Age of Age of Chivalry Chivalry

The ideal KnightThe ideal Knight

Begins 5 centuries after Christ Begins 5 centuries after Christ 500 AD – decline of Roman 500 AD – decline of Roman

powerpower * Land ruled by numerous chiefs –at times united * Land ruled by numerous chiefs –at times united

mostly commonly at odds with one another. mostly commonly at odds with one another. Society was lawless and believed to lapse into Society was lawless and believed to lapse into

barbarism. Reasons:barbarism. Reasons: Mutual jealousy/rivalry among chiefsMutual jealousy/rivalry among chiefs Influence of the church = interpose for the Influence of the church = interpose for the

protection of the weakprotection of the weak Nature of man Nature of man

Generosity and sense of rightGenerosity and sense of right negated by negated by passion and selfishness (from this sprang passion and selfishness (from this sprang Chivalry)Chivalry)

Chivalry – framed ideal of the heroic character, Chivalry – framed ideal of the heroic character, combining invincible strength and valor, justice, combining invincible strength and valor, justice, modesty, loyalty to superiors, courtesy to equals, modesty, loyalty to superiors, courtesy to equals, compassion to weakness, and devotion to church.compassion to weakness, and devotion to church.

*An ideal, which, however difficult to actually *An ideal, which, however difficult to actually accomplish in real life was thought to be the accomplish in real life was thought to be the means of model for all knights.means of model for all knights.

*Chivalry comes from the French word *Chivalry comes from the French word chevalcheval, , meaning horse.meaning horse.

The Ideal KnightThe Ideal Knight

The privilege of being a knight fell upon The privilege of being a knight fell upon those youths that were of high standing those youths that were of high standing families and fortune. (The masses were families and fortune. (The masses were not supplied with weapons).not supplied with weapons).

Obtained the majority of his needs and Obtained the majority of his needs and living expenses from the gratitude of living expenses from the gratitude of those he served – they would supply him those he served – they would supply him with supplies, wants, needs, etc. with supplies, wants, needs, etc. depending on how valiant they were.depending on how valiant they were.

In times of warIn times of war a knight was responsible for a knight was responsible for the land he protected and commanding and the land he protected and commanding and watching over all property and possessions – watching over all property and possessions – to protect at all costs. to protect at all costs.

In times of peaceIn times of peace – competed in – competed in tournaments, etc. earned trophies and tournaments, etc. earned trophies and recognition for his commander. He would also recognition for his commander. He would also engage in adventures to honor his pledge – engage in adventures to honor his pledge – righting wrongs and enforcing the rights of righting wrongs and enforcing the rights of the land (or of what they believed to be right), the land (or of what they believed to be right), often to fulfill the love of his pledge or often to fulfill the love of his pledge or religion. = religion. = Knights ErrantKnights Errant

A Knight’s presence in general was a joyous A Knight’s presence in general was a joyous and uplifting occasion. They added an air of and uplifting occasion. They added an air of interest to their subjects lives – livened up the interest to their subjects lives – livened up the general public, places, etc. with their stories general public, places, etc. with their stories of adventure and their mannerisms.of adventure and their mannerisms.

The Training of a Knight The Training of a Knight A knight’s life began at the age of A knight’s life began at the age of

seven (a noble child)seven (a noble child) He was usually removed from his He was usually removed from his

father’s house and put under the father’s house and put under the care of a governor employed by their care of a governor employed by their future employer/masterfuture employer/master

The governor was responsible for providing The governor was responsible for providing the page with religious etiquette (respect the page with religious etiquette (respect and reverence for their lords and ladies) and reverence for their lords and ladies) **similar to a knight’s finishing school**similar to a knight’s finishing school

Also taught them the proprieties of custom, Also taught them the proprieties of custom, ceremonies, etc.ceremonies, etc.

At this age they were commonly referred to At this age they were commonly referred to as as a page or valeta page or valet

Their first duties included carving meat, waiting Their first duties included carving meat, waiting at table, and other menial tasks as instructed by at table, and other menial tasks as instructed by their master (not considered humiliating at that their master (not considered humiliating at that time).time).

They usually spent their leisurely hours They usually spent their leisurely hours learning to dance, play harp, hunt, learning to dance, play harp, hunt, navigation (mapping), fishing, wrestling, navigation (mapping), fishing, wrestling, falconry, jousting, and various other horse falconry, jousting, and various other horse military exercises.military exercises.

At a age 14 – became an esquire and At a age 14 – became an esquire and began his course as a swordsmanbegan his course as a swordsman Learns to vault on a horse, scale walls, run Learns to vault on a horse, scale walls, run

all in heavy armor, wield a battle-axe without all in heavy armor, wield a battle-axe without raising visor, wrestle and to perform all the raising visor, wrestle and to perform all the evolutions of horsemanship with grace.evolutions of horsemanship with grace.

In the same castle where they received their In the same castle where they received their education they were encouraged to choose a education they were encouraged to choose a lady of the court to pledge their service to – lady of the court to pledge their service to – all their words, sentiments, and actions were all their words, sentiments, and actions were directed.directed. The service of his mistress was the glory and The service of his mistress was the glory and

chief occupation of a knightchief occupation of a knight – the ultimate – the ultimate reward for his valor would be her smiles of reward for his valor would be her smiles of affection and gratitude.affection and gratitude.

““In the name of God, of St. Michael, and In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I make thee a knight; be St. George, I make thee a knight; be

valiant, courteous, and loyal.”valiant, courteous, and loyal.”

**At age 21 one At age 21 one reached full reached full knighthoodknighthood – – their/his education their/his education was complete was complete andand they were they were knighted.knighted.

Ceremony of knighthood Ceremony of knighthood

Fasted for a weekFasted for a week Spent several nights in prayer, Spent several nights in prayer,

confessed sins and received the confessed sins and received the sacramentsacrament

Clothed himself in white garments and Clothed himself in white garments and sword around his neck that he has sword around his neck that he has blessed by the priest in the hall where blessed by the priest in the hall where the ceremonies were to take place.the ceremonies were to take place.

Candidate then knelt with folded Candidate then knelt with folded arms before a presiding (or head) arms before a presiding (or head) knight who questioned his motives knight who questioned his motives and purposes in requesting admission and purposes in requesting admission to the rank of knighthood, to the rank of knighthood, administered him oaths and granted administered him oaths and granted his knighting. his knighting.

The entire congregation then handed The entire congregation then handed him his tools of the trade in him his tools of the trade in succession:succession:

Spurs, coat of mail, hauberk, armlet and Spurs, coat of mail, hauberk, armlet and gauntlet, and lastly his girded sword.gauntlet, and lastly his girded sword.

He then kneels in front of his He then kneels in front of his master who gave him the master who gave him the “accolade” or three strokes “accolade” or three strokes upon the shoulder or neck upon the shoulder or neck accompanied by these words:accompanied by these words:

““In the name of God, of In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I St. Michael, and St. George, I make thee a knight; be make thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, and loyal.”valiant, courteous, and loyal.”

He then received his helmet, He then received his helmet, shield and spear.shield and spear.

TournamentsTournaments

Originated in FranceOriginated in France Extremely gaudy – were very colorful and Extremely gaudy – were very colorful and

platform decorations varied in style, size platform decorations varied in style, size and shape.and shape.

The church condemned tournaments The church condemned tournaments because they usually led to fights and because they usually led to fights and quarrels among knights, which most quarrels among knights, which most commonly ended in death.commonly ended in death.

Knights fought with a lance and Knights fought with a lance and their purpose was to try and unhorse their purpose was to try and unhorse their opponent.their opponent. Supposed to be a display of skill Supposed to be a display of skill

however more commonly attention was however more commonly attention was drawn to adhering to the regulations. drawn to adhering to the regulations. These things were forbidden:These things were forbidden: To wound a horseTo wound a horse To use the point of their swordTo use the point of their sword Strike a knight once his visor was up and Strike a knight once his visor was up and

his helmet was removed.his helmet was removed.

The ladies who bestowed the prizes The ladies who bestowed the prizes such as a kiss, song or dance such as a kiss, song or dance rewarded them.rewarded them.

Every knight proclaimed his faith Every knight proclaimed his faith and service to his maiden before and service to his maiden before competing – staring into the stands competing – staring into the stands where she sat renewed his strengthwhere she sat renewed his strength In addition to looking her direction, he In addition to looking her direction, he

usually carried a favor from his maiden usually carried a favor from his maiden such as a scarf, veil, bracelet, or clasp of such as a scarf, veil, bracelet, or clasp of some sort, in which he attached to his some sort, in which he attached to his armor or helmet.armor or helmet.

If these charms were lost or destroyed in If these charms were lost or destroyed in battle she would send him a new favorbattle she would send him a new favor

Armor Armor

Mail armor – hauberkMail armor – hauberk Name derived from maille – Name derived from maille –

French word for meshFrench word for mesh 3 main types of mail:3 main types of mail:

Plate – solid plate metalPlate – solid plate metal Scale – metal rounded “scales” lain Scale – metal rounded “scales” lain

one over the otherone over the other Chain – linked metal (like a fence)Chain – linked metal (like a fence)