The Code of Chivalry and the Modern Swordsman

Knights and chivalry go hand in hand across all platforms of media. In stories the knight is a stalwart protector of the innocent, in romances he is a just and all-giving lover. To games where the knight is the embodiment of good and through to other mediums like roleplaying games where the knight represents justice and lawfulness. These ideas come from the Code of Chivalry that was created in the late medieval period after stories of the crusading knights were glorified and wide spread. In truth, there is no singular code, no written text that lays out how a knight should act or what they should fight for. Instead, we have a set of ten promises that a knight should live up to in order to create this ideal version of the goodly knight.

Chivalry is made up of three base areas that a man must control in order to live by the main code: being Martial, Religious and of Nobility. The first two, most any man could have obtained if he was that set on it. Military training beyond the bow and pike, perhaps, certainly achievable. A man’s religion is his identity and in the perfect world, would not have been an aspect any would struggle with. Being of nobility, however, made being a knight beyond the reach of many. As previously mentioned, the code of chivalry was based on the perfect representation of a knight and he is a titled man of honour, dignity and high birth right. It has been argued that this principle was laid down as a way to keep the knight as elite as possible, but in reality the level of training required to be an effective fighter as well as the cost of a full harness of plate, swords, shields and a horse alongside squires put the knight in the richest bracket of men who could and would fight.

The ten commitments of Chivalry:1. He shall believe all that the Church teaches, and he shall observe all its directions.2. He shall defend the Church3. He shall respect weaknesses, and shall constitute himself as the defender of them.4. He shall love the country in which he was born.5. He shall not recoil before his enemies.6. He shall make war against the infidel without cessation nor mercy.7. He shall perform all his Feudal duties, if they do not conflict with the laws of God.8. He shall never lie, and he shall remain faithful to his pledged word.9. He shall be generous, give largesse’s to all.10. He shall be everywhere, and he shall be the Champion of Right and Good against Injustice and Evil.

Firstly, the knight was a religious man. He fought for his religion and follow the doctrine of his faith to the letter, even to the point of defying his Feudal duties if they contravene the words of God. The knight is then a protector of those who cannot protect themselves, being the Champion of Right and Good everywhere he goes. He is courageous and brave, never backing down from his enemies and always seeking to destroy those who speak out against his faith. He is a kind, generous man who gives charity and lives by his word. The knight is, as mentioned above, the pinnacle of what a man could be.

But how does this apply to the modern swordsman?While there are a few codes such as the above that try to outline how a man should live his life in order to be the best version of himself, there are few, including Chivalry, that live up to the expectations when applied to modern life. Religion has very much taken a back step in society and seeking out the ‘infidel’ is institutionally wrong. We have to strip away what no longer applies and we land at the key points of a swordsman’s code.

1. He respects weakness and becomes the protector of those who cannot defend themselves.2. He does not back away from his enemies.3. He does not lie and is always true to his word.4. He is generous and giving where he can be.5. He strives to be the moral compass of those around him.

Gone is the religious fanaticism, gone is the xenophobia and toxic patriotism and in their place we have the core of the swordsman. A protector, a true fighter and someone who is striving to be a good person in this world. Neutral to influence and a scale of right and wrong.

It is my opinion that the only other fighter’s code that still rings true in its original form is that of the Samurai and Bushido. While not related to matters of the Longsword and Fiore, Bushido and the Hagakure (Yamamoto Tsunetomo) are perhaps better representations of what the fighter should be. Rather than a code of how to conduct oneself to be the best of any man, Bushido focuses inwards and asks that the Samurai be the best version of themselves that they can be by following the 8 Tenets.

1. Be Righteous2. Have Heroic-Courage3. Be Benevolent4. Show Respect5. Maintain Honesty6. Live with Honour7. Know Loyalty and Duty8. Exercise Self-Control

From Bushido and from the Code of Chivalry, we get to the essence of the swordsman. He was a good man, in all things. Honest, respectful and humble as a servant of those who did not have the prowess with a blade he did. But as a fighter, he was dedicated to training, strong and willing to act against injustice while knowing when to not deploy the sword. The swordsman is the best example of what a man could be, in practice at least.

The Code of Chivalry was a product of its time and was focuses on and around the exploits of the brave knights in the Holy Lands fighting the infidel in all their forms. The code of Bushido was based more on the practical day-to-day life of those who dedicated their lives to the defence of others. To the modern swordsman, there are no enemies that need slaying, there are no great crusades to embark upon and instead uses ancient swordplay as a focus of passion, academic interest and spiritual engagement. Modern swordsmen do not fight to the death, they fight to the victor and of course have had to alter and adopt the manner in which they act with their opponents and how they use the sword. The study of swordplay is the study of your inner self, repetition and meditation on the ways to improve and be the best swordsman you can be. In order to do that, the modern swordsman must create his own code, based on what came before, specifically when in the training hall.

1. Show Respect for your fellow Swordsman2. Act with Courage and Fight Honourably3. Maintain Honesty4. Exercise Self-Control5. Be dedicated to your studies6. Be generous with your time7. Show Loyalty and Support for your fellows8. Defend your hobby9. Advance the studies of those around you10. Be humble in victory

To me, there is no greater-evil that needs thwarting and there is no longer a need for chivalry to dictate how the swordsman acts outside of the training hall. Being a decent person outside of it is enough to get by on, holding doors open, aiding those who need it and even just being an ear to those who are struggling can make all the difference. But that’s not just for the swordsmen, that ideal is for everyone to achieve. The Code of Chivalry died in the passage of time and is hard to resurrect in our modern times. Instead we must look to the recreation of how knights would have engaged in training. With respect, decency and dedication to their vocation.