Chivalry code basics code#
“What develops as you get into the late 11th, 12th century is a sense that knights have to have a professional code if they’re going to be respected and respectable.”Įleventh-century epic poem, “ The Song of Roland,” is most frequently credited with outlining the code of chivalry, consisting of these five rules: Jennifer Goodman Wollock, a professor of medieval studies at Texas A&M University, notes the origins of chivalry: The word ‘chivalry’ comes from the French word for knight: “ chevalier.” During the Middle Ages, chivalry was essentially a tool developed to reign in the behaviors and enforce the responsibilities of medieval Christian knights. Women may think: “Is it sweet that he wants to walk on the street side of the sidewalk, or hold the door, or pay the check so I don’t have to?” Or is it all just stirring the pot, allowing women to be seen as ‘less capable’?Īctions executed on the basis of gender inequality are complicated, to say the least. We’re not saying Larry David is the authority on chivalry today in fact, comedy in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” often highlights David’s lack of finesse and social etiquette.īut the episode raises an interesting question: Should chivalry be dead?įor many women, the feeling of having a door opened, or having dinner paid for by a date gives pause- not because feminists don’t appreciate men’s affection, but because the concept of chivalry and chivalrous actions can imply lack of equality, or a classification of women as weak beings that must be doted on and protected. Later in the episode, David barges into the home of the woman and her fiancé, and (upon ruining their engagement) as the woman’s fiancé makes to leave, he opens the door for her and she says, “I don’t need you to hold the door for me, you prick!” It’s a ridiculous encounter involving David’s “equation” for door-holding-among other biased, oft-uncomfortable dialogues. But then, Dracor, God of Justice, has not always reigned supreme even in our history.She comes inside and asks David why he didn’t keep the door open-”I’m a woman, aren’t I?” He proceeds into Larry-David-esque stereotyped explanations: “I didn’t think you were the type to want a guy to hold the door open!” That many things which seem like basic values had to be spelled out. More interesting to my mind is that such a code had to be written. The lack of solid facts makes it fun to write about, but more subject to interpretation. The code from King Arthur’s court is perhaps the most famous, though much of this is shrouded in legend. There are other codes of chivalry, including the one espoused by the Duke of Burgundy in the 14th century, but it’s not really all that different from the list above. I could see how some of this code could really hamper a medieval knight.
![chivalry code basics chivalry code basics](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41IIui2Im5L._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_ML2_.jpg)
In my fantasy world, being chosen by Dracor, God of Justice, to be one of his Knights and following the code of chivalry imbues certain holy powers, including the ability to channel the god’s power to smite evil. The “at all times speak the truth” gives my Knights of Valor a great deal of trouble, and from time to time, they may have even had to interpret that vow a little creatively. Yes, some seem contradictory to me, too. A few of these seem redundant to me, and a few seem too bravado for my Knights of Valor, but I did think through all of them as I was creating my own code.
![chivalry code basics chivalry code basics](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51AP9F8gpCL._SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_ML2_.jpg)
![chivalry code basics chivalry code basics](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/projects/202/36314449960375.Y3JvcCw1NTMsNDMyLDI0LDYzNw.jpg)
Real knights in the days of yore had a code of chivalry that they were supposed to follow. I’ve never detailed all of the vows the Knights of Valor follow because that would bog down the story, but their code is very much based on historical precedent.
![chivalry code basics chivalry code basics](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b5/a2/b2/b5a2b2188af45abdc7bbc53a75b0b4e1.jpg)
While the Knights in my stories live by a moral code directly tied to the god they serve, that code wasn’t created in a vacuum. While I don’t feel the need to be rescued, thank you very much, I’ve always been drawn to the white knight. Why? Because I like the good boy, the knight in shining armor, so to speak. The Knights of Valor are a prominent part of my fantasy romance novels.