Medieval Chivalry
Medieval Chivalry by Richard W. Kaeuper, published by Cambridge University Press on May 19, 2016, offers a comprehensive examination of the ideals and practices associated with chivalry during the medieval period. This 447-page work delves into how chivalry provided a framework for understanding violence and war, particularly for elite warriors, while distinguishing their experiences from those of non-knightly populations. Kaeuper explores the relationship between chivalry, status, and profession, highlighting its role in shaping piety and fostering strong bonds among warriors.
In this edition, readers will find a detailed analysis that engages with a variety of sources, including chivalric literature, manuscript illumination, and moral tales. Kaeuper discusses the ways in which chivalry enshrined the practice of prowess and honor, emphasizing its religious significance. The book also addresses the dynamics between kingship and church authority as they navigated the evolving status of knights and their military roles. With a focus on social history, this work provides insights into the complexities of medieval chivalry and its lasting impact on European history.
Official synopsis Publisher
Emerging in the medieval period, chivalry embodied ideals that elite warriors cherished and practices that formed their profession. In this major new overview, Richard Kaeuper examines how chivalry made sense of violence and war, making it tolerable for elite fighters rather than non-knightly or sub-knightly populations. He discusses how chivalry buttressed status and profession, shaped active piety, and fostered intense warrior attachments and heterosexual relationships. Though showing regional and chronological variations, chivalry at its core enshrined the practice of prowess in securing honor, with this process significantly blessed by religion. Both kingship and church authority sought to direct the great force of chivalry and, despite tensions, finally came to terms with rising knightly status and a burgeoning military role. Kaeuper engages with a wide range of evidence in his analysis, drawing on the chivalric literature, manuscript illumination, and sermon exempla and moral tales.
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