Chivalry was the code of courage and courtesy that were held as ideals of medieval knighthood in western Europe. The system was so closely intertwined with knighthood that the two became inseparable.
The words chivalry and cavalry share the same root in language and knights were typically mounted fighters. The knight was very effective in battle, particularly after the invention of the stirrup, which gave him much better balance in the saddle, and the saddle bow, which enabled him to fire arrows while riding.
The cost of the horse and equipment required was quite high and being a knight was only possible for the wealthy landowners of the time. The idea of exclusivity developed and the code of chivalry was meant to apply to the important people, rather than to the ordinary. Knights were supposed to believe in the church, have courage and loyalty to other knights and to have respect, pity and generosity to the weak, the poor and to women. Few of them lived up to this code.
The words chivalry and cavalry share the same root in language and knights were typically mounted fighters. The knight was very effective in battle, particularly after the invention of the stirrup, which gave him much better balance in the saddle, and the saddle bow, which enabled him to fire arrows while riding.
The cost of the horse and equipment required was quite high and being a knight was only possible for the wealthy landowners of the time. The idea of exclusivity developed and the code of chivalry was meant to apply to the important people, rather than to the ordinary. Knights were supposed to believe in the church, have courage and loyalty to other knights and to have respect, pity and generosity to the weak, the poor and to women. Few of them lived up to this code.
