#Medieval europe knights code#

Instead, he agreed to be called the Defender of the Holy Sepulcher.

Godfrey, in a gesture that ticked all the chivalric boxes, refused and piously argued that no one should wear a golden crown in the city where Christ had worn the crown of thorns. GodfreyвЂ™s fame and prestige among the diverse group of barons commanding the Crusade grew so that, when the crusaders succeeded in reclaiming Jerusalem from Islamic rule in 1099, they offered Godfrey the throne of the new kingdom of Jerusalem. Godfrey was the son of Count Eustace II of Boulogne and Ida of Lorraine, and together with his brothers helped lead the First Crusade in 1096. ( The Templars got rich fighting for God-then lost it all.) After the 14th century, he was included among the so-called Nine Worthies: nine men through the ages (some historical, others legendary) deemed to have embodied the ideals of chivalry. One of the earliest and most representative examples of a chivalrous knight was Godfrey of Bouillon (circa 1060-1100). In courtly love, the knight promised to serve his lady in the same way that a vassal promised to serve his king. In a display of courtly love, Count Kraft von Toggenburg III approaches his lady in a tower.

Its splendid miniatures showcase an idealized version of the life that knights aspired to embody. The Codex Manesse is a richly illustrated work from the first half of the 14th century that brings together many poetic compositions of the MinnesaМ€nger (Germanic troubadours). Literary models influenced the behavior of real knights, while real knights offered abundant material for writers of literary accounts. In fact, the line between historical record and literary invention is often blurred. One way to truly understand the nature of knighthood in this period is to meet some of the knights themselves, whether historical figures like Richard the Lionheart, or literary ones. The importance of chivalric culture in storytelling persists today through its extensive use in fantasy fiction and fandom, gaming, animation, television shows, and movies. Literature about knights, such as those of the legendary King Arthur and his court, became popular and would have a profound influence on the origins of the European novel. Knightly ideals can be grouped into three strands: noble birth, Christian values, and military prowess. According to various origin stories, the Round Table was created by the magician Merlin, in imitation of the table at ChristвЂ™s Last Supper, for Uther Pendragon, ArthurвЂ™s father.

#Medieval europe knights code#

These nobles pledged to follow a code of honor in service to God, king, and country. Dedicated to ensuring peace in the mythical kingdom of Camelot (hard won by Arthur after early wars), the knights represented chivalry in its purest form. The Knights of the Round Table were heroes of the realm in BritainвЂ™s Arthurian legend.