Portions of an Armor for Field and Tilt (About 1590) by Jacob Halder and Workshop (English, Greenwich, active 1576–1608)The Art Institute of Chicago
Tips on romance from the Middle Ages. Spoiler alert: the ‘knight in shining armor’ isn’t all he’s made out to be
The medieval knight is widely regarded as charming and heroic. Whether he be embarking on an epic quest or rescuing a damsel in distress, this upstanding aristocratic warrior is forever seen as courageous and noble.
And there’s one characteristic for which he’s particularly well known: the ability to woo the fairer sex. But does this perception really reflect reality?
Let’s take a journey back through time to find out the truth behind the Middle Ages’ most infamous lover.
Dress well: The knight made sure his armor always shined
Whether he’s beating up bandits or embarking on a religious crusade, the knight wouldn’t dream of riding into battle without a glistening suit of armor.
But given their expense, many were forced to wear hand-me-downs, which must have been excruciatingly uncomfortable without a proper fit. The wealthiest could afford to have their armor tailor-made, although they were often expected to recuperate the cost through plunder.
Portions of an Armor for Field and Tilt, Jacob Halder, About 1590 (From the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago)
Of course, their gear was awfully heavy. Chainmail came in at about 30 lbs., while the bulkier plate mail could easily double that amount.
The outfit certainly caught the eye of the ladies, however, as the “knight in shining armor” trope is still widely used today.
Medieval Armor by Andreas FeiningerLIFE Photo Collection
Medieval Armor, Andreas Feininger (From the collection of LIFE Photo Collection)
Keep your options open: It’s okay to be desired by many
Considering his nobility and that sexy shiny armor, it’s no surprise the knight was the object of many a maiden’s desire. And he didn’t mind one bit.
In the late 12th century, a French Author by the name of Andreas Capellanus published a treatise entitled The Art of Courtly Love. Among other things, this famous trilogy of philosophical works included a set of “34 Rules for Love” to dictate the amorous behavior of the upper-class.
One rule states: “Nothing forbids one woman being loved by two men or one man by two women.”
The Knight and the Maid (1868/1868) by William Powell FirthSouth Shields Museum and Art Gallery
The Knight and the Maid, William Powell Firth, 1868/1868 (From the collection of South Shields Museum and Art Gallery)
Therefore, regardless of his relationship status, the knight would readily reciprocate flirtatious advances and gifts.
A tiny bit of (healthy) jealousy can be a good thing
The Art of Courtly Love was widely adopted by knights as well as other members of Europe’s high society. Among its many rules were some rather odd views on jealousy, something modern society considers an innately negative trait.
In fact, Capellanus distinctly promotes the bitter emotion on two occasions: "Rule 2: He who is not jealous cannot love" and "Rule 21: Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love". And that’s just as well, because the medieval knight was bound to have made his partner jealous with all that extra attention he was getting.
But infidelity is not okay
With so much advocacy for attracting random women and making spouses jealous, one might start to wonder whether the medieval knight was faithful in his romantic affairs.
Undoubtedly, that would depend on the knight in question. But according to Capellanus, he certainly should have been.
“A true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved” and “Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest,” he states in The Art of Courtly Love.
Even the Chivalric Code speaks of the importance of fidelity within the knighthood.
Lamia (1849/1917) by John WaterhouseAuckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Lamia, John William Waterhouse, 1849/1917 (From the collection of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki)
Young Knight in a Landscape (1510) by Vittore CarpaccioMuseo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Young Knight in a Landscape, Vittore Carpaccio, 1510 (From the collection of Museo Thyssen - Bornemisza)
Chivalry doesn’t equate to courtship
Mention the word chivalry and you’ll conjure up images of a well-dressed gentleman holding the door for an elegant lady. The original meaning, however, had absolutely no relation to romance or manners.
The Chivalric Code was an informal rule set invented by the church at the turn of the 12th century to keep the behavior of their knights in check. Specifically, it discouraged them from committing impromptu acts of rape, pillage, and plunder against innocent civilians.
Sheesh. Perhaps the knights weren’t quite as virtuous as we thought.
Tancred Baptizing Clorinda (c. 1586-1600) by Domenico TintorettoThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Tancred Baptizing Clorinda, Domenico Tintorettoc., 1586 - 1600 (From the collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston)
Find your own style: a lot of it is make believe
The medieval knight is well-regarded for his courage, nobility, and charm. But his heroic tales of vanquishing evil and ravishing women are largely thanks to a fictional genre called chivalric romance. The prose was a particularly popular form of escapism among high society up until the 1600s.
In reality, most knights would have been just like any other citizen, albeit with a very expensive suit.
In fact, the genre was so outrageous that Miguel Cervantes ruthlessly mocked it in his classic tale, Don Quixote.
Rinaldo Enchanted by Armida (1742/45) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770)The Art Institute of Chicago
Rinaldo Enchanted by Armida, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1742/45 (From the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago)
To be fair to the knighthood, there would have been some truly courageous and hopelessly romantic knights in the middle ages. And, undoubtedly, they would indeed have bewitched many young ladies during countless passionate trysts.
On the whole, however, the woman who secretly dreams of her “knight in shining armor” might be frightfully disappointed should she come across one in real life.
