2. DEFINITION
plural chiv·al·ries
Definition of CHIVALRY
1
: mounted men-at-arms
2
archaic a : martial valor b : knightly skill
3
: gallant or distinguished gentlemen
4
: the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood
5
: the qualities of the ideal knight : chivalrous conduct
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Examples of CHIVALRY
the knight's code of chivalry
He paid her fare as an act of chivalry .
Origin of CHIVALRY
Middle English chivalrie, from Anglo-French chevalerie, from chevaler knight — more at chevalier First Known Use:
14th century
Other History Terms
agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, fief, historiography, paladin
3. KNIGHTS AND THEIR CODES
There is a Knight code of Chivalry and there is a Castles Code
Morals is the key term to the definition of Chivalry. It was a high set of
morals that gave these knights and their codes of chivalry their famous name.
4. SONGS
The Song 'The Song of Roland', sings the documented respect and ways of
Chivalry.
I CLXXXVII King Marsilies, fleeing to
Charles the King, our Lord and Sovereign, Sarraguce, Dismounted there beneath an
Full seven years hath sojourned in Spain, olive cool; His sword and sark and helm
Conquered the land, and won the western main, XCVI And Gerins strikes Malprimis of Brigal So
aside he put, On the green grass lay down
Now no fortress against him doth remain, his good shield is nothing worth at all, Shatters the
in shame and gloom; For his right hand
No city walls are left for him to gain, boss, was fashioned of crystal, One half of it
he’d lost, ‘twas clean cut through; Such
Save Sarraguce, that sits on high mountain. downward to earth flies off; Right to the flesh has
blood he’d shed, in anguish keen he
Marsile its King, who feareth not God’s name, through his hauberk torn, On his good spear he
swooned. Before his face his lady
Mahumet’s man, he invokes Apollin’s aid, has the carcass caught. And with one blow that
Bramimunde Bewailed and cried, with very
Nor wards off ills that shall to him attain……. pagan downward falls; The soul of him Satan
bitter rue; Twenty thousand and more
away hath borne……..
around him stood, All of them cursed
Carlun and France the Douce. Then
Apollin in’s grotto they surround, And
threaten him, and ugly words pronounce:
"Such shame on us, vile god!, why bringest
thou? This is our king; wherefore dost him
confound? Who served thee oft, ill
recompense hath found." Then they take
off his sceptre and his crown, With their
hands hang him from a column down,
Among their feet trample him on the
ground, With great cudgels they batter him
and trounce. From Tervagant his carbuncle
they impound, And Mahumet into a ditch
fling out, Where swine and dogs defile him
and devour……..
5. THE CODE
To fear God and maintain His Church
To serve the liege lord in valour and faith
To protect the weak and defenceless
To give succour to widows and orphans
To refrain from the wanton giving of offence
To live by honour and for glory
To despise pecuniary reward
To fight for the welfare of all
To obey those placed in authority
To guard the honour of fellow knights
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
To keep faith
At all times to speak the truth
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
To respect the honour of women
Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
Never to turn the back upon a foe
6. CHRISTIANITY INFLUENCE
Christianity also influenced chivalry through the Crusades. The Crusades were
military expeditions undertaken by Christian knights to recapture from
Muslim control the holy places of pilgrimage in Palestine, or the Holy Land.
Although many knights enlisted in search of financial gain, military glory, and
adventure, many were also moved by genuine religious enthusiasm. This
enthusiasm was reflected in the founding of the military religious orders-the
Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, and the Hospitalers. The members of
these orders took religious vows and shared a common vision of recapturing
the Holy Land for Christianity. They believed that knighthood could be a holy
form of life when used for Christian purposes. These orders helped infuse
chivalry with religious idealism.
7. TODAY’S CHIVALRY
Essential elements of today’s code of chivalry
All of a knight's virtues were symbolized by the equipment he used, and
perhaps nothing was more symbolic than the knight's spurs. The spurs
represented courage, and when a young man was knighted, it was
sometimes said he had "won his spurs." (The spur pictured belonged to a
German knight of the 16th century.)
Although we often refer to the “code of chivalry,” in truth, there was no such
thing as a uniform code of knightly behavior and attitude in the Middle Ages.
(And if you’ve read some version of a “true code of chivalry” on the Net or in a
book somewhere, rest assured it was written sometime long after the Age of
Chivalry was past.) Many people — from successful knights to contemplative
philosophers — compiled lists of virtuous qualities, called the “kinightly virtus,”
which they felt defined chivalry. No two were exactly the same.
There were, however, several common themes found in these lists of knightly
virtues. By combining these, we have created what we consider to be the seven
knightly virtues of the modern code of chivalry:
8. TODAY’S CODE OF CHIVALRY
:
Courage
More than bravado or bluster, today’s knight in shining armor must have the
courage of the heart necessary to undertake tasks which are difficult, tedious or
unglamorous, and to graciously accept the sacrifices involved.
Justice
A knight in shining armor holds him- or herself to the highest standard of
behavior, and knows that “fudging” on the little rules weakens the fabric of
society for everyone.
Mercy
Words and attitudes can be painful weapons in the modern world, which is why a
knight in shining armor exercises mercy in his or her dealings with others, creating
a sense of peace and community, rather than engendering hostility and
antagonism.
9. CONTINUATION
Generosity
Sharing what’s valuable in life means not just giving away material goods, but also time,
attention, wisdom and energy — the things that create a strong, rich and diverse
community.
Faith
In the code of chivalry, “faith” means trust and integrity, and a knight in shining armor is
always faithful to his or her promises, no matter how big or small they may be.
Nobility
Although this word is sometimes confused with “entitlement” or “snobbishness,” in the
code of chivalry it conveys the importance of upholding one’s convictions at all times,
especially when no one else is watching.
Hope
More than just a safety net in times of tragedy, hope is present every day in a modern
knight’s positive outlook and cheerful demeanor — the shining armor that shields him or
her, and inspires people all around.
