The Code of Chivalry

The cause behind the code of chivalry

Other Interesting Facts

The cause of the code of chivalry was the growing catholic church. The catholic church started the crusades to take back the holy land, “With the crusades as a "holy war" the pope needed the support of the nobles and knights of Europe to help him with his agenda of ridding Jerusalem of Islam, and returning the "land of Christ" to Christian sovereignty. By bestowing the title of Christian warriors to the knights”(Chivalry). This is where the values of the church and nobility collided.

*Chivalry was most often used only in noncombat situations. A knight didn’t want to get killed in battle because another knight was less chivalrous than him.

*As well as protecting and respecting women, knights were required to write love songs and poetry to win over his chosen lady.

*The word “chivalry” comes from the French word “chevalerie” which means “skills to handle a horse”. This word came about because the church wanted to regulate the violence associated with knights and war.

*During war, when nobles and knights were taken prisoner they were not killed. They were often spared, and held for ransom in somewhat comfortable conditions. However, anyone who got captured and was not a knight or noble were often slaughtered right after capture.

The Code of Chivalry Entails

 To fear God and maintain His Church

 To serve the liege lord in valour and faith

 To protect the weak and defenceless

 To give succour to widows and orphans

 To refrain from the wanton giving of offence

 To live by honour and for glory

 To despise pecuniary reward

 To fight for the welfare of all

 To obey those placed in authority

 To guard the honour of fellow knights

 To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit

 To keep faith

 At all times to speak the truth

 To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun

 To respect the honour of women

 Never to refuse a challenge from an equal

 Never to turn the back upon a foe

The decline

Two knights fighting, plate from 'A History of the Development and Customs of Chivalry', by Dr. Franz Kottenkamp, published by Carl Hoffmann, 1842 . Fine Art. Encyclopedia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 27 Oct 2014.

Man with rifle and dog / Photo / 1890. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 27 Oct 2014.

The code of knighthood/chivalry fell out of fashion when knights fell out of fashion. In the 14th century feudalism was on the way out and with it went the knights that had remained loyal to their lords. Instead of soldiers being called to fight to protect their lands they were now hired like mercenaries and as such were not bound by the same agreements that were under feudalism, their loyalties were to whom ever paid them. Another thing that caused knights to become obsolete was the invention of gunpowder. Why have a man in an expensive suit of armor when he could easily be taken down by a rifle man?

Illustration of barrel containing gunpowder with fuse lit. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 27 Oct 2014.

The Code of Chivalry

By Kadie Hartman, Richie Baker, Jennifer Wiley, SJ Lewis and Garret Newbill