Essay on Chivalry - 2466 Words

Chivalry Chivalry, as defined by Encyclopedia Americana is a system of values and ideals of conduct held by knights in medieval Europe. In its institutional form, chivalry was an informal, international order to which many, but not all, of the ruling class (nobility) belonged. The word is derived from the Latin caballus (horse) through the French chevalier (â€Å"horseman† or knight). Chivalry was born from Feudalism in the late middle ages introducing a new, feminine point of view stressing virtue and ethics. It was a time of renewal and need. There were new towns and cities of trade everywhere, thus creating the need to travel. However, in order to travel there must be someone left behind to tend to the work that must be done.†¦show more content†¦One of the most influential women of medieval times was Eleanor of Aquitane. She greatly contributed to the growth of Chivalry and Courtly Love. She was married several times, first to King Louis VII of France and then to King Henry II of England. Her travels allowed her to be influential to both countries. Even before her marriages she owned great amounts of land, making her very powerful. This was a rarity for a woman in her time and she was not afraid to use her power to gain advantage. She at one time accompanied her first husband, Louis VII, on his second Crusade contrary to what the church (ruling government at the time) said. Poets received encouragement from Eleanor to write poems and sonnets from a womans point of view, this was also unheard of before the late Middle Ages. During her marriages, there were rumors of affairs had by the â€Å"Great Queen†. Along with her plans to lead her sons in a rebellion against their father, these rumors were enough to cause Henry II to lock Eleanor away as a punishment until the time of his death. During the reign of her son King Richard, Eleanor started the â€Å"Courts of Love† which contributed to giving women a higher standing in soc iety. The â€Å"Courts of Love† were a gathering of enthusiastic young women who debated and ridiculed the ideals of love presented to them by poets and knights of the court.Show MoreRelatedChivalry Is Not Dead : Chivalry1781 Words   |  8 Pagesme a superhero...I’m doing it because I can take this one moment out of my day to demonstrate the archaic act of chivalry. Some say that chivalry is dead... Chivalry is not dead...chivalry is merely changed and if I have to be honest I would say that chivalry is changed for the better. The problem people have with modern day chivalry is its correlation with their definition of â€Å"chivalry†... which is...according to Webster’s dictionary, â€Å"Gallantry, courtesy and honor. The noble qualities a knight wasRead MoreChivalry Essay1802 Words   |  8 PagesHow important was chivalry in molding the cultural world of the upper classes? The word chivalry comes from the French term â€Å"chevalrie† which when literally described meant the warrior attributes of armed knights on horseback. When the word was first used it did not have many, if any, of the moral or social aspects with which were later attributed to it. Reaching the later periods of the Middle Ages there begins to be a consensus opinion on the definition of a chivalrous knight. This knight wouldRead MoreMedieval Chivalry Essay1668 Words   |  7 PagesEach different aspect of the code of chivalry held a separate role in society. Whether it be religious or barbaric, chivalry tended to hold a moral guideline among those who followed it. This moral guideline held them true to their duties to man, God, and women (Sex, Society, and Medieval Women). All of which are reflected in the three themes of Chivalry: Warrior chivalry, religious chivalry, and courtly love chivalry (Sex, Society, and Medieval Women). These three hold their individual roles, allRe ad MoreThe Code of Chivalry Essay1032 Words   |  5 Pagesmotto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom to serve all, but love only one† (Balzac 1). During the Medieval Age, there once existed a moral system that introduced a set of conducts such as, virtues, honor, and courtly love. This was known as the Code of Chivalry. These codes where available and practiced in knights daily life. The idea of chivalry is extremely valuable to the people, that even everything a knight wore symbolized something valuable or unique. In other words, chivalry was no gameRead MoreThe Use Of Gunpowder And Firearms Triggered The Decline Of Chivalry1224 Words   |  5 PagesMilitary speaking, it is often stated that the introducing of gunpowder and firearms triggered the decline of chivalry. Richard Kaeuper, on the contrary, explains that this improved military technology â€Å"may be too abrupt, for who would not be reluctant to sign a specific, dated death warrant to mark the end of [chivalr y, which is] so persistent and so complex.†1 Moreover, it is not the first time that knights had to adapt to new military techniques. For instance, during the Hundred Year War (1337-1453)Read More The Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love Essays899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love Two conflicting disciplines are prevalent throughout Arthurian Legend; that of chivalry and that of courtly love. The ideal of each clash throughout the medieval tales, and it is impossible to interfuse the two models for society. Chivalry is a masculine code, an aggressive discipline, whereas courtly love is based upon women - their needs, wants, and desires. The consistent problem if Lancelot and Guinevere’s adulterous relationship in differentRead More The Decline of Chivalry Explored in Araby and AP Essay1211 Words   |  5 Pagesrealize that romantic gestures—in fact, that the whole chivalric view [sic] --- are, in modern times, counterproductive†. These stories, despite the differences between the two characters, clearly show that the character’s world is changing, with chivalry becoming more obsolete. â€Å"Araby† tells the story of a young boy who romanticizes over his friend’s older sister. He spends a lot of time admiring the girl from a distance. When the girl finally talks to him, she reveals she cannot go to the bazaarRead MoreEssay about Chivalry in the Middle Ages: Illusion or Reality?1922 Words   |  8 PagesThe ideals of chivalry are inextricably linked with the medieval period, and even today it is an ideal we still pay lip service to. Many historians however have questioned whether the knights and nobility of the time actually took it any more seriously than we do. Johan Huizinga described it as â€Å"a cloak for a whole world of violence and self-interest† , an â€Å"illusion of society [that] clashed with the reality of things† , and in our rather cynical age, this is probably the predominant view of theRead MoreThe Code Of Chivalry And The Fundamental Thoughts And Actions Of Human Nature1499 Words   |  6 PagesMary Gamboa English 2223 Jennifer Smith 26 November 2015 Sir Gawain†¦ Chivalric? By analyzing Sir Gawain’s attempts of following the Code of Chivalry and the fundamental thoughts and actions of human nature helps to further analyze Gawain’s character. The definition of Chivalry is the â€Å"set of values and code of conduct for the medieval knightly class† (Shatz) examining Gawain’s attempts to achieve his goal of being the perfect chivalric knight, the nature of his obstacles has to beRead More Chivalry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Knight’s Tale, and Malory’s Morte2061 Words   |  9 Pages The term â€Å"chivalry† refers to one of the most popular medieval social ideals. Indeed, this term has excited the imagination of poets and readers throughout history, and modern cultures continue to revise the chivalric ideals of past ages. However, pinpointing what the term meant within the medieval period is difficult at best. The source of this difficulty lies within the fact that there was never one consistent definition for chivalry. Indeed, the meaning of the word seems to shift between