Medieval Chivalry is a term for the knightly system of the middle ages and for virtues and qualities it inspires in its followers. Originally understood as a warrior code, the term comes from the French word for horseman, involving honor gallantry and individual training and service to others. The chivalric code dictates a knight’s lifestyles and actions throughout his lifetime. Strictly achieving the chivalric code proved to be a difficult task for a knight because of the knight’s emotional and physical wants and needs. Although flawed, Sir Gawain possesses all of the attributes necessary for a knight to uphold his moral, social, and religious duties.…
In 476 AD, during the medieval times, there were many knights. Most knights followed a chivalric code. By definition chivalry means the rules and customs of medieval knighthood. Chivalry can also be defined by seven knightly virtues: courage, justice, mercy, generosity, faith, nobility, and hope.…
The textbook definition of chivalry is “a gallant or distinguished gentlemen” or “the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood.” In the Medieval era, a knight had to behave in a certain manner, they had to follow the chivalric code or where punished. A knight had to be honorable and courteous towards others, and uphold a system of values of loyalty. A knight was required to have not just the quality and abilities to fight battles in the savage period of the Middle Ages but at the same time was relied upon to remember his chivalric duty and to maintain his composure. The concept of chivalry gave inspiration for stories about King Arthur and his round table in the Medieval period (169, Pearson).…
Moral Values in Chivalry played a significant role since the knights had to stick to a chivalric code…
It consisted of the knight being loyal to their church and lord as well as being honest.(STEWE-2)They were also expected to treat women with respect and perform acts of gallantry. Much of their code of behavior still exists today in the way that men should treat women. (SIP-B)Another part of a knight’s daily life was his participation in jousting tournaments. (STEWE-1)Jousting was done with two knight’s both armed with lances. They were on horseback as they rode toward each other with their lances held straight out. They would try to knock each other off their horses. Who ever could do this would be the winner.(STEWE-2)When the knight’s were jousting for exercise or battle they had to wear heavy suits of armor. The armor they wore changed over time. In the 11th century it was made of linked metal rings and 300 years later they wore plated armor (CS)Becoming a knight meant you had to live your life a certain way by following a code of behavior and preparing yourself for…
Throughout the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the presence of chivalry in nearly every aspect of the knights’ lives, whether it is being tested or acted upon, is hard to miss. During medieval times, the ideal of chivalry was how a knight was supposed to act and live their life, and in this story, Sir Gawain is the embodiment of chivalry even through all of the tests he is put through by the Green Knight and Morgan le Fay. Now, in today’s society, chivalry is nowhere near as prominent as it was during medieval times. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, chivalry is a vital part of everyday life, whereas in modern times, chivalry can seem almost nonexistent.…
Medieval times were a time when honor was valued above all other qualities. All knights, the highest models of medieval manhood, adhered to a code of chivalry. When properly followed, this code allowed men to be truly honorable. Among the qualities most highly esteemed were integrity, loyalty, and courage. The clearest examples of chivalry were King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The Pearl Poet vividly illustrates the concepts of chivalry in his epic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where Sir Gawain is characterized as a very honorable, chivalrous knight. Throughout the poem, Gawain’s unceasing commitment to his code of chivalry provides a protection against, thus proving the value and necessity of chivalry.…
One of these requirements were, you must be a boy born into a wealthy family (Macdonald 32). Although it wasn’t a necessity to be born into a wealthy family, it was a definite bonus in helping you become a knight. This is due to knights having to buy all the equipment that they might use in battle and tournaments, but before doing all of that, the knights needed to train for 12 years. When a young boy turned 8 years old, his parents would decide if they would sent their son away to be a page (Macdonald 32). For the next 6 years, a page would learn good etiquette (Macdonald 32). In addition you pages would be trained by soldiers who will teach him how to use a sword, a lance, and a mace (Macdonald 32). A page would also learn how to ride a horse (Macdonald 32). (STEWE-2) When the page turns 14 years old, he would be sent away to an army camp, and become a squire for a lord (Macdonald 32). Becoming a squire was the final step in becoming a knight, although the training still took 6 years. The lord would teach the squire many new thing including how to run a tournament. Learning how to run a tournament was very important, due to knights being in tournament on a regular basis (Macdonald 32). Squires also had to learn the code of chivalry, the squires also had to develop multiple skills including strength,…
Here, it is shown that knights were true noblemen only as long as they didn't have to go against their own will and marry old women. Perhaps in the company of fair ladies or even fairies they behave themselves well and held well up to the common standard of chivalry that all King Arthur's knights obeyed but once made to do something against their will they were no longer noble and it was highly questionable whether they acted better than peasants. For certain, Wife of Bath shows how lower class people regarded nobility and what they thought of them. However, what is interesting is that the old lady this nobleman was married to asks him on their first night "Fareth every knight thus with his wif as ye? Is this the lawe of King Arthures hous?" (lines 1094-95), showing clearly that lower class people thought that King Arthur's knights had to act just like their king as he served as the embodiment of chivalry. As we can see it wasn't really so and there were even knights that weren't great depictions of chivalry as Marie de France described them in…
Chivalry now VS. Then. Chivalry has changed since then a significant amount was expected at that time. Squires were expected to assist the knight get dressed, take care of the knights horse, serving the knight food, and polishing the knights weapons and armor. The knights had numerous codes to follow. There were three types of knightly chivalry. One of these three was Duties of Countrymen, they were to honor and protect the poor. The second one is Duties to God, they were to be faithful to God, and the church. The third was Duties to Women they were to honor one woman before all others.…
examples of what a knight is suppose to be like it does not hender my love for Knights at all.…
I will obviously also talk about piety, which remains a crucial component of knighthood, but can be found in all of these aspects, to reinforce them, by fixing a knight's status and legitimacy. First of all, according to medieval sources, knights were the main and only military force, as can be proved by the fact that, for instance, Geoffroi de Charny wrote an entire manual meant to explain to knights how to fight more efficiently.6 Then, the knights were also at the top of the medieval society, as it is explained in the Prose…
What is a Lady Knight? She is strong, patient, smart, kind, spirited, and humble, yet she knows that she has just as much potential to succeed as anyone. She is helpful, genuine, considerate, respectful, motivated, and dedicated to whatever she pursues. She knows when and how to get her point across, but she does so with grace. She is a true lady. As a Lady Knight, I have learned to adapt all these qualities to ameliorate myself, on and off the court. I have learned that volleyball, like any sport, requires everything you have. You have to play with heart; you have to play with a purpose. Being a Lady Knight has taught me strength. Strength of character, strength of body, of mind, of will. There are times in life where your willpower is tested, and how you handle the challenges really…
Knights were supposed to correspond with the code of chivalry. The code of Chivalry requested that a knight fights for three masters: feudal lord, heavenly lord, and his chosen lady. Overall, feudalism and chivalry were two concepts that changed the…
Thinking about the medieval times conjures up images in the brain of kings, castles, and dragons. However, one of the most common thoughts of a majestic man in shining armor accomplishing daring adventures, a knight. Becoming a knight was not an easy process, it required complete dedication to the craft, and a lifetime devotion to be a warrior. This essay takes an in-depth look at the current scholarly thoughts about the training that young children had to complete in order to become a knight, namely, being raised until a certain age inside the house to learn skills, becoming a page, graduating to a squire, and then finally taking an oath and becoming a knight.…