Dimakos/Eng250 Arthurian Romance & Chivalry Very Brief Introduction to Arthurian Romance King Arthur has been an important

figure in English literature since singers and story-tellers first described his great exploits in the 6th-century. Of course, the legend of King Arthur has been appropriated by many storytellers and poets, who have embellished upon the first, most modest tales. Part of the intrigue of the stories, which became part of Arthurian romance, though, is the mixture of myth, adventure, love, enchantment, and tragedy. The magic and intrigue of these stories invites even more far-fetched and elaborate interpretations. While these stories and bits of poetry depict a utopian society of long ago, though, they also reflect the society from which they were (and are being) created. Definition of Chivalry The word comes ultimately from the Latin caballus, or "nag. The French chevalier, the Spanish caballero, and the English cavalier derive their names from the same word. The intention, in all these cases, is to distinguish the aristocratic knight on horseback from the peasant infantryman walking with his pike and the artilleryman dragging his vulgar machinery. In war, the chivalrous knight was idealized as brave in battle, loyal to his king and God, and willing to sacrifice himself for the lord or king. Towards his fellow Christians and countrymen, the knight was to be merciful, humble, and courteous. Towards noble ladies above all, the knight was to be gracious and gentle. The idealized relationship between knight and lady was that of courtly love. The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry from Chivalry by Leon Gautier (19th C.) I. Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions. II. Thou shalt defend the Church. III. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them. IV. Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born. V. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. VI. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy. VII. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God. VIII. Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word. IX. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone. X. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil. Courtly Love The phrase l'amour courtois (courtly love) identifies an extravagantly artificial and stylized relationship marked by specific gestures or labels. In short, a relationship of courtly love was
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Aristocratic. As its name implies, courtly love was practiced by noble lords and ladies; its most common center was the royal palace or court this includes lords, ladies, kings, queens, knights, etc. Ritualistic. Couples engaged in a courtly relationship conventionally exchanged gifts and tokens of their affair. The lady was wooed according to elaborate conventions of etiquette (i.e. "courtship" and "courtesy") and was the constant recipient of songs, poems, bouquets, sweet favors, and ceremonial gestures. For all these gentle and painstaking attentions on the part of her lover, she need only return a short hint of approval, a mere shadow of affection. After all, she was the exalted domina--the commanding "mistress" of the affair; he was but her servus--a lowly but faithful servant (this was the relationship dynamic of the time period and according to the conventions of courtly love). Secret. Courtly lovers were pledged to strict secrecy. The foundation for their affair--indeed the source of its special aura and electricity--was that the rest of the world (except for a few confidantes or go-

betweens) was excluded. In effect, the lovers composed a universe unto themselves--a special world with its own places (e.g., the secret rendezvous), rules, codes, and commandments. Adulterous. "Fine love"--almost by definition--was extramarital. Indeed one of its principle attractions was that it offered an escape from the dull routines and boring confinements of noble marriage (which was typically little more than a political or economic alliance for the purpose of producing royal offspring). The troubadours (medieval poet or singer usually wrote or sung about love) themselves scoffed at marriage, regarding it as a glorified religious propaganda. Instead of marriage, they exalted their own ideal of a disciplined and decorous carnal relationship whose ultimate objective was not crude physical satisfaction, but a sublime and sensual intimacy. Literary. Before it established itself as a popular real-life activity, courtly love first gained attention as a subject and theme in imaginative literature. Knights and their passionately adored ladies were already popular figures in song and fable before there were many real-life imitators in the palace halls of medieval Europe. Andreas Capellanus: De Amore (About Love) (1184-86) A Treatise on Courtly Love (Excerpts from Book 1)

Andreas Capellanus was a French prose writer. However, De Amore was written in Latin. What is Love? Love is an inborn suffering proceeding from the sight and immoderate thought upon the beauty of the other sex, for which cause above all other things one wishes to embrace the other and, by common assent, in this embrace to fulfill the commandments of love. . . From Whence Love is Named "Love (amor)" is derived from the word "hook (amar)", which signifies "capture" or "be captured." For he who loves is caught in the chains of desire and wishes to catch another with his hook. Just as a shrewd fisherman tries to attract fish with his bait and to catch them on with his curved hook, so he who is truly captured by love tries to attract another with his blandishments and with all his power tries to hold two hearts together with one spiritual chain or, if they be already united, to hold them always together. . . What is the Effect of Love This is the effect of love: that the true lover can not be corrupted by avarice; love makes an ugly and rude person shine with all beauty, knows how to endow with nobility even one of humble birth, can even lend humility to the proud; he who loves is accustomed humbly to serve others. Oh, what a marvelous thing is love, which makes a man shine with so many virtues and which teaches everyone to abound in good customs. . .