The Moral Codes of Comitatus and Chivalry

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The Moral Codes of Comitatus and Chivalry

Throughout history, there have been different codes of ethics that are often more important to a society that the governing laws of the land. While laws are written standards that people are compelled to abide by for fear of punishment, these codes serve as guideline for how people should live their lives. Two such codes are comitatus as demonstrated in Beowulf and chivalry as depicted in Morte D’Arthur. When the characters in these stories live by the constructs of these social systems, the society flourishes. When characters stray from each social code, however, the entire society falls victim.

Comitatus is a social system under which people serve their courageous leader no matter what the circumstance. “The chiefs fight for victory, the followers for their chief,” (Agricola & Germainia). Under this social construction, the chief is the most courageous among his men and he commands the respect and loyalty of those who serve him. The chief is disgraced if one of his followers demonstrates more courage than him and his followers must forfeit their own acts of heroism so that their chief can receive glory.

This system is the one that governs the actions of the characters in Beowulf. Beowulf, himself is the biggest proponent of comitatus in the early stages of the story. After learning of the attacks made by Grendel against Hrothgar’s kingdom, Beowulf assembles 15 warriors travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom and requests that Hrothgar allow him to fight Grendel. After having his offer accepted, Beowulf pledges allegiance to Hrothgar, swearing that he will fight Grendel to the death for his chief:

You will not need to hide my head if death takes me, for he ...

... middle of paper ...

...r and Lancelot.

Both comitatus and chivalry are rooted in the idea that service to one’s own glory and one’s own vices will result in eventual ruin. Beowulf, unwilling to have his men fight with him, meets his demise at the hands of a dragon. Lancelot, unable to follow the lofty moral codes set forth by chivalry sets off a chain reaction that forever changes the lives of everyone in Arthur’s kingdom. The bottom line is that service to one’s king or chief results in an exalted life. Had Beowulf’s men followed the code of comitatus, Beowulf may have survived his fight with the dragon. Had Lancelot respected the code of chivalry that placed service to one’s king above all else, hundreds upon hundreds of deaths could have been avoided. These codes were not followed, however and the eventual result was the weakening and destruction of two great kingdoms.

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