The Failures Of Knighthood During The Middle Ages

In the Medieval Period, knights dedicated their lives to following the code of chivalry. In Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, a number of characters performed chivalrous acts to achieve the status of an ideal knight. Their characteristics of respect for women and courtesy for all, helpfulness to the weak, honor, and skill in battle made the characters King Arthur, King Pellinore, and Sir Gryfflette examples of a what knights strove to be like in Medieval society. Because of the examples ofchivalry, Le Morte d’Arthur showed what a knight desired to be, so he could improve theworld in which he lived.

Knights are one of the most mistaken figures of the medieval era due to fairytales and over exaggerated fiction novels. When medieval knights roamed the earth, it was known that they were only human and, like humans, had faults. These knights did not always live up to the standards designated by society. However, in The Canterbury Tales, the knight is revealed as a character that would now be considered a knight in shining armor, a perfect role model in how he acts and what he does. Modern day people see them as chivalrous figures instead of their actual role as mounted cavalry soldiers. As time passes, the idea of what a knight is changes from a simple cavalry soldier to a specific type of behavior.

Chivalry was relevant in many ways in the Middle Ages. High expectations of virtuous and noble behavior on behalf of God, the church, and those the church marked as worthy of protection were the Christianized form of chivalry (Gregory-Abbott). “The ideal chivalric knight was brave, loyal, and determined as well as compassionate, just,

During the Middle Ages, concepts like courtly love and chivalry were being recognized as a moral code for knights to live their lives by. Sir Gawain and

At this point in history the men who fought the wars were lead by their leaders with a code of chivalry. Chivalry can be explained as “the Anglo-Saxon code on steroids.” (McGee) Which is, explained further, a moral system for a good way to conduct fighting. The knights in Arthurian time went even further with that code to say that it was a way to conduct oneself not only in battle, but at all times. Knights, by being chivalrous, were kind to all people, fought well and true, kept faith and believed in the Christian God, and fought for their kings. Chivalry can be found across the Arthurian texts, The Song of Roland is one of the texts that has multiple examples of chivalry.

A knight's role in society during the middle ages is to be a sacrificial pawn to the king. During the medieval times, the knight class is under the king and lords classes; however, they were also within the nobility rank. In exchange for land and food, they are obligated to assist and support their lord and king. They must be physically and mentally prepared to forfeit their lives when they fight for and protect their lord no matter the occasion. According to the code of chivalry, they must serve their king and remain loyal always. In addition, a chevalier cannot act on their own accord if the consequences include betrayal of the king, thus they must remain selfless. All the chevaliers have their flaws; however, the other three knights

The chivalric code is a code of conduct associated with the medieval institution of knighthood. Boys who were to become knights grew up around values that include comportment, courtesy, cleanliness, and religion. At a later year in a boy’s development, he would study under a knight to learn riding and all the skills of war, as well as hunting, hawking, and other sports that were encouraged by the knightly code of honor. As the knights developed, there came a time for the knight in training to swear to the knightly code. The knightly code asked to protect the weak, defenseless, and helpless, and fight for the general welfare of all people. This code was rarely lived up to, but it remained the standard for chivalry and proper

Literally, chivalry means, “The sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms (Random). Chivalry is most known from the middle ages; the time of the knights and kings. There was even something known as the knight’s code of chivalry. All knights were to sympathize with the elderly and the orphans, never accept a reward, always fight to help others, always obey authority, protect their fellow knights’ honor, compete against unfairness, always keep faith, never lie or deceive anyone, respect women, and never refuse a challenge (Knights). The knights of the middle ages lived by 12 points which were faith, charity, justice, sagacity, prudence, temperance, resolution, truth,

What does it mean to be chivalrous? Chivalry is the ideal qualities of a knight. “The Code of Chivalry was the honor code of the knight. The Code of Chivalry was an important part of the society and lives of people who lived during the Medieval times and was understood by all.” (Alchin, Linda, 2014) According to the knights in the Medieval times, The Code of Chivalry was law; you must obey, no questions about it. To be a knight you must have courage to fight the battles places in front of you. You must have honor and be afraid to lose it, because once it is gone you can never fully recover it, keep it sacred. You must be loyal to whomever is in the rank above you, and if

Chivalry in the 14th century was greatly emphasized as a huge part of the lifestyle and moral code for medieval knights. The infrastructure of this paradigm includes honor, honesty, loyalty, valor, courtesy, religion and purity. Even

To begin, chivalry is the code of conduct that knights were sworn to follow. That included their devout mind to always worship the king, God, and even women. The biggest aspect of chivalry is the way it has governed their behavior. They were always under pressure to always do justice, and be the one to do it right. In the story of King Arthur he said this, “…this day have I sore missed thee.

The code knights of the Middle Ages followed laid out strict guidelines for them. They were expected be top class and perfect in many ways. Of the strict rules they followed, there were also several traits a knight was expected to exhibit. These traits of bravery, loyalty and generosity are outlined in the novel, I am Mordred.

The legend of King Arthur revolves around the Knights Code of Chivalry. Although there was not an official Code of Chivalry, there were a multitude of well-known ideals that all knights were to represent. It was a system of morals that introduced certain qualities idealized outside of battle – qualities such as bravery, courtesy,

The image of a knight was not always romantic nor was it noble. It was not until after the Norman Conquest that the term “knight” began to signify nobility. As the image a knight shifted to represent an elite member of society, The Catholic Church developed a chivalric code in order to govern the behavior of knights. (Rogers 263-264). According to chivalric code, knights were bound to defend society, treat women with honor and respect, remain faithful to God, and exemplify courtly love, the desire or a need to serve a noble woman (Rogers 100). However, while most knights attempted to follow the chivalric code very few of them were able to become perfect knights (Corrick 35). The concepts of chivalry and a perfect knight are prominent in Chaucer’s description of the knight in the general prologue (Rogers100-101).

Chivalry refers to the lifestyle and moral code following by medieval knights they pledged their loyalty and services to their lord. Chivalry included the values of honor, valor, courtesy and purity, as well as loyalty to a lord, a cause, or a noblewoman. They