Arthurian Medieval Time

Code of Chivalry• The Arthurian Code of Chivalry was how the knights of the Round Table were expected to

conduct themselves in public. • The 12 points in the Code of Conduct are as follows:• Faith• Charity• Justice• Sagacity• Prudence• Temperance• Resolution• Truth• Liberality• Diligence• Hope• Valour• Honor, Honesty and Loyalty were also unlisted but very important aspects.

Medieval Art

Scenes of Courtly Love

• On the front of this ivory mirror case is depicted four scenes of a knight attempting to court a lady.

• The mirror case art shows the importance of courting and proper romance to the ladies of the Medieval Ages.

The Codex of Aureus of St. Emmeram

• The Codex Aureus of St. Emmeram is a Christian gospel book bejwelled and engraved with images of biblical tales.

• The detail and expense paid for the decoration of a gospel book shows the vast importance of religion during the Medival Ages.

The Assault on The Castle of Love

• A popular subject for ivory mirror cases, this depicts not an actual battle but a theoretical battle between the knights attempting to “conquer” the ladies and the ladies defending their “castle”.

Impact of ReligionDuring the Middle Ages the impact of religion was detectable on nearly every piece of art and every work of literature. Religion governed the lives of nearly ever man, woman and child to be found across the globe. The Church held nearly all the legal authority as well as heavy influence on the Kings and Queens of the time period. If something was in debate, the Church settled the outcome.Literature was often completely religious works or, if not a religious tale, a story that contained biblical references.Even architecture was affected. People built towering cathedrals so they could be closer to God and nearly every person of wealth built small rooms for private worship.

The Church• The Church influenced nearly all the literature

of the Medieval Ages, banning anything that was “against God” and imprisoning those that wrote them.

King Arthur is the figure at the heart of the Arthurian legends. He is said to be the son of Uther Pendragon and Igraine of Cornwall. Arthur is a mythic figure in Celtic stories. In early Latin chronicles he is presented as a military leader, while in later romance he is presented as a king and emperor.

King Arthur

The name Arthur may be a form of Artorius, a roman gens name, but it’s possibly of Celtic origins. He defeated the barbarians in dozens of battles. He conquered a wide empire and eventually went to war with the Romans. He returned home on learning that his nephew Mordred had raised the standard of rebellion and taken Guinevere, the Queen.

The famous enchanter Merlin had place a sword in a stone, saying that whoever drew it out would be king. Arthur did so and Merlin had him crowned.

He married Guinevere, whose father gave him the Round Table as dowry, it became the place where his knights sat and, to avoid quarrels over precedence. The quest for the Holy Grail began and Lancelot’s intrigue with the queen came to light.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE

The knights were men of courage, honor, dignity, courtesy and nobleness. They protected ladies and damsels, honored and fought for the kings and undertook dangerous quests.

He was the first knight of the Round table and he never failed in gentleness, courtesy or courage. He was the greatest fighter and swordsman of all the knights of the Round Table. Many sources tell us of the love he shared with Queen Guinevere. He rescued her from the stake on two different occasions. It was at one of these rescues that Lancelot killed Sir Gareth, which led to the disbandment of the Round Table. After the Queen repented to an abbey as a nun, Lancelot lived the rest of his life as a hermit in penitence.

SIR LANCELOT DU LAC

He is the nephew of Arthur. Gawain figures prominently in many romances.He is considered the principal hero and the exampler of courtesy and chivalry.

SIR GAWAIN

FEUDALISMThe country was not governed by the king, but by individual lords or barons who administered their own estates, dispensed their own justice and minted their own money.Feudalism was built upon a relationship of obligation and mutual service between vassals and lords.

KING

BARONS

KNIGHTS

VASSALS

PEASANTS

VASSALS

A vassal held his land as grant from a lord. The vassal was required to attend the lord at his court, help administer justice and contribute money if needed. He must answer a summons to battle , bringing an agreed upon number of fighting men. He must feed and house the lord and his company when they travelled across his land.

LORD’S OBLIGATION:

On the lord’s side, he was obliged to protect the vassal, give military support and guard his children. If a daughter inherited, the lord arranged her marriage.If there were no heirs the lords disposed of the fief as he chose.

THE PEASANT’S LIFE:

Peasants had a hard life, but they didn’t work on Sunday and they could go to nearby fairs and markets. The lot of serfs was much harsher. Although not techinically a slave, a serf was bound to a lord for life. He could own no property and needed the lords permission to marry.