Nobility and Violence: Chivalry in Medieval Europe. French and English chivalry examined, its origins, institutions, and guiding philosophies. Primarily the work of Painter and Kaueper contrasted.

PAINTER AND KAUEPER: NOBLESSE ET PROUESSE Grace and Violence in Medieval Chivalry There are several interpretations of Medieval Chivalry. The reason for the multiple interpretations is the vast divide between the two facets of chivalry; the two contradictory tenets of noble behavior and thoughtless violence. On one hand, a chivalrous knight was expected to have perfect manners, to be full at ease in social situations, treat women according to the doctrines of courtly love, and …

…the less intriguing of the two. Corin Corley [translator]. Lancelot of the Lake (Lancelot do Lac). New York : Oxford University Press, 2000, c1989 Kaeuper, Richard W. and Elspeth Kennedy. The Book of Chivalry of Geoffroi de Charny. Middle Ages Series, Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996. ___. Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe. Oxford, Great Britain: Oxford University Press, 1999. ___. Violence in Medieval Society. Suffolk, UK: Boydell & Brewer, 2000. Painter, Sidney. French Chivalry. Ithaca, NY: Johns Hopkins Press, 1940.