Study on Book of Chivalry - 1

To start of this textual study, I feel it is appropriate to give an introduction and purpose as to who the author of the Book of Chivalry is and why studying this book is important.

Sir Geoffrey de Charney, a 14th Century French Knight was not just a name in the pages of history, but rather a giant in his time and an insightful source into the ideal of True Chivalry.  While fighting in the Hundred Years War (1337 – 1453CE), fighting in deeds of arms and tournaments, he also wrote books on Chivalry, jousts, tournaments, deeds of arms and how one should conduct themselves in these events.  His works are Questions for the joust, tournaments and war and the Book of Chivalry; both which you can find in print.

Before I start the study I have to outline the purpose of the study.  The purpose of the study is to glean from the medieval texts on Chivalry so as to give a proper context of what Chivalry is, how it was applied back then and how we can apply it to today's times.

With this stated, let us move forward.

De Charney starts The Book of Chivalry with the subjects of Prowess, the types of Men at Arms, Deeds of Arms at Tournaments, Deeds of Arms in local wars, which Deeds of Arms that are honorable; and other topics such as pilgrimages, deeds which incur reward or pay.  We read the following quotes:

"These are the ones who are physically strong and skillful (agile) and who conduct themselves properly and pleasantly, as is appropriate for young men, gentle, courteous and well  mannered towards others, who have no desire to engage in any evil undertaking....."  

"And indeed, they (tournaments) earn men praise and esteem for they require a great deal of wealth, equipment, and expenditure, physical hardship, crushing and wounding, and sometimes danger of death."

"Therefore, one should value and honor men at arms for in the practice or arms in joust are pleased enough with what they do without undertaking any other deeds of arms....And these two uses of arms are both found in armed combat in war.....for it is from good battles that great honors arise and are increased,for good fighting men prove themselves in good battles....."

From what we see from the quotes, there is a certain thing to be noted.  Prowess and the warrior lifestyle are to never be separated.  While the distinction of deeds of arms (which can include sparring in HEMA, bouts in armor) and tournaments (HEMA tournaments or jousting tourneys) are in this: deeds of arms are single and is focused on evaluating one's prowess against an opponent.  While the tournament is the evaluation and competition of recognition of prowess against many opponents.  Yet both of these activities are rooted in combat training and in the instruction of HEMA (which was the actual training in the days of Middle Ages).

Yet one will ask, why should I invest time and money into learning to fight better?  One might add the comment: I have better things to do in life.  The answer to both objections is this:

Time and money invested in the self betterment of self and in the training or prowess with the purpose of fighting for the survival and protection of one's family/loved ones is never wasted.

Yet still again, one will ask "But even so, why should we prepare for war when we are in a time of peace?"  The answer is this:

One must never fall for the illusion of days of peace.  It doesn't take a second look to see that within days of peace, crime and murder go about, thefts and abuse happen without restraint. In addition, the threat of war looms in the international picture with tension ever rising.  By reason, it is prudent to be prepared for anything and everything, even if it means learning the art of combat.

By training to be a warrior, one becomes an empowered individual that is guided by instruction, discipline, vision, purpose, honor and wisdom.  This is not just the aspiration but also the goals of the modern warrior.

Therefore, the lesson from this study is this: prowess can be exercised and practiced in deeds of arms and tournaments, however these two things should never replace training for war.  Prowess and training in it is what makes one started on the path of the warrior and is the main thing that makes the individual distinct.  It is wise to be prepared for war in times of peace rather than to be ill prepared in times of war and haunted in times of peace.

Train on valiant Knight!