Chivalry in The Middle Ages

 What were some examples of chivalry?

Chivalry is a code of conduct to which knights aspired. The values of that code were the qualities praised in Sir Lancelot: courtesy, honor, defending the weak, and loyalty to one's lord. A few other characteristics of chivalry are prowess, justice, loyalty, defense, courage, faith, humility, largesse, nobility, and franchise. It is said that there is an "old code" by which knights lived by, but really there is no such code. Chivalry as a set of ideals and duties changed throughout the Middle Ages to meet new realities. Chivalry codes were changed around and switched depending on the king or ruler of the country, but the same ideas of honor and duty were there.

Who was expected to follow the standards of chivalry?

The ideals of chivalry were embodied in the literature of courtly love expressed in the songs of troubadours of unattainable love between a knight and a married woman of the aristocracy. In historical origins, chivalry was an important aspect of a broader cultural movement to moderate the violent tendencies of the early knight while maintaining them as fierce opponents of non-Christians. The Chivalric Code also helped in the creation of crusading orders. Militaries organized knights that played an important role in Medieval history.

What were some of the expectations of chivalry?

Some expectations of chivalry are: you always fight for your king; you at all times are to protect your king, and serve him through good and bad. You also have to be loyal and known for unwavering commitments for the people and ideals you go to live by.

What were some of the ideals that were emphasized in chivalry?

Some of the ideals represented by chivalry were the Knights of the Round Table and the fact that knights protected their kingdoms, served their king, and used might to uphold the weak. Chivalry was a code that made knights be heroes in times of danger when there were wars in the kingdom. A knight was obligated by chivalry to defend his king.  Women were also to be protected. Women were sometimes living in vulnerable conditions and a knight who followed chivalry was expected to come to a lady’s aid whenever it was required.

While it is difficult to find precise rules laid down for the conduct of a knight, it is clear that a code is recognized, even though, in the stern tests of day to day life, it was rarely, faithfully lived up to.   Amid all the treachery, greed, infidelity and cruelty there are to be found shining examples of courage, genteelness, understanding and mercy inspired by those rules that only a perfect man could live up to.  Following are two examples of a code of chivalry.

Code of Chivalry

Live to serve King and Country.

Live to defend Crown and Country and All it holds dear.

Live One's Life so that it is Worthy of Respect and Honour.

Live for Freedom, Justice, and All that is Good.

Never attack an Unarmed Foe.

Never Use a Weapon on an Opponent not equal to the Attack.

Never attack from behind.

Avoid Lying to your Fellow Man.

Avoid Cheating.

Avoid Torture.

Obey the Law of King, Country, and Chivalry.

Administer Justice.

Protect the Innocent.

Exhibit Self Control.

Show Respect to Authority.

Respect Ladies.

Exhibit Courage in Word and Deed.

Defend the Weak and Innocent.

Destroy Evil in All of its Monstrous Forms.

Crush the Monsters that Steal our Land and Rob our People.

Fight with Honour.

Avenge the Wronged.

Never abandon a Friend, Ally, or Noble Cause.

Fight for the Ideals of King, Country, and Chivalry.

Die with Valor.

Always keep One's Word of Honour.

The Ten Rules of Chivalry

1. Thou shalt follow the dictates of moral conscience.
2. Thou shalt be willing to defend your values.
3. Thou shalt have respect and pity for all weakness and steadfastness in defending them.
4. Thou shalt love thy country.

5. Thou shalt refuse to retreat before the enemy.
6. Thou shalt wage unceasing and merciless war against all that is evil.
7. Thou shalt obey the orders of those appointed above you, as long as those orders do not conflict with what you know to be just.
8. Thou shalt show loyalty to truth and to your pledged word.
9. Thou shalt be generous and giving of ones self.
10.Thou shalt be champion of the right and good at all times, and at all times oppose the forces of evil.

Among the many attempts to define the rules of chivalry, Lord Tennyson's was the shortest and neatest: "Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow Christ the King."

Codes of Chivalry include the following values: duty, honor, honesty, dedication, commitment, fidelity (loyalty), truth, courage, and kindness.

Write your own Code of Chivalry making sure it has at least 10 statements.  Do not just copy from the examples given.  Write your code of chivalry in today’s language.

Additional Web Sites:

King Arthur:

http://historymedren.about.com/cs/kingarthur/

Knights, Armour, Chivalry:

http://historymedren.about.com/cs/knightsarmor/

Medieval Life and History:

http://historymedren.about.com/cs/britishpeople/index.htm

Life in the Middle Ages:

http://www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/