Courtly Love*What Love is:

Love is a certain inborn suffering derived from the sight of and excessive meditation upon the beauty of the opposite sex, which causes each one to wish for, above all things, the embraces of the other and by common desire to carry out all of love‘s precepts in the other‘s embrace.

from The Art of Courtly Love, by Andreas Capellanus

Rules of Courtly Love 1. Marriage is no real excuse for not

loving. 2. He who is not jealous cannot love. 3. No one can be bound by a double love. 4. It is well known that love is always

increasing or decreasing. 5. Boys do not love until they arrive at the

age of maturity. 6. No one should be deprived of love

without the very best of reasons.

7. Love is always a stranger in the home of avarice.

8. It is not proper to love any woman whom one should be ashamed to seek to marry.

9. A true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved.

10. When made public, love rarely endures.

11. The easy attainment of love makes it of little value; difficulty of attainment makes it prized.

12. Every lover regularly turns pale in the presence of his beloved.

13. When a lover suddenly catches sight of his beloved, his heart palpitates.

14. A new love puts to flight an old one.15. Good character alone makes any man

worthy of love.16. A man in love is always apprehensive.

17. Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love.

18. Jealousy, and therefore love, are increased when one suspects his beloved.

19. He whom the thought of love vexes, eats and sleeps very little.

20. Every act of a lover ends in the thought of his beloved.

21. A true lover considers nothing good except what he thinks will please his beloved.

22. A lover can never have enough of the solaces of his beloved.

23. A man who is vexed by too much passion usually does not love.

24. A true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved.

25. Nothing forbids one woman being loved by two men or one man by two women.

ChivalryChivalry is a system of discipline and social

interaction that is derived from the warrior class of medieval times, especially and primarily the class of trained warriors who participated in the Crusades (12th – 14th centuries).

The ideals and behavior codes governed both knight and gentlewomanadhere to the oath of loyalty to one’s overlordacceptance of certain rules of warfareadoration of a particular lady for purposes of self-

improvement

Chivalry has a discipline because those ancient soldiers trained themselves daily through learning and practicing the arts of attack and self defense.

These arts gave rise to the idea of control of body, mind, and speech in the Knight.

The idea of social interaction developed because the Knight originally followed carefully the orders of his superiors who were interested only in battle with those who were eligible to fight. (Civilians were not to be engaged in battle.)

From this idea of engaging only other Knights developed the idea of treating enemies and friends fairly and equally.

Men who excelled in battle were honored with Knighthood, an honor first granted by Knights only.

Later, as the honor of being a Knight grew, both Monarchy and the Church (Eastern Orthodox as well as Roman Catholic) began to participate in the selection and creation of Knights.

Ideals of Knighthood were often violated by the Knight warriors themselves.

Ideals survived as Knighthood came to be thought of as an honor to be bestowed upon those who had proven themselves worthy.

Rank and status of Knight began to take on aspects of a minor Nobility that one could achieve (rather than having to be born into). (Example: People like Sir Paul McCartney)

A Knight should be known for:ProwessJusticeLoyaltyDefenseCourage

FaithHumility LargesseNobilityFranchise

TodayThe Chivalric code has never died. It is still

the basis for what are today considered “good manners” or “proper behavior” (such as women and children first).

Characteristics of the Medieval RomanceRomance – from the French romanz – means

“in the Roman language” (i.e., not Latin, but the “vernacular” – the language spoken by the people)

Often contains supernatural or magical events Resembles legends and myths

Set in a world where ordinary laws or nature are often suspended.

Idealized heroes fight the forces of evilThe basic story is usually a quest. (The hero

goes on a perilous journey in search of something of great value.)

Story is old in origin and simple in structureWriters in later times set stories in an earlier

time (such as Ivanhoe or modern fantasy stories)Events and characters come in sets of 3When the hero dies, he takes on the

features of a god or is remembered as someone more than human

The questions raised in the stories are simplistic and have obvious answersSimilar to children’s stories

Characteristics of the Romantic HeroVery similar to the epic heroGoes on a quest, often with companions.

(Quest is a perilous journey.)BraveFaithful/loyalIntelligent/wiseOften shows a need to impress others with

his heroic deedsRepresents the ideals of heroism and

leadership in his society.

Always follows the Code of Chivalry:Honor is extremely important (prefers death to

dishonor)Shows respect for womenIs a skilled warriorFollows the rules of combatAlways pays debts/fulfills obligationsIs concerned about the welfare of his

opponent. (You must take care of a man you just injured in combat.)

Has a sense of fairness. (He won’t participate in a fight that’s heavily weighted on one side.)