Medieval History - Chivalry

Did chivalry provide medieval aristocrats with anything more than a fantasy world into which to retreat

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Chivalry is defined as the ideal qualifications of a knight which includes all the characteristics of valor , courtesy , generosity and dexterity in arms . The code of Chivalry also states that a knight lives to defend crown and country . To protect , serve and follow the church Chivalry was the highest that a Knight has to follow . Others see it as the strictest of discipline among warriors clad in armor Perceived as defenders of the King

, the Church and the people , they uphold virtues and the ideals of the church During the Middle Ages knighthood was only limited to the nobles in society . Close relatives of the king to assume the role of knights . For them to become a knight they must embark on a ritual that will seal their loyalty and lives to the cause . As stated in the code of Chivalry , Thou shall remain faithful to thy pledged word . They are tasked to obey the s of the King , to defend the ideals of the church , and to protect the people , the weak and the innocent . They were in a of chivalry . During these times , they were the yielding force of the church . They were tasked with defending the principles of the clergy . If they were so ed to embark on a crusade or simply punish infidels who were a threat to the Eastern Church at that time . Knighthood is the privilege given to nobles . They are regarded , especially with their high class noble ranking as someone who will set themselves as good examples for the community . Nobility has the power to influence therefore it is regarded as something that must be done to show the correct path and persuade others to follow the path in the service of rightness . These were the much honored characteristics of chivalry during the middle ages . These the codes of discipline that guides a knight in practicing the most revered during those times . Others see chivalry as nothing else but a political veneer for the nobles during those times As the great historian Johan Huizinga , according to his works in his book , The Waning of the Middle Ages ' he stated there that

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Chivalry was nothing more than the nobles ' pastime . They glorified the ceremonies and the occasions garbled in robes and gold goblets , reliving the glorious days patterned after the idealistic values of Chivalry Conducting tournaments patterned after the styles of knights in armor jousting against each other . This according to Huizinga was nothing more than a pastime for the nobles in their search for identity and to profess and show their status in society . Historians also beg to differ to the functions of the Knights during medieval times . They claimed that the Knights primary function is to be the right arm of the church Yielding to every command that the church designates . They were supposed to live and uphold the very teachings...