European Chivalry Research Paper

The European Chivalry: The Ideals and Practices

Andrew Daniels

Strayer University

Abstract

This paper focuses on the ideals and practices of chivalry, specifically in the Middle Ages. During this time, a list of Ten Commandments pertaining to chivalry existed. Knights were expected to uphold a certain code that impacted their country, church, king, and fellow man. This paper will elaborate on those individual commandments and explore what each mandate meant for a knight, and it will show how those obligations affected various aspects of their lives. Also, the paper will touch on chivalry in relation to a knight’s demeanor toward a woman, and the rules that were to be followed when engaging in courtly love. Lastly, one will
The first commandment stated, “thou shalt believe all that the church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions” (Marshall, 2002). The second commandment simply stated, “thou shalt defend the Church” (Marshall, 2002). In the Middle Ages Christianity in the form of Catholicism was the only practiced religion. The church played a distinct and dominate role in the majority of people’s lives, not only medieval knights. Beginning as free peasants, knights often pillaged churches. Due to such violence, Rome declared knights the protectors of churches starting in the tenth century and threatening sanctions against any who ransacked churches. Later, in the 11th century, the Truce of God asserted that knights should not make war on all holy days, all saints days or Thursday through Sunday. Abiding to these rules meant that knights exhibited their chivalric duty by observing the churches directions. Not only did the knights protect the church, but the church protected the knights’ estate if he embarked on a Crusade to Jerusalem, the supposed burial sight of Jesus. During his time away, the knight was also exempt from paying taxes to the church (Warrior Challenge,
The codes that knights abided by revealed a number of characteristics: faith, loyalty, strength, honesty, generosity and courtesy. I believe living an existence according to these principles, or even attempting to attain such standards, makes a person a superior, well-rounded individual. Incorporating such characteristics into one’s everyday life allows a person to be more virtuous, and these values reinforce one’s relationship with the church, country and allies. The romanticism of chivalry has survived to present day, though the code is not held to standards nearly as high as in the past with the majority of the ideas falling to the wayside. I believe a rejuvenation of several of these notions could benefit factions of society and reinstate principles that should be essential for all