The Code of Chivalry
The "Code of Chivalry" is often thought to be a single
code, when in fact, there were many such codes. Each order of Knights had it's own
oaths and codes to which its members would adhere. In spite of the great number and
variety of codes, they all had similar components. The codes presented below are
true to the spirit of Chivalry, and represent various adaptations of this guide to
honorable behavior. While chivalry is a centuries-old concept, The Weapons Emporium
believes that we can still learn much from studying these ancient codes. We
encourage you to review the codes below and develop your own personal code of conduct, and
then to stay true to this code. There are many rewards for following a disciplined
life, not least of which is the personal satisfaction of a life well lived.
Live well !
J. Aidan Gray
The Code of Chivalry
according to the Order of the Rose
Thou shalt defend the innocent.
Thou shalt respect all weaknesses and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
Thou shalt love the country in which thou was born.
Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
Thou shalt perform scrupulously the feudal duties.
Thou shalt never lie and remain faithful to thy pledged word.
Thou shalt be generous and give largesse to everyone.
Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and Good and the foe of
Injustice and Evil.
The Knightly virtues
Liberality - Honor - Good Faith - Glory - Unselfishness - Pride - Courtesy - Bravery -
Loyalty
Definition of the Knightly Virtues
Liberality- generosity; open mindedness
Glory- great honor, popular praise, renown
Courtesy- formal politeness, favor instead of right
Honor- Any token of recognition for distinguished services or high merit; a fine sense of
what is just and right with readiness to apply it to one's own conduct in relation to
others
Unselfishness- generous; caring for others above oneself
Bravery- fearlessness in the presence of danger; courage
Good faith- Trust upon word alone
Pride- A proper feeling of esteem for one's own qualities or achievements
Loyalty- Faithfulness to country, duty, or friend
Ye Olde Knightly Code of Chivalry
1. Thou shalt believe all thy church teaches and observe all its
directions.
2. Thou shalt defend thy church.
3. Thou shalt defend thy King and Queen unto death.
4. Thou shalt defend thy country against all whom oppose it without cessation and without
mercy.
5. Thou shalt defend that of any charge unto death.
6. Thou shalt respect all those whom are weak, the poor and the innocent, and shalt
constitute thyself the defender of them.
7. Thou shalt never lie and remain faithful to thy pledged word.
8. Thou shalt never brandish thy weapon in anger nor for evil purposes.
9. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feodal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws
of god.
10. Thou shalt be everywhere and always thy champion of the Right, the Good and the True,
and forever the foe of Injustice, Tyranny and Evil.
11. Thou shalt always fight fair and in an honorable fashion.
12. Thou shalt be generous and give largesse to everyone.
The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry
From Chivalry by Leon Gautier
- Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.
- Thou shalt defend the Church.
- Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
- Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.
- Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
- Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.
- Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws
of God.
- Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.
- Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.
- Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against
Injustice and Evil.
The Code of Chivalry
- Live to serve King and Country.
- Live to defend Crown and Country and all it holds dear.
- Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect and honor.
- Live for freedom, justice and all that is good.
- Never attack an unarmed foe.
- Never use a weapon on an opponent not equal to the attack.
- Never attack from behind.
- Avoid lying to your fellow man.
- Avoid cheating.
- Avoid torture.
- Obey the law of king, country, and chivalry.
- Administer justice.
- Protect the innocent.
- Exhibit self control.
- Show respect to authority.
- Respect women.
- Exhibit Courage in word and deed.
- Defend the weak and innocent.
- Destry evil in all of its monstrous forms.
- Crush the monsters that steal our land and rob our people.
- Fight with honor.
- Avenge the wronged.
- Never abandon a friend, ally, or noble cause.
- Fight for the ideals of king, country, and chivalry.
- Die with valor.
- Always keep one's word of honor.
- Always maintain one's principles.
- Never betray a confidence or comrade.
- Avoid deception.
- Respect life and freedom.
- Die with honor.
- Exhibit manners.
- Be polite and attentive.
- Be respectful of host, women, and honor.
- Loyalty to country, King, honor, freedom, and the code of chivalry.
- Loyalty to one's friends and those who lay their trust in thee.
Code Of Chivalry
1. Noblity in Service
2. Death before Dishonor
3. Enterprise in obedience to rule
4. Respect for all worthy people
5. Honor all those above your station
6. Command Obedience through respect
7. Scorn those who are ignoble
8. Protect the innocent
9. punish the guilty
10. Courtesy to all ladies
11. Battle is the test of Manhood
12. Combat is Glory
13. Defend your charge unto death
14. War is the flowering of Chivalry
15. Death to all who oppose the cause
16. Arts are the food of the Chivalrous (especially music)
17. Anger blinds, a cool head will win the day
The List Field (The showplace of Chivalric Conduct)
1. Courtesy to your opponent at all times
2. In combat if you are uncertain of a blow take it
3. Do not let anger control your actions
4. Do not let the lack of Chivalry in others cause you to be unchivalrous
5. If your opponent is your equal practice chivalric action
6. If your opponent is your better give no quarter
7. Remember your actions speak louder than words
In addition to oaths and other codes, there were also Chivalric
guidelines for character and romantic relationships...
Ye Nine Points of Knightly Virtue
1. Honor
2. Loyalty
3. Liberality
4. Pride
5. Good Faith
6. Bravery
7. Glory
8. Courtesy
9. Unselfishness
Knightly Rules for Chivalrous Love
- Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence and shalt embrace
its opposite.
- Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest.
- Thou shalt not knowingly strive to break up a correct love affair that
someone else is engaged in.
- Thou shalt not chose for thy love anyone whom a natural sense of shame
forbids thee to marry.
- Be mindful completely to avoid falsehood.
- Thou shalt not have many who know of thy love affair.
- Being obedient in all things to the commands of ladies, thou shalt ever
strive to ally thyself to the service of Love.
- In giving and receiving love's solaces let modesty be ever present.
- Thou shalt speak no evil.
- Thou shalt not be a revealer of love affairs.
- Thou shalt be in all things polite and courteous.
- In practising the solaces of love thou shalt not exceed the desires of
thy lover.
The Twelve Chief Rules in Love
From Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus
- Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence and shalt embrace its opposite.
- Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest.
- Thou shalt not knowingly strive to break up a correct love affair that someone else is
engaged in.
- Thou shalt not chose for thy love anyone whom a natural sense of shame forbids thee to
marry.
- Be mindful completely to avoid falsehood.
- Thou shalt no have many who know of thy affair.
- Being obedient in all things to the commands of ladies, thou shalt ever strive to ally
thyself to the service of Love.
- In giving and receiving love's solaces let modesty be ever present.
- Thou shalt speak no evil.
- Thou shalt not be a revealer of love affairs.
- Thou shalt be in all things polite and courteous.
- In pratising the solaces of love thou shalt not exceed the desires of the thy lover.
The Art of Courtly Love
From Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus
- Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.
- He who is jealous cannot love.
- No one can be bound by a double love.
- It is well known that love is always increasing or decreasing.
- That which a lover takes against the will of his beloved has no relish.
- Boys do not love until they reach the age of maturity.
- When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is required of the survivor.
- No one should be deprived of love without the very best of reasons.
- No one can love unless he is propelled by the persuasion of love.
- Love is always a stranger in the home of avarice.
- It is not proper to love any woman whom one would be ashamed to seek to marry.
- A true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved.
- When made public love rarely endures.
- The easy attainment of love makes it of little value: difficulty of attainment makes it
prized.
- Every lover regularly turns pale in the presence of his beloved.
- When a lover suddenly catches sight of his beloved his heart palpitates.
- A new love puts an old one to flight.
- Good character alone makes any man worthy of love.
- If love diminishes, it quickly fails and rarely revives.
- A man in love is always apprehensive.
- Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love.
- Jealousy increases when one suspects his beloved.
- He whom the thought of love vexes eats and sleeps very little.
- Every act of a lover ends in the thought of his beloved.
- A true lover considers nothing good except what he thinks will please his beloved.
- Love can deny nothing to love.
- A lover can never have enough of the solaces of his beloved.
- A slight presumption causes a lover to suspect his beloved.
- A man who is vexed by too much passion usually does not love.
- A true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his
beloved.
- Nothing forbids one woman being loved by two men or one man by two women.
Championship
One of the most important aspects of Chivalry is the Championship of a Lady. When you
find a person whom you feel is worthy to be championed by you this is an example oath that
you should use to bind your sword to her honor.
The Oath of the Champion
My dearest lady at this juncture I find myself bereft of a Lady to champion. It would
be a great honor for myself and my entire Household if I could fight with your favor, and
be your champion in this upcoming Affair of Arms. I will do my best to prove the strength
of my arms so that I may show to those nobles assembled your great honor, beauty, and
gentle grace.
If she accepts your offer of Championship she is then expected to bestow upon you a
favor. A favor is a piece of cloth or jewelry which is personal to the lady. You wear the
favor in your belt as a sign that you are fighting for her and that you will do your best
to uphold her honor on the tourney field.
Virtues of Chivalrous love (also applicable to modern
dating or relationships of any type, both personal and professional)
- Modest
- Attentive
- Honest
- Graceful
- Well-groomed
- Faithful
- Discrete
- Generous
- Worthy of Praise
Links for Information on Heraldry