Chivalry is a term related to the medieval (Middle Ages) institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour. It is often associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love. Etymology
In English, the word is first attested in 1292, as a loan from Old French chevalerie "knighthood", an abstract noun formed in the 11th century based on chevalier "knight", ultimately from Medieval Latin caballārius "horseman"; cavalry is from the Italian form of the same word, loaned via Middle French into English around 1540.
Between the 11th century and 15th centuries medieval writers often used the word shivalry, in meanings that changed over time, generally moving from the concrete meaning of "status or fee associated with military follower owning a war horse" towards the moral ideal of the Christian warrior ethos propagated in the Romance genre which became popular in the 12th century, and the ideal of courtly love propagated in the contemporary Minnesang and related genres. By the 15th century, the term had become mostly detached from its military origins, not least because the rise of infantry in the 14th century had essentially confined knightly horsemanship to the tournament grounds, and essentially expressed a literary ideal of moral and courteous behavior.
History
A. Origins in military ethos
Regardless of the diverse written definitions of chivalry, the medieval knightly class was adept at the art of war, trained in fighting in armor, with horses, lances, swords and shields. Knights were taught to excel in the arms, to show courage, to be gallant, loyal and to swear off cowardice and baseness.
Related to chivalry was the practice of heraldry and its elaborate rules of displaying coats of arms. When not fighting, chivalric knights typically resided in a castle or fortified house, while some knights lived in the courts of kings, dukes and other great lords. The skills of the knight carried over to peacetime activities such as the hunt and tournament.
Christianity had a modifying influence on the classical concept of heroism and virtue, nowadays identified with the virtues of chivalry. The Peace and Truce of God in the 10th century was one such example, with limits placed on knights to protect and honor the weaker members of society and also help the church maintain peace. At the same time the church became more tolerant of war in the defense of faith, espousing theories of the just war and liturgies were introduced which blessed a knight's sword, and a bath of chivalric purification.The first noted support for chivalric vocation, or the establishment of knightly class to ensure the sanctity and legitimacy of Christianity was written in 930 by Odo, abbot of Cluny in the Vita of St. Gerald of Aurillac, which argued that the sanctity of Christ and Christian doctrine can be demonstrated through the legitimate unsheathing of the “sword against the enemy.” In the 11th century the concept of a "knight of Christ" (miles Christi) gained currency in France, Spain and Italy. These concepts of "religious chivalry" were further elaborated in the era of the Crusades, with the Crusades themselves often being seen as a chivalrous enterprise.Their ideas of chivalry were also further influenced by Saladin, who was viewed as a chivalrous knight by medieval Christian writers.
B. Medieval literature
From the 12th century onward chivalry came to be understood as a moral, religious and social code of knightly conduct. The particulars of the code varied, but codes would emphasize the virtues of courage, honor, and service. Chivalry also came to refer to an idealization of the life and manners of the knight at home in his castle and with his court.
Medieval courtly literature glorifies the valor, tactics and ideals of ancient Romans. For example the ancient hand-book of warfare written by Vegetius called De Re Militari was translated into French in the 13th century as L'art de chevalerie by Jean de Meun. Later writers also drew from Vegetius such as Honore Bonet who wrote the 14th century L'arbes des batailles, which discussed the morals and laws of war. In the 15th century Christine de Pizan combined themes from Vegetius, Bonet and Frontinus in Livre des faits d'armes et de chevalerie.
In the later Middle Ages, wealthy merchants strove to adopt chivalric attitudes - the sons of the bourgeoisie were educated at aristocratic courts where they were trained in the manners of the knightly class. This was a democratization of chivalry, leading to a new genre called the courtesy book, which were guides to the behavior of "gentlemen". Thus, the post-medieval gentlemanly code of the value of a man's honor, respect for women, and a concern for those less fortunate, is directly derived from earlier ideals of chivalry and historical forces which created it.
The medieval development of chivalry, with the concept of the honor of a lady and the ensuing knightly devotion to it, not only derived from the thinking about the Virgin Mary, but also contributed to it. The medieval veneration of the Virgin Mary was contrasted by the fact that ordinary women, especially those outside aristocratic circles, were looked down upon. Although women were at times viewed as the source of evil, it was Mary who as mediator to God was a source of refuge for man. The development of medieval Mariology and the changing attitudes towards women paralleled each other and can best be understood in a common context.
When examining medieval literature, chivalry can be classified into three basic but overlapping areas: 1. Duties to countrymen and fellow Christians: this contains virtues such as mercy, courage, valor, fairness, protection of the weak and the poor, and in the servant-hood of the knight to his lord. This also brings with it the idea of being willing to give one’s life for another’s; whether he would be giving his life for a poor man or his lord.
2. Duties to God: this would contain being faithful to God, protecting the innocent, being faithful to the church, being the champion of good against evil, being generous and obeying God above the feudal lord.
3. Duties to women: this is probably the most familiar aspect of chivalry. This would contain what is often called courtly love, the idea that the knight is to serve a lady, and after her all other ladies. Most especially in this category is a general gentleness and graciousness to all women. These three areas obviously overlap quite frequently in chivalry, and are often indistinguishable.
Different weight given to different areas produced different strands of chivalry:
2. religious chivalry, in which a knight's chief duty is to protect the innocent and serve God, as exemplified by Sir Galahad or Sir Percival in the Grail legends. 3. courtly love chivalry, in which a knight's chief duty is to his own lady, and after her, all ladies, as exemplified by Sir Lancelot in his love for Queen Guinevere or Sir Tristan in his love for Iseult C. Late Middle Ages
Chivalry underwent a revival and elaboration of chivalric ceremonial and rules of etiquette in the fourteenth century that was examined by Johan Huizinga, in The Waning of the Middle Ages (1919, 1924), in which he dedicates a full chapter to "The idea of chivalry". In contrasting the literary standards of chivalry with the actual warfare of the age, the historian finds the imitation of an ideal past illusory; in an aristocratic culture such as Burgundy and France at the close of the Middle Ages, "to be representative of true culture means to produce by conduct, by customs, by manners, by costume, by deportment, the illusion of a heroic being, full of dignity and honour, of wisdom, and, at all events, of courtesy. ...The dream of past perfection ennobles life and its forms, fills them with beauty and fashions them anew as forms of art". D. Modern debates
There are a number of questions historians debate related to chivalry. In his monumental study of Chivalry, The Broad-Stone of Honour, Kenelm Henry Digby offered the following definition: 'Chivalry is only a name for that general spirit or state of mind which disposes men to heroic actions, and keeps them conversant with all that is beautiful and sublime in the intellectual and moral world.' It is still debated as to what extent the exploits of notable knights and historical figures such as Saladin, Godfrey of Bouillon, William Marshal and Bertrand du Guesclin set new standards of knightly behavior, or were instead reflections of existing models of conduct.[4] Another common debate is whether, since knights bore arms, the ranks of knights were open to anyone who had the physical requirements and skills, or restricted to only those who were born into knightly families.
Knights Code of Chivalry
a) Knights Code of Chivalry
A knight was expected to have not only the strength and skills to face combat in the violent Middle Ages but was also expected to temper this aggressive side of a knight with a chivalrous side to his nature. There was not an authentic Knights Code of Chivalry as such - it was a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.
b) Knights Code of Chivalry dating back to the Dark Ages
The Knights Code of Chivalry was part of the culture of the Middle Ages and was understood by all. A Code of Chivalry was documented in 'The Song of Roland' in the Middle Ages Knights period of William the Conqueror who ruled England from 1066. The 'Song of Roland' describes the 8th century Knights of the Dark Ages and the battles fought by the Emperor Charlemagne. The code has since been described as Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry. The Song of Roland was the most famous 'chanson de geste'.
c) The Knights Code of Chivalry and the vows of Knighthood
The Knights Code of Chivalry described in the Song of Roland and an excellent representation of the Knights Codes of Chivalry are as follows:
§ 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
Of the seventeen entries in the Knights Codes of Chivalry, according to the Song of Roland, at least 12 relate to acts of chivalry as opposed to combat.
d) The Knights Code of Chivalry and the legends of King Arthur and Camelot
The ideals described in the Code of Chivalry were emphasised by the oaths and vows that were sworn in the Knighthood ceremonies of the Middle Ages and Medieval era. These sacred oaths of combat were combined with the ideals of chivalry and with strict rules of etiquette and conduct. The ideals of a Knights Code of Chivalry was publicised in the poems, ballads, writings and literary works of Knights authors. The wandering minstrels of the Middle Ages sang these ballads and were expected to memorize the words of long poems describing the valour and the code of chivalry followed by the Medieval knights. The Dark Age myths of Arthurian Legends featuring King Arthur, Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table further strengthen the idea of a Knights Code of Chivalry. The Arthurian legend revolves around the Code of Chivalry which was adhered to by the Knights of the Round Table - Honour, Honesty, Valour and Loyalty.
e) Knights Code of Chivalry described by the Duke of Burgandy
The chivalric virtues of the Knights Code of Chivalry were described in the 14th Century by the Duke of Burgandy. The words he chose to use to describe the virtues that should be exhibited in the Knights Code of Chivalry were as follows:
§ Faith
§ Charity
§ Justice
§ Sagacity
§ Prudence
§ Temperance
§ Resolution
§ Truth
§ Liberality
§ Diligence
§ Hope
§ Valour
Knighthood Training
a) Knighthood Training
Knighthood training was a long and often arduous process. Knighthood training began in early childhood when a basic education and good manners and rules of etiquette were taught at home. At the age of 7 young boys were sent away to the castles and homes of wealthy lords or relatives to embark on their knighthood training. From the age of seven to fourteen these young boys were given the role of a Medieval Page. From fourteen to twenty-one these 'apprentice knights' were referred to as Squires . The different types and styles of Knighthood training depended on the age and strength of the apprentice knights. Knighthood training was focussed on weapon practise which included enhancing skills in horsemanship, the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance. b) Knighthood Training - The Medieval Page
The Medieval Page of the Middle Ages was little more than a child. But his training commenced from the age of seven. The duties of a knight were seen as the combat duties and those duties related to serving the lords and ladies. The Knighthood training began in earnest as a Page when all their games and sports were geared towards learning skills related to horsemanship, the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance. Obviously dangerous weapons were not used by these young boys! Great emphasis was placed on physical fitness and strength. A Page would start to acquire the skills required of a Knight by practising the skills of tilting a lance during their knighthood training. A target was erected and the Page would mount a wooden 'horse' on wheels holding a lance. The wooden horse would be pulled along by two other pages towards the target and the page would aim the lance. The Page was expected to learn the technique called the 'couch' where the lance is held under the arm to steady it during a course, substantially reducing the amount of flex and increasing the accuracy of a lunge. Sword play was practised using wooden swords and shields. Fighting on piggyback introduced the young knights to the balance and skills required in mounted combat. Knighthood Training in other physical skills included climbing, swimming, throwing stones, javelins, archery and wrestling.
c) Knighthood Training - Equestrian Skills
The knighthood training of both the Pages and the Squires of the Middle Ages continued with acquiring excellent equestrian skills. A horse played an extremely important part in the life of a knight. A knight would own several horses which were built for different duties. These knights ranged in various sizes starting with a palfrey, or an ambler for general travelling purposes. Bigger and stronger horses were required as warhorses. The Courser was the most sought after and expensive warhorse, owned by the most wealthy knights. The more common warhorses were like modern hunters, known then as Destriers. The apprentice knights would learn how to ride and control their horses and the art of this type of warfare. Starting with small ponies they would hone their equestrian skills in their Knighthood training. The pages and squires were also expected to play their part of caring for the horses in the stables.
d) Knighthood Training - The Medieval Squire
The Medieval Squire of the Middle Ages was aged between fourteen and twenty-one. They had served as pages and learnt the basic skills required during their Knighthood training. As Squires they were seen as men capable of fighting in battles. Their Knighthood training became far more dangerous. Injuries were a common occurrence during their knighthood training. Their skills with the lance had to be perfected. The tool used in the practice of the lance was called called the quintain. The quintain consisted of a shield and dummy which was suspended from a swinging pole. When the shield was hit by a charging squire, the whole apparatus would rotate. The squire's task was to avoid the rotating arms and not get knocked from his saddle. A variation of the quintain added heavy swinging sandbags which also had to be avoided. Accuracy was also an important factor and squires practised "Running at the Rings" where the lance was aimed at a target in the shape of a ring - these rings were obviously much smaller to lance than a man and this skill was therefore difficult to master. Fighting with quarterstaffs could also result in injuries. Fighting with swords and other weapons were strictly supervised and only wooden, blunt or covered weapons were used. General fitness levels had to be high and the strength of an apprentice knight was expected, regardless of size.
e) Knighthood Training - Castle and Siege Warfare
Siege warfare was a common occurrence during the Middle Ages. An important requirement to capture the enemies power base - their castles. Knighthood Training included learning about the strategy, process and weapons used in siege warfare. Siege Warfare during the Middle Ages was conducted according to Chivalric Rules and a truce or settlement would always be attempted, according to the Chivalric Code before Siege Warfare commenced. Knighthood training included all of these aspects of siege warfare. The Squires would be expected to understand the options available when defending a castle - the layout and traps included in the castle design. A young squire, or even a page, would be expected to defend a castle according to their skills and strength. A crossbow might be issued to a squire or page as it required minimum strength and few skills to operate. Attacking a castle would also be studied. This would include learning about Siege Weapons - the Trebuchet, Ballista, Mangonel, Battering Ram and Siege Towers. Skills in climbing were important - scaling castle walls. Knighthood training would also include the process of undermining a castle.
f) Knighthood Training - Qualities of a Knight
During his long period of Knighthood training a squire or page must also learn bravery and the ability to withstand extremes in cold and heat, tiredness and hunger. It was not all hard work. The apprentice knights also enjoyed attending tournaments - great fun for these young men.
Knights Armor
a) Medieval Knights Armor
The armor used in the Middle Ages was gradually perfected, until at length the knight became a living fortress. A Medieval Knights Armor was vital on the Battlefields of the Middle Ages. The Knights Armor provided essential body protection from the various weapons which were used in battle including the two-handed sword, bow and arrows, crossbow, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance. Padded garments and Chainmail were used prior to the development of suits of Armor and subsequently worn in conjunction with the armor suits. A Medieval knights armor was designed and developed to protect them from any new, and even more lethal, weapons that were introduced during the violent period of the Middle Ages.
b) Knights Suit of Armor
Medieval Knights suit of armor was extremely expensive to produce. A knights suit of armor had to be tailor-made to fit the knight exactly. Any Incorrect sizing of a Knights suit of armor would be extremely dangerous as it could hamper the knights ability to fight. The knights suit of armor was also a status symbol. The better quality of the Knights suit of armor, the more important was the Knight. Plate Armour was first introduced during the late 13th century and Full Plate Armour was introduced during the 15th century weighing approximately 50 lbs. A knights suit of armor was strong enough to protect the knight, but light enough to allow quick movement on the battlefield. A Medieval Knights Armor was a complex series of garments, chain mail and iron plate.
c) Parts of a Knights Suit of Armor
The Parts of a Knights Suit of Armor were a complex series of garments, chain mail and iron plate. The pieces of a Knights Suit of Armor covered the most vulnerable parts of a knight's body. The Parts of a Knights Suit of Armor are best described by explaining the parts of the body which they covered.
d) Parts of a Knights Suit of Armor covering the legs and the feet
The pieces of a knights suit of armor covering the legs and the feet were as follows:
- The Sabatons were the first parts of a knights suit of armor to be put on. Sabatons were armor for the feet and consisted of riveted iron plates on the boots
- Greaves were Plate armor which protected the calf and ankles
- Poleyns were Plate armor which protected the knee cap
- Cuisses were Plate armor which protected the thigh
- Spurs - The Spurs were attached to the heel of the foot by straps and used to 'spur' the Knights horse on in battle
e) Parts of a Knights Suit of Armor covering the arms and hands
The pieces of a knights suit of armor covering the arms and hands were as follows:
- The Besagues which were small round 'shields' laced to the mail at the shoulder to defend the armpit
- The Rerebrace for the defence of the upper arm
- The Vambrace for the defence of the lower arm
- Hand Armor - The Knights gloves were called Gauntlets and had ringed metal plates over the fingers
f) Parts of a Knights Suit of Armor covering the body
The pieces of a knights suit of armor covering the body were as follows:
- The Chest Armor was referred to as the Breast Plate
- The Back Armor protecting the back was called the Backplate
- Faulds were rings of armour which were attached to the breast plate and protected the hips, abdomen and lower back
g) Parts of a Knights Suit of Armor covering the head and neck
The pieces of a knights suit of armor covering the head and neck were as follows:
- A Visor was a detachable piece of armor which protected the face and eyes
- Head and Neck armor. In the 13th Century the helmet was called the Bascinet which had a skirt of mail called an aventail to protect the neck.
h) Knights Armor Weapons
A Dagger, called a roundel, and Sword were attached to the Knights belt. A shield was carried for defence and recognition purposes and displayed the Knights heraldic blazon. Spikes called Gadlings were attached to the knuckles of gauntlets.
Tournaments
Tournaments provided a means for knights to practice warfare and build their strength in times of peace. Tournaments were essentially mock battles with audiences. The audience was usually made up of "fair damsels". This was another way in which a knight was expected to act chivalrous. The tournaments had different rules that had to be followed. They were judged by umpires that watched for dishonest play. Tournaments were usually fought between either two people or two teams. If two people fought a tournament, it was usually by jousting. The two knights would gallop across the playing field at each other. They carried long, blunt poles and shields. The objective was to knock the other person out of his saddle. Team play was conducted with fierce mock combat between two bands of fighters. They fought with wooden or blunted weapons so as to reduce the risk of getting hurt. However, this was often not the case. Many people did get hurt or die by accident.
Chivalric order
Chivalric orders are societies and fellowships of knights that have been created by European monarchs in imitation of the military orders of the Crusades. After the crusades, the memory of these crusading military orders became idealised and romanticised, resulting in the late medieval notion of chivalry, and is reflected in the Arthurian romances of the time.
Modern historiography tends to take the fall of Acre in 1291 as the final end of the age of the crusades. But in contemporary understanding, many further crusades against the Turks were planned and partly executed throughout the 14th century and well into the 15th century. The late medieval chivalric orders thus very much understood themselves as reflecting an ongoing military effort against Islam, even though such an effort with the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the fall of Constantinople in the 1450s was without realistic hope of success. During the 15th century, orders of chivalry became more and more a mere courtly fashion and could be created ad-hoc, some of them purely honorific, consisting of nothing but the badge. These institutions in turn gave rise to the modern-day orders of merit.
Distinction
A. Heraldist D'Arcy Boulton (1987) classifies chivalric orders in the following manner: * Monarchical or dynastical orders
* Confraternal orders
* Fraternal orders
* Votive Orders
* Cliental pseudo-orders
* Honorific orders
B. Based on Boulton, this article distinguishes:
* Chivalric orders by time of foundation:
- Medieval chivalric orders: foundation of the order during the middle ages or renaissance
- Modern chivalric orders: foundation after 1789
* Chivalric orders by religion:
- Catholic chivalric orders: membership exclusively for members of the Catholic Church
- Protestant chivalric orders: blessed by the heads of Protestant churches
- Orthodox chivalric orders: blessed by the heads of Orthodox churches
* Chivalric orders by purpose:
- Monarchical and dynastical chivalric orders: foundation by a monarch who is a fount of honour; either ruling or not ruling
- Confraternal chivalric orders: foundation by a nobleman, either high nobility or low nobility
- Fraternal chivalric orders: founded for a specific purpose only
- Votive chivalric orders: founded for a limited period of time only by members who take a vow
- Honorific chivalric orders: consist only of honorific insignia bestowed on knights on festive occasions, consisting of nothing but the badge
- Pseudo-chivalric orders: self proclaimed imitation-orders without statutes or restricted memberships
Medieval orders
Monarchical or dynastical orders
* Late medieval monarchical orders (14th and 15th centuries) are orders of chivalry with the presidency attached to a monarch:
* Post-medieval foundations of chivalric orders:
* Monarchical orders whose monarch no longer reigns but continue to be bestowed, are called dynastical orders:
9. Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George (Two Sicilies)
