The Knight's Code Of Chivalry In Medieval Times

One of the most fascinating time periods in history is a time called the Dark Ages, also known as the Medieval Times. These were times of knights and damsels in Distress. Such times are very mysterious to historians today, due to the fact that there was very little record keeping at the time. However, what little record keeping there was, tells tales that are not always believable. Stories of great castles and kingdoms that have never been found, dragons, and magic. One thing that has been very consistent throughout all the stories is the knight’s code of chivalry. The knights of the time, all followed an unspoken code of chivalry to each other and the weak whom they protected. “Defend the weak, protect both young and old, and never desert

your friends. Give justice to all, be fearless in battle and always ready to defend the right." (Jacques) The Medieval code of chivalry is mostly shown through the epic tales of King Arthur and his knights of the round table.
The first part of the unspoken code of chivalry is the importance of loyalty, one of the very obvious traits of Percival, a knight at King Arthur’s table.

Loyalty was a very valued virtue to the people of this time. Knights and kings were forced at times to place their lives in the hands of others during battles. Without loyal knights, there is no trust. “If you draw your sword against those you sworn to protect, the very ones who trust in your strength, how will you convince them that you are a shield when the dragons come and take them away?” (Davis) A knight’s sole duty was to protect each other, their king, and their kingdom. The best possible example of this would be king Arthurs knight, Percival. After Mordrid was born, and Arthur was cursed, all of the knights went on a valiant quest for the Holy Grail in order to save their beloved king. The quest literally lasted years and years with no success. Most of King Arthur’s knights were killed in the search for the Grail. However, despite his lack of success, Sir Percival remained diligent and sought out the Holy Grail for his king until he found and delivered it to him

personally.
Courage is very important to the medieval code of chivalry, such a trait can best be described by Sir Gawain when he faced the Green Knight. Courage is knowing you may not have a chance, but standing up anyways. As Atticus Finch once said, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” (Lee) A Green Knight appeared on New Year’s Eve and made a challenge to all of the knights in the room. However, part of the deal was, whatever that knight did to the Green Knight, he would have to travel to his lair one year later to receive the same fate. Sir Gawain bravely stood up and accepted the challenge. In their first encounter, Sir Gawain quickly and neatly beheaded his opponent. However, the Green Knight simply picked up his head and spoke. One year later, Sir Gawain showed courage and honored his promise even though he knew his chances of survival were slim. “The following November, Sir Gawain sets out to fulfill his promise to the Green Knight. For weeks, he travels alone through the cold, threatening the woods of North Wales.” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight) Despite his fears, he rode off to battle anyway, showing true courage.
Last but not least, the virtue of respect was highly valued in the medieval chivalric code, a trait that was shown best by the great leader, King Arthur. Arthur was not raised in a position of power; he was raised as a squire. This made Arthur one of the greatest kings in history according to legend. Though he displayed all of the virtues within the medieval code of chivalry, he was known greatest for his respect. No matter your age, education or upbringing, most of the people in the western hemisphere know of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Though his knights did not share his position of power, he treated them all as equals. “If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” (Rowling) King Arthur respected every one of his knights enough to give them an equal voice at the round table. He also greatly cared about each and every one of his knights. Before Arthur began his final battle with Mordred, as he looked upon his fallen knights he became enraged. “Then was King Arthur wood-wroth out of measure when he was his people so slain from him.” (Morte D’Arthur)
The medieval code of chivalry however, was derived from a much earlier time, when men were at war with the gods. In the times of the Greeks and the Romans, they did not have such a thing as a code of chivalry. However, the medieval code of chivalry did take many aspects of Greek and Roman epic heroes. One of the greatest traits of the great heroes Achilles, Odysseus, and Aneaus was their great courage and bravery in battle. No matter the situation, these heroes stood their ground and fought with all they had. “Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws, and asks no omen, but his country's cause.” (The Iliad) Achilles was one of the bravest epic heroes of ancient times. Such acts of bravery greatly influenced the medieval code of chivalry.
The Epic of Beowulf also played a very important role in defining the medieval code of chivalry.

Beowulf exhibited many of the traits within the medieval code of chivalry and left a great influence on the medieval knights. He showed courage, in going up against Grendel with his own bare hands. Beowulf also showed great respect when speaking to Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. One of the very important qualities was his bravery and courage. “I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (Beowulf) Even though he was older and knew he didn’t have the strength he once did, he still went to fight the dragon

anyway.
Another important piece to the medieval code of chivalry was strength, was derived from the Count Roland, in The Song of Roland. Though Roland was seen as a coward who let down his entire army, nothing negative could be said about his strength. He was one of the Frank’s greatest soldiers before he abandoned them. He killed the pagans by the hundreds of thousands. All those who stood in his way were slain. “Roland the Count comes riding through the field, holds Durendal, that sword! It carves its way! And brings terrible slaughter down on the pagans.” (The Song of Roland) Though his actual character traits did not influence the great code of chivalry, his strength was a valued quality to the medieval knights.
The Medieval code of chivalry is mostly shown through the epic tales of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. These valiant knights all lived by an unspoken code of chivalry that was highly valued. These virtues included strength, courage, respect, loyalty and bravery. However, the origins of the medieval code of chivalry can range from the Greco-Roma era to the period of the Anglo-Saxons. Many virtues came from the Great Greek and Roman heroes such as Achilles, Odysseus, and Aneaus. But much of the chivalric code was derived from the great Geatish hero Beowulf and his great feats. And several bits and pieces originated from The Song of Roland. All of this just goes to show, that even though the chivalric code was created in the medieval era, it had many different origins.