Chivalry May 2026

: Chivalry was established to curb the brutal tendencies of medieval knights, who were heavily armed and often prone to senseless violence.

: It served as a means for the nobility to distinguish themselves from lower classes through refined manners and "courtly" standards. Core Tenets of the Chivalric Code chivalry

Chivalry is an informal code of conduct associated with the medieval institution of knighthood that developed in France between 1170 and 1220. Originally derived from the Old French word chevalier (horseman), it functioned as a framework of social, religious, and military ideals designed to govern the behavior of the elite warrior class. : Chivalry was established to curb the brutal

While no single official list of rules existed, several historical texts, such as the Song of Roland and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight , highlight recurring virtues: Originally derived from the Old French word chevalier

: The Christian Church promoted these ideals to transform warriors into defenders of the faith and protectors of society's most vulnerable, such as widows and orphans.