Ladies in the Age of Chivalry by Rosemary Morris

 

To find out more about Rosemary's work click on the cover above.

Ladies in the Age of Chivalry

My novel, Grace, Lady of Cassio, begins in 1331 during the reign of Edward III. It will be published in August 2022.

At heart I am a historian. My novels are rich in historical detail that requires intensive research, some of which I am sharing in this blog.

 

Chivalry, Ladies and Literature, Courtly Love and Reality

The ideal upper-class lady in romantic medieval literature is the beloved who inspires chivalry and is worshipped. In fiction her slightest command is obeyed without question and heroic deeds by a knight errant are performed in her name, even if his love is not reciprocated. Reinmar von Hagenau ‘s lyric captures the nature of courtly love.

 

       I wish to be known my entire life as a master of one thing and one thing only.

       I seek the world’s praise for this one skill,

      That no man can bear his suffering as beautifully as I.

      If a woman causes me pain to such an extent that I cannot remain silent day or night,

      I have so gentle a spirit that I’ll accept her hate as a source of joy.

     And yet, alas, how deeply that discomforts me.

 

In reality, and in accordance with medieval law and society, a lady wielded authority as a wife and mother in domestic affairs and took charge while her husband was away.

 

Maidens, Wives, Spinsters, Widows and Nuns

During the medieval era men classified women as maidens, wives, widows, or nuns. During childhood maidens were subject to their fathers, stepfathers or guardians who maintained them. Married women were controlled by their husbands and were denied the right to refuse intercourse. Without their husbands’ agreement, they were not permitted to borrow money, sell property, or make a will. Noblewomen received as much respect as noblemen. Yet because Eve persuaded Adam to taste the forbidden fruit and they were cast out of paradise, men considered females physically, intellectually, and morally inferior. Nuns, the brides of Christ, depended on the Church. Only spinsters, a rarity, and widows enjoyed some independence.

 

Education, Betrothal, Marriage and Motherhood.

 

Nobly born children were taught to read and write French, the language of educated people, to figure, embroider, dance, sing and play musical instruments. They were trained to be dignified, meek and modest and not to laugh loudly. Many girls were betrothed in their infancy and wedded when they were twelve. Most marriages were not consummated until the girls were fourteen. In an age when many people died early, teenage pregnancies were encouraged. Most ladies married by their sixteenth birthday. In their mid-twenties, if they had not died, they had given birth to five or six children, some of whom did not survive.

 

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

http://bookswelove.net/authors/morris-rosemary

Knights in the Age of Chivalry by Rosemary Morris

 

For more information on Rosemary's books please click on the cover. 

Knights in the Age of Chivalry

 

My novel, Grace, Lady of Cassio, The Lovages of Cassio, Book Two, sequel to Yvonne, Lady of Cassio, begins in the reign of Edward III. It will be published in October 2021.

At heart I am a historian. My novels are rich in historical detail which requires intensive research, some of which I am sharing in this blog.

 

The Path to Knighthood

At the age of seven a knight’s son served in another knight’s household, often his maternal uncle’s, where he trained to fight, first with a wooden sword. At sixteen, he knew knights should be courteous to each other and had been taught the four cardinal rules of chivalry - piety, prowess, loyalty, and moderation. Before being knighted, he had learned the skills necessary for an expert jouster. As a knight his raison d’etre was to fight.

Prior to being dubbed a knight, a squire bathed him before he dressed in white clothes and a red robe. At night, he stood or knelt in front of the altar in the chapel or Church for ten hours in solitude and silent prayer. At dawn, he attended Mass before presentation to his lord by two sponsors. The lord presented him with the sword and shield which were on the altar during the vigil. After an older knight struck him on his neck or cheek with his hand or the flat of his sword, the young knight swore a holy oath to dedicate his sword to justice, piety, the orphaned, the oppressed, the church and the widow.

Tournaments.

In tournaments aristocratic knights fought for fame and glory.

Jousting was dangerous. A late 14^th century knight wore armour weighing 80-100 lbs. He sat on a high saddle, charging at a closing speed of 40 miles per hour on a destrier weighing 200 lbs. He bore a lance with which all the potentially lethal force was concentrated on a steel tip. Jousts of peace with capped lances were less dangerous although a knight might fall from his horse, die, or be seriously injured.

A Perfect Knight

Although a knight was a fighting machine, when he removed his armour, he was expected to be courteous, gentle, devout, and cultured. John of Salisbury, a cleric, listed some of a knight’s duty. To defend the Church, to assail infidelity, to venerate the priesthood, to protect the poor from injuries…to pour out his blood for his brothers (as the formula of his oath directs him).

Tenants in Chief

Lords who had been knighted held their principal estates from the king and were called tenants-in-chief. They received a summons to attend each parliament and constituted the House of Lords. They were bound to serve the king with their retinues at their own expense for forty days each year at home or abroad.

Household knights.

Household knights promised to serve an overlord loyally for life in peace and war, wherever he was needed. He would serve at his overlord’s expense, be clothed by him, and provided with a suitable horse.

Clergy. Military Orders

 

The Order of the Temple abolished in 1308) and The Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (Hospitallers) Orders of knights were originally established to protect the routes to the Holy Land.

 

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

http://bookswelove.net/authors/morris-rosemary

 

Squires in the Age of Chivalry by Rosemary Morris

 

To learn more about Rosemary's books please click on the cover above.

My novel, Grace, Lady of Cassio, The Lovages of Cassio, Book Two, sequel to Yvonne, Lady of Cassio, begins in the reign of Edward III. It will be published in October 2021.

At heart I am a historian. My novels are rich in historical detail which requires intensive research, some of which I am sharing in this blog.

At fourteen a page* became a squire and trained to fight with a lance and sword, to be adept at horsemanship, hunting and hawking. and master the complicated rules that governed heraldry and jousts. A squire accompanied his lord to war, armed him before a joust or battle and led his horse into battle. In earlier medieval eras he held the reins while war was fought on foot. It was a dangerous occupation in which and many squires were injured or killed.

Squires also studied the seven ‘liberal arts’ Grammar. Logic, Rhetoric, Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy and Music so they would be well educated as well as accomplished warriors.

At meals retainers brought fowl and meat to the squires to be carved. Even the king’s sons were required to perform this service as part of their education to become knights. In addition, he served his master to his master on bended knee and in the king’s household tasted food to make sure it was not poisoned.

A squire of the bedchamber fetched whatever his lord required and was available to convey messages. In the afternoon and evening he served in the private apartment and entertained people by talking, singing or strumming a musical instrument. He played chess or backgammon indoors. Outdoors he took a minor part in various pastimes, for example such flying hawks and hunting.

When he completed his education, he became eligible to become a knight.

 Knights and a squire at the Malbork Castle, a historical re-enactment

 

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

http://bookswelove.net/authors/morris-rosemary