Historical Context for the codes of Chivalry and Courtly Love
Below are the rules and stages that guided knightly behavior in the realms of chivalry (a moral
code of sorts) and courtly love. Keep them in mind while reading “The Knight’s Tale” and make
note where you encounter them in action in the tale.
The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry
From Chivalry by Leon Gautier
1. Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, observe all its directions, and defend
thy church.
2. Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.
3. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
4. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the
champion of the right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.
5. Thou shalt die with honour and valor.
6. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws
of God.
7. Thou shalt never lie or cheat and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.
8. Thou shalt be generous, give largess to everyone, and exhibit manners.
9. Thou shalt be respectful of women, host, and honour.
10. Thou shalt never attack an unarmed foe, attack from behind, or use a weapon on an
opponent not equal to attack.
Stages of Courtly Love
(Adapted from Barbara Tuchman’s A Distant Mirror: the Calamitous Fourteenth Century
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Attraction to the lady, usually via eyes/glance
Worship of the lady from afar
Declaration of passionate devotion
Virtuous rejection by the lady
Renewed wooing with oaths of virtue and eternal fealty
Moans of approaching death from unsatisfied desire (and other physical manifestations of
lovesickness)
7. Heroic deeds of valor which win the lady's heart
8. Consummation of the secret love
9. Endless adventures and subterfuges avoiding detection
The Chief Rules in Love
From The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus
1. Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence and shalt embrace its opposite.
2. Thous shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest.
3. Thou shalt not knowingly strive to break up a correct love affair that someone else is engaged
in or be a revealer of love affairs.
4. Thou shalt not choose for thy love anyone whom a natural sense of shame forbids thee to
marry.
5. Be mindful completely to avoid falsehood and always be polite and courteous.
6. Thou shalt not have many who know of thy love affair. When made public, love rarely
endures.
7. Being obedient in all things to the commands of ladies. Thou shalt ever strive to ally thyself
to the service of Love.
8. When a lover suddenly catches sight of his beloved his heart palpitates and he regularly turns
pale. He whom the thought of love vexes eats and sleeps very little.
9. Boys do not love until they reach the age of maturity.
10. When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is required of the survivor.
11. Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love but also increases when one suspects his
beloved.
12. The easy attainment of love makes it of little value: difficulty of attainment makes it prized.