The View on Chivalry as a Lifestyle of Medieval Knights

What was chivalry? 

Chivalry is a religious, moral and social code which helped distinguish the higher classes from those below them and which provided a means by which knights could earn themselves a favourable reputation so that they might progress in their careers and personal relations.

When a squire become a knight, one of the oaths he swore was to uphold the code of chivalry, a moral code that knights had to follow. Its rules governed many aspects of a knights life and involved courtesy, loyalty, honour and courtly love. The High Middle Ages was often referred to as the Age of Chivalry. Unfortunately, not all knights were good men and there are many knights in history who are recorded as being dishonourable, cruel or cowardly.

A squire would usually be made a knight at about the age of twenty. He would have either proved himself in battle or his lord. Would have decided that he was ready for knighthood. . A squire would be dubbed a knight after an elaborate ceremony. He would begin by purifying himself through prayer and fasting for a day and a night. He would then confesses sins to a priest, bathe and dress in a white tunic, which signified his purity. Over this tunic he would wear a robe to show his willingness to shed blood for God and for his lord. His shoes and hose, or tights, were black, symbolising death. He would attend a church service called a mass, have his sword and shield blessed and vow ‘to defend the weak, the orphan, the widow and women should receive his special care’. He would also swear allegiance to his lord, who would knight the squire by dubbing or patting him on each shoulder with the flat side of his sword.

There were 10 commandments for chivalry:

   1. Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches and thou shalt observe all its directions.

   2. Thou shalt defend the Church.

   3. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.

   4. Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.

   5. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.

   6. Thou shalt make war against the infidel without cessation and without mercy.

   7. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.

   8. Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.

   9. Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.

   10. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

Conclusion 

In medieval Europe, a code of ethics known as chivalry developed which included rules and expectations that the nobility would, at all times, behave in a certain manner. Chivalry was, in addition, a religious, moral and social code which helped distinguish the higher classes from those below them and which provided a means by which knights could earn themselves a favourable reputation so that they might progress in their careers and personal relations. Evolving from the late 11th century CE onwards, essential chivalric qualities to be displayed included courage, military prowess, honour, loyalty, justice, good manners, and generosity - especially to those less fortunate than oneself. By the 14th century CE the notion of chivalry had become more romantic and idealised, largely thanks to a plethora of literature on the subject and so the code persisted right through the medieval period with occasional revivals thereafter.ring the Medieval times and era. The Code of Chivalry was admired and understood by all.