Tales from Arthurian legend are no different, the inveterate idea of chivalry fulfills a specific purpose, but a closer look at the customs of chivalry are needed. In the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, when Gawain is a guest in the Lord’s castle he pledges to give him anything that is gifted to him. King Arthur was the legendary British leader in the late 5th century, popular for his bravery and unprecedented skills in combat. JSTOR, JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2903922. Codes for knights to live by had been referenced before Geoffrey of Monmouth’s overview of the reign of Arthur in 1138 AD. “Speculum.” Speculum, vol. Following the tenants of chivalry distinguished the knights from common society and inculcated them with the elite, creating an atmosphere of alleged fidelity and benevolence. “Wace, Roman de Brut-Merlin Episodes and the ‘Birth and Rise of Arthur’.” The Romance of Arthur, edited by Norris J. As aforementioned chivalry was a means to a selfish end. While deserting the leader in his time of need seemed unfaithful, a loss in battle would reflect poorly on them and their social standing. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” the old apothegm goes, and it is certainly fitting to a system that was purported to create a lofty, but noble class of loyal knights that found solace and comfort not in sacrifice or piety, but in self-centeredness and ruthlessness. However, as noted previously, the temptation to save one’s reputation and good name often overwhelmed the ideas of chivalry and it would fall into desuetude. This was largely due to the rise of mercantilism and the creation of the middle class. Chivalry gave knights the tools with which to measure themselves and by doing so, bound them closer to the Christian faith. In order to comprehend whether or not it was a peremptory choice, we must look at how the institution of chivalry is viewed in the context of knightly society-how the reader understands what “chivalry” really is, the function that chivalry served for the knights, and finally examining how knights fell short of exemplifying selflessness due to inconsistencies in the chivalric code. Respect and defend the weak 4. Widjiitiwin » What King Arthur can Teach us about Leadership. 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. Perform all your feudal duties as long as they do not conflict with the laws of God 8. The Code of Chivalry in the Arthurian legends is not something that explicitly appears in the earliest records of Arthur, but it is a key aspect of the medieval romances. These qualifications included virtues of courtesy, generosity and valor. It was also referred to by historians as Charlemagne’s Code of Chivalry. in Jones 745). Wealthy merchants strove to adopt the virtues, practices and manners of the knightly class. Believe the Church’s teachings and observe all the Church’s directions 2. King Arthur himself was not immune to the code of chivalry for in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Brittaniae, after Arthur has rescued his nephew Hoel from Albany Scotland, he “granted mercy to the Scots…” (Lacy and Wilhelm 68). The Code of Chivalry was the code of conduct followed by the knights during the medieval period. All rights reserved. Had Gawain acted with décor and not from fear of loss of life or stained reputation the pillars of chivalry would have been upheld. Never lie or go back on one’s word 9. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. However, the code of chivalry during the medieval era was understood to be a set of rules that were beyond combat. In summation, chivalry served to elevate the knights and foster a positive public image or just retain the already excellent one. During the 14th century, the Duke of Burgundy broke the Knights Code of Chivalry into several virtues. Learn how your comment data is processed. Each of King Arthur’s Knights swore the Oath of Chivalry which included lofty ideals such as: protecting the weak and defenseless, obeying those placed in authority, and always speaking the truth, bravery, courtesy, honour and great gallantry toward women. Defined in this way, chivalry is the criterion that knights adhere to, that they might elevate themselves in status. In the context of King Arthur and any number of related works, chivalry was designed to keep knights on the straight and narrow, anticipating that adversity would come. One element that is present in every tale told of these knights is chivalry. As described in the Code of Chivalry (De Casibus Virorum Illustrium), Your email address will not be published.
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