![]() In English, the term appears from 1292 (note that cavalry is from the Italian form of the same word). Therefore, during the Middle Ages, the plural chevalerie (transformed in English into the word "chivalry") originally denoted the body of heavy cavalry upon formation in the field. The French word chevalier originally meant "a man of aristocratic standing, and probably of noble ancestry, who is capable, if called upon, of equipping himself with a war horse and the arms of heavy cavalryman and who has been through certain rituals that make him what he is". In origin, the term chivalry means "horsemanship", formed in Old French, in the 11th century, from chevalerie (horsemen, knights), itself from the Medieval Latin caballarii, the nominative plural form of the term caballārius. God Speed by English artist Edmund Leighton, 1900: depicting an armoured knight departing for war and leaving his beloved The code of chivalry, as it stood by the Late Middle Ages, was a moral system which combined a warrior ethos, knightly piety, and courtly manners, all combining to establish a notion of honour and nobility. Over time, its meaning in Europe has been refined to emphasize more general social and moral virtues. ![]() Originally, the term referred only to horse-mounted men, from the French word for horse, cheval, but later it became associated with knightly ideals. The term "chivalry" derives from the Old French term chevalerie, which can be translated as " horse soldiery". It arose in the Carolingian Empire from the idealisation of the cavalryman-involving military bravery, individual training, and service to others-especially in Francia, among horse soldiers in Charlemagne's cavalry. The code of chivalry that developed in medieval Europe had its roots in earlier centuries. All of these were taken as historically accurate until the beginnings of modern scholarship in the 19th century. The ideals of chivalry were popularized in medieval literature, particularly the literary cycles known as the Matter of France, relating to the legendary companions of Charlemagne and his men-at-arms, the paladins, and the Matter of Britain, informed by Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written in the 1130s, which popularized the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. It was associated with the medieval Christian institution of knighthood knights' and gentlemen's behaviours were governed by chivalrous social codes. 1a: The History of Bretonnia, pg.Konrad von Limpurg as a knight being armed by his lady in the Codex Manesse (early 14th century)Ĭhivalry, or the chivalric code, is an informal and varying code of conduct developed in Europe between 11.1: Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (5th Edition).A Knight shall not retreat from the enemy.A Knight shall not himself to be captured.A knight shall not draw sword against a fellow Bretonnian Knight except in a trial by combat or in a tournament.A knight shall always accept a challenge to personal combat.A Knight may not use a missile weapon they may only fight hand-to-hand.These so-called rules date back to the very origins of knights in Bretonnia and which are rarely broken but which can be redeemed by a Grail quest, pledging to the service of a lady or superior knight or a feat of arms greater than his dishonour. Later this would evolve to become the knightly system, complete with castles, squires and men at arms. In return he would constantly train and protect the settlement from any foe, no matter how terrible and how many there might be. They would be housed in a watchtower and were entitled to take the fairest maiden as his wife. Originally the bravest young man in a village was required to be provided with the best arms and armour that they could afford, he and his warhorse would be given the best food and drink. ![]() Īlthough there were various traditions for the mounted warriors of the Bretonni tribe it was the son of Gilles le Breton, Louis who formulated the code as one of his first actions after being crowned king of Bretonnia. Never break faith with a friend and ally.Never give up the fight until the foe is defeated. ![]() Always fight the enemies of virtue and order.Protect the weak and fight for the right.When setting out on his initial errand a Knight Errant must vow upon his sword to follow these commandments and it is believed that failure to do so will mean his sword will fail him in battle. ![]()
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