Knights And Chivalry :: essays research papers

Knights and ChivalryChivalry was a system of ethical ideals developed among the knights ofmedieval Europe. Arising discover of the feudalism of the period, it combinedmilitary virtues with those of Christianity, as epitomized by he Arthurianlegend in England and the chansons de geste of medieval France. The word valour is derived from the French chevalier, meaning horseback rider or knight.Chivalry was the code of conduct by which knights were supposedly guided. Inaddition to military prowess and valor and loyalty to God and the knightsfeudal lord, it cal conduct for dexterity toward enemies and generosity toward thesick and oppressed, widows, and other disadvantaged people.Also incorporated in the ideal was courtly love, romantic devotion for asexually unattainable woman, normally another mans wife. Veneration for theVirgin Mary played a part in this concept. Chivalric ideals influenced thefounding of religious military orders during the period of the Crusades, amongthem the Tem plars and the Hospitalers, the Teutonic Knights, and the Spanishorders of Alcantara, Calatrava, and Santiago. In the late Middle Ages, rulersformed secular orders of chivalry such as the English Order of the Garter andthe Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece. By this time, however, chivalry hadbecome largely a system of etiquette. Tournaments, in which knights hadoriginally risked their lives in jousting combat before the ladies, becamesimply elaborate, stylized, and harmless entertainments. Moreover, the expenseof this and other trappings of knighthood led many nobles who were eligible forknighthood, having served the customary apprenticeship of 7 years as a page at anoble court and another 7 as a squire, or attendant, to a knight, not to becomeknights at all. From chivalry, always larger in literature than in life, comesthe modern concept of the gentleman.The Knight tells a tale of ideal love and chivalry. This type of talemight seem somewhat strange to todays readers, but this t ale would be verypopular in the time of Chaucer. The story of the Knight fits his characterperfectly. We would expect this from the Knight because he is a very loyal andhonorable person. The Knights tale is filled with love, honor, chivalry, andlots of adventure. Furthermore, appointee the Knights character, there are nostories bordering on the vulgar and no coarseness. The love is an ideal love inwhich there is no hint of sensuality. The love exists on a high, ideal,platonic plane. The emphasis in the Knights tale is upon the rules of honorand proper conduct. These qualities fit the Knight good because he would bring