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Chivalry Essay, Research Paper

Chivalry, as defined by Encyclopedia Americana is a system of values and ideals of conduct held by knights in medieval Europe. In its institutional form, chivalry was an informal, international order to which many, but not all, of the ruling class (nobility) belonged. The word is derived from the Latin caballus (horse) through the French chevalier ( horseman or knight).

Chivalry was born from Feudalism in the late middle ages introducing a new, feminine point of view stressing virtue and ethics. It was a time of renewal and need. There were new towns and cities of trade everywhere, thus creating the need to travel. However, in order to travel there must be someone left behind to tend to the work that must be done. From this a Feudal Court was developed. The Feudal Lords (landowners or people of nobility), who later were granted Knighthood, split their land between vassals who pledged their allegiance to said lord. The land was not theirs to own, but theirs to tend and feed their family as well as the family of the presiding lord. Food provisions were not the only things pledged to these lords. They were also given an annual sum of money as well as additional funds should they be needed. Women played a large role during this time. Often, they were left to run the household and make decisions pertaining to domestic matters of the manor while the men were away. This brought etiquette and rules of conduct to society. Chivalry grew during the time of the Crusades. The Crusades were holy expeditions by Christian Knights to regain ownership of holy places under Muslim control. Most knights genuinely believed in the religious aspect of these Crusades while some viewed them merely as a means of financial gain and power. During this time Courtly Love was also established, setting standards for courtship. A knight was to be devoted to a lady, usually married or betrothed, and did everything in his power to gain her favor.

One of the most influential women of medieval times was Eleanor of Aquitane. She greatly contributed to the growth of Chivalry and Courtly Love. She was married several times, first to King Louis VII of France and then to King Henry II of England. Her travels allowed her to be influential to both countries. Even before her marriages she owned great amounts of land, making her very powerful. This was a rarity for a woman in her time and she was not afraid to use her power to gain advantage. She at one time accompanied her first husband, Louis VII, on his second Crusade contrary to what the church (ruling government at the time) said. Poets received encouragement from Eleanor to write poems and sonnets from a womans point of view, this was also unheard of before the late Middle Ages. During her marriages, there were rumors of affairs had by the Great Queen . Along with her plans to lead her sons in a rebellion against their father, these rumors were enough to cause Henry II to lock Eleanor away as a punishment until the time of his death. During the reign of her son King Richard, Eleanor started the Courts of Love which contributed to giving women a higher standing in society. The Courts of Love were a gathering of enthusiastic young women who debated and ridiculed the ideals of love presented to them by poets and knights of the court. Throughout her life Eleanor was committed to furthering the ideals and standards of Chivalry and Courtly love. She died at the age of eighty after spending a few years at Fontevrault, an abbey where she chose to rest several times during the course of her life.

The origins of the code of chivalry came from the laws of feudalism. The knights were expected to fight bravely and be loyal to their lords. Bravery and loyalty became the vanguard of the code of chivalry. The strong influence of Christianity and courtly love expanded this code to include religious devotion and refined social graces. Chivalry began to soften the harsh edges of feudal warfare and knights were expected to treat their fellow knights and inferiors with respect and good will. The new code, which was established in the eleventh century, during the Crusades, prohibited knights from attacking the unarmed, and stressed that the good knight fought for glory and Christian purposes instead of mere profit and gain. Following, are the ten commandments (Gautier 9) of chivalry as stated by Leon Gautier in his book La Chevalerie:

I. Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.

II. Thou shalt defend the Church.

III. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.

IV. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.

V. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.

VI. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.

VII. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.

VIII. Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.

IX. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.

X. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil. (10)

The early Middle Ages were chaotic times in European history. However, the age of chivalry brought a period of renewed stability to the continent. During this peaceful time the church tried to curb the warlike nature of feudalism by adopting programs know as the Peace of God and the Truce of God. The Peace of God made it forbidden for knights to attack peasants, women, priests and merchants. While the Truce of God prohibited battle on Sundays and holy days. Although the Church lacked the power to enforce these rules, they displayed a set of new values emerging in contrast to the brutal warfare that had been part of living in feudal Europe in the ninth and tenth centuries.

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