced by Saladin, who was viewed as a chivalrous knight by
medieval Christian writers.
The relationship between knights and the nobility varied based on region. In France being dubbed a knight also bestowed noble
status. In Germany and the Low Countries, knights and the nobility were distinctly different classes. In England, the relations
between knights, nobles and land-owning gentry were complex.
In the later Middle Ages, wealthy merchants strove to adopt chivalric attitudes - the sons of the bourgeoisie were educated at
aristocratic courts where they were trained in the manners of the knightly class.[2] This was a democratization of chivalry, leading to a new genre called the
courtesy book, which were guides to the behavior of "gentlemen". Thus, the post-medieval
gentlemanly code of the value of a man's honor, respect for women, and a concern for those less fortunate, is directly derived
from earlier ideals of chivalry and the historical forces which created it.[2]
Modern debates
There are a number of questions historians debate related to chivalry. In his monumental study of Chivalry, The Broad-Stone of Honour, Kenelm Henry Digby
offered the following definition: "Chivalry is only a name for that general spirit or state of mind which disposes men to heroic
actions, and keeps them conversant with all that is beautiful and sublime in the intellectual and moral world."
It is still debated to what extent the exploits of notable knights such as Godfrey of
Bouillon, William Marshal and Bertrand du Guesclin set new standards of knightly behavior, or were reflections of existing models
of conduct. Were these men products of what they were taught, or did they create what it means to be the archetypal
knight?[2]
A common source of debate is, since knights bore arms, were the ranks of knights open to anyone who had the physical
requirements and skills, or was it restricted to those who were born into knightly families?[2]
Classifications in literature
When examining medieval literature, chivalry can be classified into three basic
but overlapping areas:
- Duties to countrymen and fellow Christians: this contains virtues such as mercy, courage, valor, fairness, protection of the
weak and the poor, and in the servant-hood of the knight to his lord. This also brings with it the idea of being willing to give
one’s life for another’s; whether he would be giving his life for a poor man or his lord.
- Duties to God: this would contain being faithful to God, protecting the innocent, being faithful to the church, being the
champion of good against evil, being generous and obeying God above the feudal lord.
- Duties to women: this is probably the most familiar aspect of chivalry. This would contain what is often called
courtly love, the idea that the knight is to serve a lady, and after her all other ladies.
Most especially in this category is a general gentleness and graciousness to all women.
These three areas obviously overlap quite frequently in chivalry, and are often indistinguishable.
Different weight given to different areas produced different strands of chivalry:
- warrior chivalry, in which a knight's chief duty is to his lord, as exemplified by Sir Gawain
in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle
- religious chivalry, in which a knight's chief duty is to protect the innocent and serve God, as exemplified by Sir
Galahad or Sir Percival in the Grail legends.
- courtly love chivalry, in which a knight's chief duty is to his own lady, and after her, all ladies, as exemplified by Sir
Lancelot in his love for Queen Guinevere or Sir
Tristan in his for Iseult
One particular similarity between all three of these categories is honor. Honor is the foundational and guiding principle of
chivalry. Thus, for the knight, honor would be one of the guides of action.
Chivalric codes
There were several lists written down during the Middle Ages. One example code can be found in the book Chivalry by
19th century French historian Leon Gautier:[3]
- Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.
- Thou shalt defend the Church.
- Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
- Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.
- Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
- Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.
- Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
- Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.
- Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to
everyone.
- Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.
Notes
See also
References
Bouchard, Constance Brittain. "Strong of Body, Brave and Noble: Chivalry and Society in Medieval France." ISBN 0801485487.
Cornell University Press, 1998.
External links
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