Chivalry Research Paper

Chivalry, or the chivalrous code, is a code of conduct covered with the medieval institution of knighthood from which the western idea of good manners developed. It means that people sacrifice or give up something they have then achieve some specific purpose. People like to praise this spirit, but not everyone is willing to do so. This spirit can be traced back to the song of Roland 1100 C.E. Roland, a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne, made an arrogant decision in not choosing to blow the horn to signal Charlemagne’s troops to his aid. He thought his death was the result of his loyalty to his lord, even though Oliver, Roland’s best friend and brother-in-law, argued about Roland’s command decision and advised probably would have saved

the rearguard. Roland dies a martyr. He dies of a self. The significance seems to be perfect fealty to the lord. Nowadays, more and more people have disobedient ideas by nature that it may end up costing us far more than we have ever thought, including immorality, crimes, and other sinful activities. Strong states that “death of Roland” which obviously presents the significant value of fealty . There are three main methods to cause that fealty can help leader control society well, including faith, responsibility, and honor.
The first method that causes people have fealty is that leader should set up a righteous faith as their policy. The reason that Roland can prevail over all dissenting views and decide not to blow the horn is as an Christian, his faith is greater than anything. At that time, each empire uses a religion as their state religion. It is an established church that is a religious group accepted by the state to control their people in mind. This kind of action is limited in person, but it is successful in military management. According to the Song of Roland, “The glory of Roland’s death contradicts such an interpretation. he dies a martyr. The significance seems to be lie less in his flaws than in how his perfect fealty to the Lord, as shown in particular by his recognition of the absoluteness of the values that the Franks are fighting for in Spain and his refusal to compromise with Saracens, makes his flaws irrelevant.” Basically , people always want to be improved, despite the impenetrable policy. In this case, the fealty that is given by faith can helpfully limit people’s ideas about the revolt.
Furthermore, responsibility is a necessary attitude for a team work.

When team member do not take responsibility for their actions, some managers may hope that the problem goes away. Others may try to remove these people from their team completely. The situation is likely to get worse if people just leave it alone. For example, Roland, as a military leader under Charlemagne, his decision determines the lives of rearguard and troops of Charlemagne. Each of his action must be responsible for his subordinates and their families. Oliver also was entangled, but he preferred to blow the horn to save rearguard in his position. However, in Roland’s position, his responsibility is to protect his Lord Charlemagne. His responsibility makes him not blow the horn and call his lord back, because that may cause damage to his lord and more people get into trouble. The poet balances these two as equally “marvelous vassals” depending on different positions. As Roland, his decision sacrifices him and the rearguard, but ensures the safety of his lord. On the other side, Oliver wants to save the rearguard because he is kind of vassal of Roland. He has to consider the safety of Roland and rearguard first, so he wants to blow the horn. In other words, people always make a decision based on their own responsibility that is related to their direct aim in order to swore their fealty to their

ruler.
As the effect of religion becomes more and more influenced in a nation, honor will occur in everybody’s heart so that honor becomes a particular aim that people pursue and make efforts to achieve it. Nicole emphasizes,“Throughout the medieval epic, the Song of Roland would make reader believe that Christians have the upper hand as a result of their favor with God.” Roland said to be noble vassals not only of Charlemagne, but ultimately of God himself. In that time, the most honorable role for any man was to be a vassal and serve a worthy lord. Even though Roland decides not to blow the horn to signal the aid, God overlooks this sin of pride and he dies a martyr as his soul is taken directly to heaven. In a feudal notions, it is ingrained that people are baptized by religion. The honorable and high death is the result of his fealty to his lord. For honor, unlike the more stable value of dignity, people would fight whatever they win or lose. It seems be the sublimation of faith, but it already becomes an aim that people pursue at all costs.
All in all, fealty gradually becomes a required component of standard that leaders need since medieval epic. Roland and Oliver both are “marvelous vassals” based on different positions. Both they want to protect their lord and perform their fealty. Roland’s death scene is one of the most powerful and memorable scenes in French literature, and his soul is escorted to heaven by saints and angels. From his fealty to his lord, it reflects how modern lead should control well society and people by some methods, including faith, responsibility, and honor. On the whole, fealty surely affects and changes people’s mind and action gradually.