The Rules of Chivalry

British Literature

Fall 2013

Crea

tion

of

Chiva

lry

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.

Beha

vior

Wor

thy

of a

Kn

ight

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.

The Vows of

KnighthoodTo honor God and his Church

To serve the Lord in valor and

faith

To protect those that are weak

and defenseless

To aid widows and

orphans.

The

Vows

of

Knig

htho

od

To refrain from offending others

To live by honor and for gloryTo avoid monetary rewardTo fight for the welfare of allTo obey those in authority

The

Vows

of

Knig

htho

od

To guard the honor of fellow Knights.

The Vows of

KnighthoodTo keep the faith

To speak the truth at all

times

To persevere to the end in

any enterprise begun

The

Vows

of

Knig

htho

od

To respect the honor of womenNever to refuse a

challenge from an equalNever turn the back upon a foe

The Canterbury

TalesChaucer

wrote about

an unnamed

knight in

1386, when

he began

work on what

many scholars

consider to be

the first

“novel” ever

written.

The

Knig

ht’s

Tale

Chaucer lived and wrote at a

time when there were still real

knights in shining armor riding

into battle and jousting in

tournaments. Because of this,

his concept of knighthood and

chivalry is far more realistic

than later authors who were

looking back to the Middle

Ages with a romantic sense of

whimsy. How does a medieval

author characterize knighthood? Chaucer’s contemporary description of

this knight sheds light on the

true spirit of chivalry.

The

Knig

ht’s

Tale

There was a knight, a most distinguished man

Who from the day on which he first beganTo

ride abroad had followed chivalry,Truth,

honor, generousness and courtesy.He had

done nobly in his sovereign’s warAnd ridden

into battle, no man more,As well in Christian

as in heathen places,And ever honored for his

noble graces …He was of sovereign value in

all eyes.And though so much distinguished,

he was wiseAnd in his bearing modest as a

maidHe never yet a boorish thing had saidIn

all his life to any, come what might;He was a

true, a perfect gentle-knight.Speaking of his

equipment, he possessedFine horses, but he

was not gaily dressed.He wore a fustian tunic

stained and darkWith smudges where his

armour had left mark;Just home from service,

he had joined our ranksTo do his pilgrimage

and render thanks.