The Code of Chivalry
A knight's way of life.
knight's code of chivalry
- 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
What is the Knight's Code of Chivalry?
By definition, the code of chivalry is, "The methods of training and standards of behavior for knights in the Middle Ages. The code of chivalry emphasized bravery, military skill, generosity in victory, piety, and courtesy to women." It is basically the equivalent to a knight's ten commandments.
Where did the code of chivalry come from?
One form of the Code of Chivalry came from a poem called the "Song of Roland." The poem was about battles in the middle ages, specifically fought by the Emperor Charlemagne. Another famous rendition of the Code of Chivalry was described by the Duke of Burgandy. He described the basic virtues of the code, whereas the Charlemagne version has specific rules.
weird vocabulary
- Valour- great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle
- Succour- assistance and support in times of hardship and distress.
- Pecuniary- of, relating to, or consisting of money.
- Eschew- deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
Essential Questions
Is chivalry dead?
Most people would answer yes. There are no knights or medieval battles fought in today's world. However, it has definitely influenced society's way of life.
How does the code of chivalry affect modern day society?
Chivalry exists today in the little polite things we do for each other. Everyday tasks such as holding a door open for a person originated from the code of chivalry.