![]() The code has since been described as Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry. ![]() The 'Song of Roland' describes the 8th century Knights of the Dark Ages and the battles fought by the Emperor Charlemagne. Most Holy Lord, Almighty Father … thou who hast permitted on earth the use of the sword to repress the malice of the wicked and defend justice … cause thy servant here before thee, by disposing his heart to goodness, never to use this sword or another to injure anyone unjustly but let him use it always to defend the just and right.Ī Code of Chivalry was documented in an epic poem called 'The Song of Roland'. Quoted by Grant Uden, in A Dictionary of Chivalry, the knight's code of conduct was fixed in a knightly prayer carved in stone at the cathedral of Chartres in France, one that expresses the chivalric ideal: ![]() He was to be courteous, especially to women brave loyal to his leaders and concerned about the welfare of his subordinates, or those of lesser rank and position. Each knight had to swear that he would defend the weak, the poor, widows, orphans, and the oppressed. As the pope's warriors, knights were bound by a code of honor, the code of chivalry. In many early texts, "chivalry" refers simply to the actual ranks of a mounted army, that is, to "troops." In time, though, the word came to stand for much more, in particular, a code of behavior and ethics to which all knights were expected to hold.ĭuring the Crusades the Pope called on young men from wealthy families to go on a holy war against Muslims and free Jerusalem from their rule. Only those who could control and direct the strength and speed of a horse were likely to survive armed combat, although peasants and commoners, in contrast to members of the nobility, had to take their chances on foot. It comes from the Old French word chevalerie, which means something like "skill in handling a horse." In an age before guns, gunpowder, and cannons, warfare with lances and swords required the knight to battle his opponent personally and up close. The word "chivalry" originates in the Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, and French).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |