Tracing Chivalry Through Knighthood
Throughout my semester of studies on knighthood, I have noticed two major swings in its goal. At first the knight existed only as a vassal, a mounted warrior for fighting. Then as the first crusade came around in 1095 it turned the knights attentions to their new quest in Jerusalem. As many joined the ranks of such sects as the knights of the temple, their job became increasingly religious and their status became one of the church. The second transformation comes with the appearance of court life. As the knights became more entangled in the ways of court life, the code of morals known as chivalry becomes more refined and available to fewer people. At the same time, with the appearance of the knight in the court came a more elite and aristocratic type of knight. This being said, the chivalry of the 12th and 13th centuries can be explained as a culmination of the elitist ideals of knighthood along with the social pressures of the courts and the times. To best be able to describe the evolution of the 13th century knight we must first understand its roots, its origins. The origins of knighthood has always been the feudalistic society of the 8th century. The Frankish
In the ³Death of Arthur,² when Lancelot has defeated Mador,²Lancelot, who knew Mador well... saw that he had driven him to the point where he could kill him if he wished, and took pity on him.²(107) This passage shows Lancelot¹s compassion for the weak and his mercy. Here is where I see some of what make¹s 13th century chivalry different. It seems as if the focus is on projecting an image of ones self on one¹s opponent in a way that says, ³I am better than you.² It is all about being in the commanding position, proving one¹s power by letting the opponent live. It seems as if these knights live for the feeling of giving mercy. This is shown again on page 145, when Arthur says, ³Did you see what Lancelot did for me today? He was in the position to kill me but refused to touch me. In faith, today he has surpassed in goodness and courtesy all the Knights I have ever seen;²(145) While in truth, they are engaged in a war where many men are being killed, it seems to be that this chivalry is focused more on the merciful and gallant side of war. But this is all was going to change. Knights would be drawn away from their meager household duties towards the east in God¹s crusade of 1095-1099. The feudal society had become to rough and tumble for many, especially those associated with the church. These indebted vassals were fighting and rampaging though the countryside at will. These sentiments were much of the motivation for what came to be known as the peace and truce of God. The peace of God was a papal decree that protected certain individuals from violence at all times. These people were the clergymen, as well as all women. The truce of God put strict limits of when fighting could occur between anyone at all. Declared at the diocese of Cologne in 1083, this was the church¹s first step towards trying to bring some order to the chaos that was feudalism. What is chivalry then, this brings us up to about the 12th and 13th centuries, where all of the knightly concepts have matured through hundreds of years of trials and tests. The last great tale of the Arthurian world, chivalry in this context is at is ripened state.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Frankish Kingdom, William Marshal, Knighthood Throughout, Holy Grail, Lady Lake, Mador²Lancelot Mador, Neither Templars, Courtly Love², Grail² Lancelot, Death Arthur², social status, feats valor, william marshal, 12th 13th centuries, code morals, knight chivalry, 12th 13th, knights temple, court life, 11th century, 13th centuries,
Approximate Word count = 1950
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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