WHAT IS CHIVALRY ?

Chivalry is the term that designates the feudal institution of Knights and the set of values associated with the latter. Literature mainly developed those as being: Prowess (courage), Loyalty (Honor), Largess (Generosity), as well as the notion of Courtly Love.
The word comes from the French “cheval”, which itself comes from the Latin “caballus” and means ‘horse’, or rather ‘steed’. Indeed, Knights were those wealthy enough to afford the buying, caring, feeding and sheltering of a horse !!!

Chivalry has developed its own customs and values, notably under the influence of the Clergy and the Troubadours’ songs, praising Courtesy (fin’amor in Old French). From the mere military function which consisted in defending the Aristocracy of Landowners, Chivalry quickly became a Brotherhood, then a Social Group, and finally an Institution. Some traditions are remarkable, such as the ceremony of the dubbing. The traditional virtues of Chivalry, seen through the prismatic eye of vernacular literature, are pity, humbleness, bravery, courtesy, faith, and honor.

A knight belongs to the House of a Lord, the latter needing to be surrounded with professional combatants who could help him maintain order. In the 10th Century, because of the feudal system, Knights were vassals to their Lord. He imposes feudal order, justice, and the respect of customs via his strength.

We have to be careful not to associate automatically the notion of Knighthood with the one of Nobility. Even though most Medieval Romance depicts Chivalry as an ‘Order’, it was in the end rather composite socially speaking. In fact, in the Middle Ages, Nobility was not a status or a privilege but rather a ‘quality of variable intensity’. Though, if all Knights are not Nobles, most of the Nobles wanted to be recognized as Knights. Indeed, the model Knighthood inspired all, as well as its ideal, sharing the values of prowess and loyalty, was a source of jealousy. Aristocracy then little by little made themselves Knights.

Every Knight was not a full-time warrior, there were peasant Knights. Indeed, the Knight is humble. He eats at the table of the Lord, has an adventurous life, but his generally of mediocre origins. Chivalry has been a social elevator for many men. However, some Knights had a Noble lineage. It included the youngest bachelor son of a Noble family, not married yet; those who had no heritage; or those whose purity of blood was questioned, considered as ‘bastards’.

At the beginning of the 13th Century, royal legislations of France, Germany and other Kingdoms stipulated that the Title of Knight could only be accessed by those of Chivalric lineage. Thus it was common for a Knight to consider his best apprentice as his adoptive child, thus giving him the privilege to become a Knight.