The knightly ideals of everyday life according to The Book of Chivalry of Geoffroi de Charny

Authors

  • Andrzej Niewiński Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski im. Jana Pawła II, Wydział Nauk Humanistycznych, Instytut Historii, Pracownia Wojskowo-Historyczna

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/0208-6050.101.02

Keywords:

Geoffroi de Charny, Middle Ages, chivalric ethos, medieval creativity and literature, 14th centuries

Abstract

„The Book of Chivalry” written by Geoffroi de Charny, who was considered the quintessential knight of his age, gives a valuable insight into chivalric culture of knighthood. Unlike many medieval writers on chivalry, de Charny actively participated in tournaments and fought with distinction in numerous engagements during the Hundred Years War, including the battle of Poitiers (1356) where he was killed defending the Oriflamme. His „Book”, primarily intended as a manual for the members of the royal Order of the Star, was implicated in the broader reform programme of King John the Good. De Charny describes the knightly way of life and its requisite virtues as opposed to numerous shortcomings of real life men-at-arms, the chief knightly quality being the „prowess”. Knight is also a men of honour, worth and notable piety who undergoes perilous journeys constantly seeking the opportunity to fight and undertakes incessant hardships in order to bring glory to his name and to secure salvation.

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Published

2018-08-30

How to Cite

Niewiński, A. (2018). The knightly ideals of everyday life according to The Book of Chivalry of Geoffroi de Charny. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Historica, (101), 11–28. https://doi.org/10.18778/0208-6050.101.02