Cultivating a Collective Past

Knights Code of Chivalry

Most times when one thinks of Medieval Knights, we think of bloody and violent eras in which knights ruled. This is true, but there is so much  more behind the armor and the battles. These knights were not only expected to fight in battle but were also expected to carry themselves in a honorable manner. This is where the Code of Chivalry comes into play. It was more than just rules, it was a way of life that the knights abided by. The morals that they lived by taught to them through knighthood were honor, bravery, and gallantry towards women. The Knights Code of Chivalry dated back to the Dark Ages. You can date this back to the Middle ages and understood by all. Like in Modern day people use the ten commandments as rules to live by, the knights Code of Chivalry and the vows of Knighthood referred to this in their everyday lives. There are seventeen entries in the Codes of Chivalry.

 They are as follows:

 To fear God and maintain His Church
To serve the liege lord in valour and faith

To protect the weak and defenceless

To give succour to widows and orphans

To refrain from the wanton giving of offence

To live by honour and for glory

To despise pecuniary reward

To fight for the welfare of all

To obey those placed in authority

To guard the honour of fellow knights

To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit

To keep faith

At all times to speak the truth

To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun

To respect the honour of women

Never to refuse a challenge from an equal

Never to turn the back upon a foe

The knights broke the code sometimes. They would steal the loot from battle. And steal from villages that they captured. Also it was expected for them to defend the weak but this only included the noble women and children. They believed they were upper-class and were cruel towards the poor people and would often rape peasant women without being afraid of the consequences.
Sources: http://www.lordsandladies.org/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm