Chivalry

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Chivalry

What was chivalry? In researching this paper, it is not hard to see that the concept of chivalry that we have today is a drastic change from the concept the knights’ held. It is not hard to see how it has changed throughout the generations. The word chivalry is derived from the French word cheval which is from the Latin caballus. It is a concept is to be considered from three points of view: the military, the social, and the religious.
By military standards during the Middle Ages, chivalry was actually another name for the cavalry, and the knight was the professional soldier of the time. At this time the infantry was in decline, and the cavalry was the mainstay of the armies. A chivalrous knight was characterized in battle by the fact that he had at least three horses, four or more attendants, and flags portraying his family crest.
The squires, or the knight’s attendants in training, always went with the knight into battle. It is through training for battle and service to the knight that a young squire would learn the code of chivalry and eventually become a knight.
There are 36 points to the code of chivalry, and there are ten commandments of chivalry followed by knights. Among them include: “Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions. Thou shalt defend the Church. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them. Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. Live to serve King and Country. Live to defend Crown and Country and all it holds dear. Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect and honor. Live for freedom, justice and all that is good. Never attack an unarmed foe. Never use a weapon on an opponent not equal to the attack. Never attack from behind. Avoid lying to your fellow man. Avoid cheating. Avoid torture.” (Chivalry by Leon Gautier and From the Rifts: The England Su...