Chivalry was a code of conduct for medieval knights that required them to protect the weak, especially women and the poor, and defend Christianity. It originated in the Middle Ages and peaked in popularity during the 12th and 13th centuries. Chivalry dictated knights serve their lords faithfully, defend their homeland, and combat heresy and enemies of the Church. Over time chivalry became associated more with courtly manners than martial service as the age of knights declined.

1. ChivalryChivalry

2. How it StartedHow it Started
► Chivalry set a high standard to the nobles of medievalChivalry set a high standard to the nobles of medieval
times. It is a code that medieval knights had to follow.times. It is a code that medieval knights had to follow.
► This code meant that knights had to protect women andThis code meant that knights had to protect women and
the poor. They should also respect Christianity and thethe poor. They should also respect Christianity and the
church.church.
► The poor and women cannot protect themselves, so theyThe poor and women cannot protect themselves, so they
needed knights to protect them.needed knights to protect them.

3. How Knights ActedHow Knights Acted
►A knight was not only expected to haveA knight was not only expected to have
strength and skills but to have a chivalrousstrength and skills but to have a chivalrous
side to his nature.side to his nature.
►Chivalry dates back to the Middle Ages.Chivalry dates back to the Middle Ages.

4. Ten Commandments of ChivalryTen Commandments of Chivalry
1.1. Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all itsThou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its
directions.directions.
2.2. Thou shall defend the Church.Thou shall defend the Church.
3.3. Thou shall respect all weaknesses, and defend the weakThou shall respect all weaknesses, and defend the weak
4.4. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou was born.Thou shalt love the country in the which thou was born.
5.5. Thou shalt not recoil before the enemy.Thou shalt not recoil before the enemy.
6.6. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and withoutThou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without
mercy.mercy.
7.7. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be notThou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not
contrary to the laws of God.contrary to the laws of God.
8.8. Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
9.9. Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.
10.10. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right andThou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and
the Good against Injustice and Evil.the Good against Injustice and Evil.

5. How Long Was it UsedHow Long Was it Used
►Chivalry was poplar during the 12Chivalry was poplar during the 12thth
and 13and 13thth
centuries.centuries.
►Then it deteriorated at the end of the middleThen it deteriorated at the end of the middle
ages.ages.
►The Middle Ages were a very chaotic time inThe Middle Ages were a very chaotic time in
Europe, but it created a long period ofEurope, but it created a long period of
renewed stability.renewed stability.

6. LawsLaws
► The churches prohibited battles or wars onThe churches prohibited battles or wars on
Sundays and holy days.Sundays and holy days.
► Christianity also influenced Chivalry through theChristianity also influenced Chivalry through the
Crusades.Crusades.
► They believed that knighthood could be a holyThey believed that knighthood could be a holy
form of life when used for Christian purposes.form of life when used for Christian purposes.
► In the 15In the 15thth
and 16and 16thth
centuries, chivalric idea andcenturies, chivalric idea and
customs continued to survive among thecustoms continued to survive among the
European nobility.European nobility.

7. Development of KnighthoodDevelopment of Knighthood
►Knighthood was originally a professionalKnighthood was originally a professional
association.association.
►It included those men who could afford toIt included those men who could afford to
make and maintain the heavy capitalmake and maintain the heavy capital
investment required by mounted warfareinvestment required by mounted warfare
(horse and armor).(horse and armor).
►It emerges in the 11th century, and itsIt emerges in the 11th century, and its
members are nobles as well as small land-members are nobles as well as small land-
holders, free men, craftsmen, etc.holders, free men, craftsmen, etc.
► http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/knights.htmhttp://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/knights.htm

8. The CrusadesThe Crusades
► The Crusades introducedThe Crusades introduced
the golden age of chivalry,the golden age of chivalry,
and the crusader was theand the crusader was the
pattern of the perfect knight.pattern of the perfect knight.
► For the distant expeditionsFor the distant expeditions
into the Middle East, theinto the Middle East, the
average time was two oraverage time was two or
three years.three years.
► The vow of the crusaderThe vow of the crusader
was limited to a specifiedwas limited to a specified
period.period.

9. Court ChivalryCourt Chivalry
► In its last stages, chivalry becameIn its last stages, chivalry became
a mere court service .a mere court service .
► Literature, which had in the past soLiterature, which had in the past so
greatly contributed to the makinggreatly contributed to the making
heroes of knights, now reacted againstheroes of knights, now reacted against
their expensive lifestyle.their expensive lifestyle.
► However, earlier it was the EnglishHowever, earlier it was the English
longbow that for the first time enabledlongbow that for the first time enabled
the peasant to kill an amoured knight.the peasant to kill an amoured knight.
► The lowly peasant was now asThe lowly peasant was now as
powerful as a mounted knight,powerful as a mounted knight,
changing their relationship forever.changing their relationship forever.

10. Ten Commandments of ChivalryTen Commandments of Chivalry
1.1. Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all itsThou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its
directions.directions.
2.2. Thou shall defend the Church.Thou shall defend the Church.
3.3. Thou shall respect all weaknesses, and defend the weakThou shall respect all weaknesses, and defend the weak
4.4. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou was born.Thou shalt love the country in the which thou was born.
5.5. Thou shalt not recoil before the enemy.Thou shalt not recoil before the enemy.
6.6. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and withoutThou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without
mercy.mercy.
7.7. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be notThou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not
contrary to the laws of God.contrary to the laws of God.
8.8. Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
9.9. Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.
10.10. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right andThou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and
the Good against Injustice and Evil.the Good against Injustice and Evil.