Noblemen In Medieval Society

Literature of the Middle Ages can not be discussed without acknowledging the undeniable importance of chivalry. Chivalry in relation to the middle ages is defined as “the code of conduct adhered to by Medieval knights with gallant knightly values including honor, bravery, courteousness and honesty.” This key characteristic is essential in defining an ideal knight as well as his expectations. A knight must live by a chivalric code in which he becomes indebted to the people, his fellow knights, and most importantly, his lord. No other knight displayed more of a devotion to upholding the code then Lanval of Marie de France’s lai “Lanval.” Lanval demonstrates his chivalric nature in essential every action from maintaining comitatus amongst the

In the time period between 1066 and 1485, better known as the medieval age, a set of standards and how people are placed into order of importance in society is known as feudalism. In this caste system there are four groups; Kings, Barons, Vassals, and Serfs. The main individual of focus comes from the vassals, better known as the knight. Knights from this time period start out around 7 years old and are taught a code of chivalry (code of conduct) and the basics of knight hood. The knight in the Wife of Bath’s tale forcibly violates a young madden and punished with execution by decapitation. He is saved by the queen but is sent on a twelve month and a day quest. The knight in the Wife of Bath’s Tale doesn’t display chivalry by his actions

The term noble is used to describe someone “having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals” according to The Oxford English Dictionary. Sir Gawain of “Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady”, retold by Selina Hastings, is a courageous, loyal man who endures through challenging times. Sir Gawain’s character is a combine fusion of these fine personal qualities making him a noble knight.

• Age of chivalry emerges as knights become highly valued and respected for their loyalty and military

The chivalric code involved the training and passing of skills to the knights for them to acquire a particular behavior in their service for the kings and queens who they worked under especially in the medieval era.1 The skills that knights were to acquire involved bravery, honesty, generosity and unquestioning service to their Lords. Keen affirms that the code was strict and involved activities aimed at ensuring

The value of nobility in the middle ages can hardly be questioned. The majority of nobles lived a life of luxury, having riches beyond the wildest dreams of commoners. When one thinks of medieval knights, nobility is often comes to mind, but did knights have to be members of the noble class? Sir Thomas Malory’s “The Tale of Sir Gareth” examines this question and presents an interesting view as to the true value of a knight. Malory uses the actions of important characters to reveal his opinion that the nobility of a knight was secondary to his integrity, courage, and benevolence.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘Chivalry’ as “the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood,” (“Chivalry”). The late Letitia Baldridge, who served as the White House Social Secretary for Jacqueline Kennedy as well as an advisor for many more first ladies, has been quoted with saying “Chivalry isn 't dead. It 's just no longer gender-based,” (Baldrige). Baldrige, who was the author of more than twenty books on subjects ranging from etiquette to business and interior design, has also been recognized as amongst some of America’s first woman small business owners (Baldrige). Whereas the concept of chivalry has evolved over the years, a perfect example of its meaning can be found in the fourteenth century poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The poem opens with allusions to Greek and Roman history and eventually sets the story on Christmas in Camelot with King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew and a knight in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, faces trials and temptations that one would typically expect from a knight of the round table. Through careful and juxtaposed analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and articles by reputable authors, this paper will examine the theme a knight’s chivalric code in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the transformation of Sir Gawain as he faces multiple trials.

Dictionary).  At the beginning of the Middle Ages, chivalry was strictly pigeon holed by its followers and members into only protecting religious pilgrimages and to maintain the church of God, to serve in valor and combat, and to bind oneself to courtly etiquette and the respect and protection of women.  Many of these beliefs and ideals stemmed from medieval literature, especially influenced by Spanish and Arabic literature, such as Arabian Nights, bringing forth

Chivalry was relevant in many ways in the Middle Ages. High expectations of virtuous and noble behavior on behalf of God, the church, and those the church marked as worthy of protection were the Christianized form of chivalry (Gregory-Abbott). “The ideal chivalric knight was brave, loyal, and determined as well as compassionate, just,

During the Middle Ages, concepts like courtly love and chivalry were being recognized as a moral code for knights to live their lives by. Sir Gawain and

Young boys, usually age seven, were sent to castles or to wealthy people’s houses. There, they would start their training. The ranks of a knight-in-training showed how long he had been working towards knighthood. The ranks are from least to greatest: page, squire, and knight. From age seven to fourteen, the boys trained as medieval pages. From age fourteen to twenty-one, they were squires. Squires were like servants to knights; they would put their armor on, polish the armor, hand the knight weapons in tournaments, etc. The older the boys got and the more training they had, the closer they got to becoming a knight. At about age twenty-one, if the squire’s master believed he was ready to become a knight, he would be knighted. When a squire was knighted, he was tapped on the shoulder with a sword by the king, queen, his lord, or the knight he was squire to. Not all squires became knights, though. If a squire became too mature or was not capable of being a knight, he would be an “Arma Patrina”. When a squire did become a knight, he earned the title “Sir”. As well as learning basic combat, A

One can interpret that the practices of chivalry impacted the daily lives of those within positions of power as well as those who had swore fealty, and through knighthood promised to defend their realms. Through the strict moral codes of chivalry individuals are expected to give their life in service of both god, liege and the betterment of society in return for the reward of honour and nobility within Middle Ages society. Overall it is through the concept of chivalry that the upstanding loyalty to both one’s liege and to God is enforced, and the idea that chivalry defines the Medieval age is one that can be embraced to a large

There were several steps involved in the process of becoming a knight. First, once a nobleman’s son was around seven years old, he would be sent off to a castle owned by a knight and would be taught how to become a knight. Then he would become the knight’s page. Most boys were pages for six or seven years, during which they learnt many of the basic skills of knighthood. These included learning to ride and care for a horse, training to fight, learning manners, learning how to hunt, and learning to care for armour and equipment. He would also learn how to appreciate music and to read, and some were even taught how to play the lute.

The Knight as described by Chaucer, is a man of great stature. Like other knights of this time, he was usually accompanied by royalty and “had embarked with many a noble host” (Canterbury 62). The Knight was a far cry from the corrupt characters in this tale because unlike them, he did not abuse his power. The attire of the Knight proved that he not only worked hard but also lived modestly. Although he was wealthy, his cloaks did not readily support that fact, for “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark” (Canterbury 77). He was so admired for his chivalrous nature that many referred to him as “a true, perfect gentle-knight” (Canterbury

Chivalry was considered to be the code of behavior expected of a knight. It was the conduct, ideas, and ideals of the knightly class of the Middle Ages. It became standardized and referred to as chivalry, a term derived from the French word chevalier, meaning knight. The code urged the knight to be brave, courageous, honorable, true to his word, and loyal to his feudal overlord, and to defend his Church. A knight was truthful, honest, capable, educated, physically fit, noble, sincere, and subservient to the king. A serious violation of these vows could result in a knight being classed as an undignified knight, which was the ultimate insult because of all the hard work that was put into becoming a knight. It made it seem as if all of work