The term chivalry is well known, but its historic meaning varies. It has had many recorded uses. It has referred to a company of mounted knights. It has designated the status of being a knight, either as an occupation or as a social class. It has been used as a legal term, references to lands held in chivalry imply a type of ownership in which military service was owed, as in feudalism. In literary texts, such as The Song of Roland, chivalry meant a worthy action on the battlefield.
The Age of Chivalry was the age of the horse. The Knight was a mounted warrior and his power on the battlefield came from the speed and crushing power of his charger. That the horse should be featured so prominently during the Age of Chivalry is etymologically appropriate, because the word chivalry is from the Latin word caballus, “horse, especially a riding horse or packhorse.” Borrowed from French, as were so many other important words having to do with medieval English culture.
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 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.
The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry
From Chivalry by Leon Gautier
- Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.
- Thou shalt defend the Church.
- Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
- Thou shalt love the country in the 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.
The chief chivalric virtues were piety, honor, valor, courtesy, chastity, and loyalty. The knight’s loyalty was due to the spiritual master, God; to the temporal master, the suzerain; and to the mistress of the heart, his sworn love. Love, in the chivalrous sense, was largely platonic; as a rule, only a virgin or another man’s wife could be the chosen object of chivalrous love. With the cult of the Virgin Mary, the relegation of noblewomen to a pedestal reached its highest expression.
In practice, chivalric conduct was never free from corruption, increasingly evident in the later Middle Ages. Courtly love often deteriorated into promiscuity and adultery and pious militance into barbarous warfare. Moreover, the chivalric duties were not owed to those outside the bounds of feudal obligation. The outward trappings of chivalry and knighthood declined in the 15th cent., by which time wars were fought for victory and individual valor was irrelevant.
However as I have pointed out in previous posts, the historic reality should not prevent one from gleaning something worthwhile from ancient warrior codes. The value in these codes is found in the effort and ideal of living up to an honorable ideal. We can only do the best we can where the rubber meets the road.
Refrences:
Wikipedia:Chivalry
The Code of Chivalry
Answers.com
December 9, 2008 at 4:45 am
Historically, the image of the chivalric knight seems to be nothing more than a public relations campaign that had its peak impact in France under the rule of Charlemagne. He not only celebrated Chivalry, but claimed to be an extention of the Roman Empire. Both were more than likely political maneuverings to appear socially superior compared to the rest of Europe as he attempted to reclaim lands lost by the Romans and earlier empires.
The versions of the Arthurian Legends that we know today were created during this time due to Charlemagne’s patronage. He wanted to create an entire culture based on Chivalry that even had inspirational/moral tales. But, since stories of Greco-Roman Gods were out of the question, he commisioned stories about Arthur and his knights as they epitomized Christian morallity and the struggle of upholding that standard in an uncivilized world.
I don’t write this to undermine your post, Tom. I’m agreeing with you on the point that Chivalry probably did not exist in practice as much as it did in spirit. I don’t see anything wrong with taking a part of that spirit into our world.
Think about all the ‘talk talk’ about Patriotism and Citizenship that gets tossed around by Politicians. I’d bet dollars to donuts that most politicians are career men/women who do care about what they do and the people they serve, but don’t spend a lot of time reflecting on “Citizenship”
December 9, 2008 at 5:17 am
Funny you mention the Romans.
According to some sources, the Medieval knights glorified and identified with the ancient Romans. Vegetius’ work, the De Re Militari was translated into French in the 13th century and later writers also drew from Vegetius. It was “The Art of War” of the medieval times.
Interestingly enough, Vegetius’ works were criticized early on as being superficial and “cosmopolitan”…Vegetius was not a soldier or military leader. Judging by his other writings on Veterinary science, he may have been a vet or medic that went to the field with the Leigon.
In similar fashion to my point about following “codes” that just goes to show that its the “mindset” you take away fron these sort of things that matters vs. any historic or tactical “fact”.
December 9, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I doubt that people consciously pick which critical approach to use when reading blogs or books once they leave school (which could be the root of some of the arguments that occur in forums or discussions), but what you are describing is a reader’s connection critical stance. The reader’s ‘take’ on the text is most important.
It is good to be consciously aware of when you want/need/should be reading for historical criticism, criticism of the author/biography, political criticism… so that you are getting from the text exactly what you are looking for, but I think within this context, it is right to be reading about Chivalric codes, Samurai codes, Taoist/Shinto/Buddhist….and other sources with the purpose of drawing current and personal meaning.
September 26, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I do enjoy this post. I have related post and would be happy to have you post a comment related to that blog with a link to this one.
Find my post at:
http://franksummers3ba.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/getting-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-warfare-and-peace/