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Chivalry

Chivalry: Encyclopedia - Chivalry

See also order of chivalry Chivalry1 refers to the medieval institution of knighthood and, most especially, the ideals that were/have become associated with it throughout literature. It was also often associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and of courtly love. Chivalry was in essence a warrior code which was later appropriated and propagated by the Church which added the Christian aspects. The Church intended to make the mounted soldiers of the Middle Ages into Christian knights who would protect t ...

Including:

Chivalry - Other meanings

Chivalry - Notes

Chivalry, Chivalry - Notes, Chivalry - Other meanings, Bushido, Chivalric order, Chivalric romance, Courtly love, Court of Chivalry, Don Quixote, Feliciano de Silva, Futuwa, Jomsvikings, Pas d'Armes, Xia

Chivalry: Encyclopedia - Chivalry

Chivalry

See also order of chivalry

Chivalry¹ refers to the medieval institution of knighthood and, most especially, the ideals that were/have become associated with it throughout literature. It was also often associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and of courtly love.

Chivalry was in essence a warrior code which was later appropriated and propagated by the Church which added the Christian aspects. The Church intended to make the mounted soldiers of the Middle Ages into Christian knights who would protect the church and society rather than of ravage it.

The word comes ultimately from the Latin caballus, or "nag". (This word developed into the term for "horse" in languages descended from Vulgar Latin.) The French chevalier, the Spanish caballero, and the English cavalier derive their names from the same word. The intention, in all these cases, is to distinguish the aristocratic knight on horseback from the peasant infantryman walking with his pike and the artilleryman dragging his vulgar machinery.

In war, the chivalrous knight was idealized as brave in battle, loyal to his king and God, and willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Towards his fellow Christians and countrymen, the knight was to be merciful, humble, and courteous. Towards noble ladies above all, the knight was to be gracious and gentle. The idealized relationship between knight and lady was that of courtly love.

Chivalry - Other meanings

In a contemporary context, chivalry denotes courteous behaviour, especially towards women.

Bushido, Chivalric order, Chivalric romance, Courtly love, Court of Chivalry, Don Quixote, Feliciano de Silva, Futuwa, Jomsvikings, Pas d'Armes, Xia

Chivalry - Notes

Note 1: Etymology: English from 1292, loaned from Old French chevalerie "horsemanship," from chevaler "horseman" from Medieval Latin caballarius "horseman"; cavalry is from the Middle French form of the same word.