Medieval Knights and Chivalry
The Medieval knights were subject to the rules of Chivalry, a military and political establishment. The highly praised chivalric rules of training and conduct were followed even by women, like Eleanor of Aquitaine, who earned the name of Crusader Queen.
Chivalry, as described in the romances of the Middle Ages was a system on its own, within the feudal system. It was the knighthood with a moral and personal character. In its ideal form, it was even a military barrier against oppression and tyranny, a corrective of feudal despotism and injustice.
The gallant Medieval knights obeying its principles, were somewhat purer and brighter than any preceding heroes. The Chivalry established woman in her just rank in the moral world, and many of its principles of action were of religious inspiration.
The chronicles written by monks sometimes give us a glimpse of Chivalry. Many knights had their own biographers. There are also the romances of Chivalry. But the most valuable information we have is written by Froissart, truly a Medieval Herodotus. Despite the naiveté of language, he describes in a vivid and colorful style both the political events and the chivalric manners.
For more on Medieval Knights and Chivalry, here are some resources for your perusal:
- Definition of Chivalry - Looking at its main principles, we can find more than one definition of the custom and institution of Chivalry.
- Chivalry - Origin, the etymology of the term, and the difference between the rules of the feudal system per se and Chivalry.
- Medieval Code of Chivalry - The ten commandments of the Medieval Code of Chivalry, and the inclusion, starting with the 11th Century, of the doctrine of love.
- Courtly Love - This unique Medieval system, brought to perfection in the times of the troubadours and trouvères, was actively promoted by Eleanor of Aquitaine. Great writers like Chrétien de Troyes refined the ideas of the courtly love system, while De Amore by Andreas Capellanus is the treatise best explaining the laws and principles of the system. Related to the courtly love is the Court of Love, where love generated issues were judged.
- Perceval, the Story of the Grail - A poem of Chivalry written by Chrétien de Troyes, part of his Arthurian Romances cycle.
- Langue d'Oc - The language used by the troubadours of Southern France, as opposed to the Langue d'Oil, the language of trouvères in the North.
- Middle Ages Knights - A history of the Knights in the Medieval period, with references to personal service as a main part of the knights' education.
- Medieval Knights and Jousting - Jousting, an encounter involving two combatants, was the preferred sports of the knights. Based on strict rules, it provided them with the opportunity to show their individual skills, and to honor their ladies. Many royals were perfect knights, and champions of jousting.
- Medieval Tournaments - A history of Medieval tournaments, from the 12th to the 15th Century. While jousting focused on individual skills, many tournaments were actually mimicking war. They involved more combatants, and quite frequently could last many days.
- Medieval Armor - From the Norman Conquest until the end of the 15th Century, the Medieval armor evolved from the chain mail armor to the full plate knight armor.
- Medieval Swords - A history of this symbol of Chivalry, covering more than four centuries, from the Norman Conquest until the late Middle Ages.
- Medieval Helmets - About the development of helmets and great helms from the Norman Conquest until the 15th Century.
- Medieval Shields Designs - Different formats of shields and materials used for their construction, the most sophisticated being those of the 14th Century.
