Although you hear of the "Code of Chivalry" as though there were one such code for all orders of knights, this was not the case. Each order had it's own oaths and codes to which its members were to adhere. However, there was great similarity in the oaths and codes. The information we present below is true to the spirit of Chivalry as we think of it: a code of honorable behavior.

These guidelines may come from a time long ago but there is much good advice for those who would strive to knighthood today.

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.

Here is a second "Code of Chivalry."

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.

As well as the basic codes and oaths, there were Chivalric guidelines for character and romantic relationships.

Ye Nine Points of Knightly Virtue
Honor
Loyalty
Liberality
Pride
Good Faith
Bravery
Glory
Courtesy
Unselfishness

Knightly Rules for Chivalrous Love

  1. Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence and shalt embrace its opposite.
  2. Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest.
  3. Thou shalt not knowingly strive to break up a correct love affair that someone else is engaged in.
  4. Thou shalt not chose for thy love anyone whom a natural sense of shame forbids thee to marry.
  5. Be mindful completely to avoid falsehood.
  6. Thou shalt not have many who know of thy love affair.
  7. Being obedient in all things to the commands of ladies, thou shalt ever strive to ally thyself to the service of Love.
  8. In giving and receiving love's solaces let modesty be ever present.
  9. Thou shalt speak no evil.
  10. Thou shalt not be a revealer of love affairs.
  11. Thou shalt be in all things polite and courteous.
  12. In practising the solaces of love thou shalt not exceed the desires of thy lover.

The information on this page was gathered from the Internet. If you would like to know more about Chivalry and knighthood in general, go to altavista.com and type "chivalry" in the search form. You'll find plenty to keep you busy for a long time. With "family filter" on, you get over 25,000 listings.

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