Chivalric Knights Research Paper

The nobility were at the top of the Medieval social pyramid, but they also had economic and military needs. The king needed a group of loyal supporters, providing him with the things to stay as the ruler. He demanded and received goods and services from nearly everyone, rich or poor (Nardo 27). Because of that, he was able to maintain a powerful yet comfortable lifestyle (Nardo 27). The king also received protection as the lord supplied him with great armies of knights (Biel 9). He was also expected to do his set of obligations to keep the feudal system running. He was expected to grant the lord a fief (Nardo 19). The most common form was an estate or manor. (Nardo 19) It included a house, maybe a small castle, and homes for resident peasants …show more content…
Smith ). The mutual obligations of the military elite were emphasized and reinforced through the social code of the Middle Ages (C. Smith ). The set of ideas as to what earned respect and esteem of the society became know as the code of chivalry (C. Smith ). During the time, the code was mainly a warrior code, which emphasized the need to fulfill certain expectations militarily (C. Smith ) Chivalric knights were those who were fully devoted to their lords, some to the extreme of dying for them (C. Smith ). A vassal also had to be skilled in the arts of the warrior (C. Smith ). They had to know how to fight with sword and dagger, archery, stay on a horse, and demonstrate bravery and strength (C. Smith ). Chivalry also required honorable behavior from a knight or lord (C. Smith ). They had to honor all warriors, both friend and enemy. They had to respect an enemy who was a good fighter, not fight dirty, and come to the aid of another vassal (C. Smith ). In addition to oweing his lord military service, a vassal also had to pledge his loyalty. He had to swear an oath of fealty to the lord, promising his ultimate loyalty to him (Nardo 18). The relationship between a feudal lord and a vassal was reciprocal, and they both