Chivalry
Chivalry was born out of the tremulous years just prior to the Norman invasion of William the conqueror in 1066. It was during these years that mounted soldiers ruled the countryside by virtue of their might. This was the days prior to the feudal system. Great men acquired lands through either inheritance or conquest. The people who lived on the land were considered part of the land itself. These warriors would defend their property and if they felt the need, would attack those lands around them to either increase their wealth or to revenge an attack. These warriors had little or no accountability. They would just as soon attack a church as another warrior�s lands. To a large extent, they each did what they wanted to, fearing only a greater or more powerful lord that they might affront.
To this barbaric estate of being the church finally intervened. Two papal decrees were issued threatening excommunication to those that waged war against the church and also to those that behaved barbarically. The latter decree was very subjective. Slowly the anarchy began to give way as the warrior class began to police themselves somewhat. Dukes, Earls, and Barons began to develop a formal aristocracy. Knighthood, Which had at once been open to any warrior who could afford the horse and weapons of his trade, became part of the nobility. A loose set of rules began to develop to govern the conduct of knights and nobles. These rules were in large part initiated by the church in an effort to curb the warriors appetite for fighting.
The word �chivalry� is derived from the French word for horse or horsemen. Chivalry was the term that came to be associated with the code by which the �horsemen�, or knights, lived. There is no absolute code of chivalry in writing from the Middle Ages although a general body of rules can be drawn from different writings of the period. These general principles of knightly conduct have been restated below into a Code of Chivalry for the 21-Century Man.
In the Middle Ages Knights followed a very strict unwritten code of conduct, ethics, and morals; that called upon their courage, obedience and spirituality. The chapters of ROC endeavor to encourage each member to follow the eight vital goals to produce high moral, proper conduct, and inner potential in the body of Christ. These goals are:
A Code of Chivalry
1. GENEROUS- (one who practices �largesse�) A Knight is keenly aware of the needs of those around him and shares what God has blessed him with. (Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18 N.I.V.)
2. PURE- A Knight�s thoughts, actions and words are clean, pure of avarice or self-interest. (Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 K.J.V.)
3. HONEST- A Knight is always honest, even at his own expense. He doses not lie, cheat, steal, or deceive. (For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1st Timothy 2:2 K.J.V.)
4. VALIANT- A Knight accepts legitimate challenges and makes a stand for that which is just and godly. (Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalms 31:24 K.J.V.)
5. LOYAL- A Knight is loyal first to God, then his family, church, household, and friends, even when by doing so it may cost him dearly. (More over it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1st Corinthians 4:2 K.J.V.)
6. GENTLE- A Knight is courteous to all no matter the circumstances. (Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 8:12 K.J.V.)
7. OBEDIENT-A Knight is obedient first to Christ his King, and then to those placed in authority over him. (For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 2nd Corinthians 2:9 K.J.V.)
8. SPIRITUAL- A Knight takes Christ as his Savior and strives to serve Him daily in body, mind, and speech. (For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Colossians 1:9 K.J.V.)
* NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS TAKEN FROM THE ROC HANDBOOK AND IS COPYRIGHTED BY THAT ORGANIZATION AND IT'S REPRESENTATIVES, USED HERE BASED ON THEIR GOOD GRACES.