Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe [Paperback]

Richard W. Kaeuper (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0199244588 | ISBN-13: 978-0199244584 | Publication Date: June 21, 2001

This original and authoritative text reveals how chivalry was part of the problem of violence in medieval Europe, not merely its solution. The ideal was to internalize restraint in knights, but a close reading of chivalric literature shows chivalry also praised heroic violence by knights. This fascinating book lays bare the conflicts and paradoxes surrounding the concept of chivalry in medieval Europe.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`In this elegant, interpretative essay Richard Kaeuper takes another look at the meaning of chivalry. ... Seasoned students of the subject will find his views confirmatory rather than revolutionary, judicious and finely tuned for all that.' Peter Coss, Medium Aevum

`The real strength of this book lies in the author's deep knowledge of the imaginative literature and the ease with which he can draw on a myriad incidents in support of his argument. It overflows with arresting images and with apt citations that seem to take us to the very core of chivalric beliefs.' Peter Coss, Medium Aevum

`Kaeuper draws upon a great deal of recent scholarship, not only on individual works but also on audience and reception, and on historical context. Veteran campaigners will find this book particularly profitable in keeping them abreast of this new work. Aspirants will find it a stimulating introduction to the subject.' Peter Coss, Medium Aevum

`This book deserves a wide readership ... Kaeuper makes an important contribution to this field, one worthy to be set beside Maurice Keen's Chivalry (1984). Its appeal will reach beyond specialists, even beyond medievalists. Kaeuper's elegant prose, efficient organization, and willingness and ability to summarize background material combine to make the book one from which an intelligent beginner can gain a real appreciation fo the issues and the relevant evidence.' Steven Muhlberger, The International History Review

`Kaeuper displays his wide reading and scholarship in pursuit of chivalry's literary and practical differences to offer some original research amid a synthesis of much recent work ... the furnishing of many less familiar examples is particuarly welcome.' Sean McGlynn, EHR Sept. 00, Vol.115, No.463.

`An enjoyable introduction to the subject.' Sean McGlynn, EHR Sept. 00, Vol. 115, No.463.

`a vivid and often illuminating analysis of how the ideals and behaviour of the knightly classes were represented by their chroniclers.' John Palmer, Jnl of the Society of Archivists, Vol.21, No.2, 2000.

`an illuminating study of the problems of social order and knightly violence as portrayed in chivalric literature.' John Palmer, Jnl of the Society of Archivists, Vol.21, No.2, 2000.

`On the whole, Kaeuper's argument is not only convincing, but his presentation of the tensions throughout is quite captivating. He especially let the texts present his case, which they do with the boldness that marks so much medieval verse.' Steven Isaac, BMR.

`What Kaeuper demonstrates most effectively from multiple viewpoints is that the ordo of Chevalerie established its own peculiar relationship with secular and ecclesiastical authority.' Steven Isaac, BMR.

About the Author

Richard Kaeuper is at University of Rochester, New York State.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199244588
• ISBN-13: 978-0199244584
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #697,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How knights thought about knighthood, March 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe (Hardcover)

Readers who enjoyed Maurice Keen's fine book *Chivalry* may well want to read this book, which approaches the same question, "What is chivalry?" from a somewhat different angle.

Kaeuper, who has long been interested in the question of public order in the later Middle Ages, argues in this book that it is a mistake to look at chivalry as an ideal which had only a positive impact. Yes, indeed, knights often fought to uphold law and religion, and believed it was their duty to do so; at the same time, knights believed they had an inherent right to exercise violence in whatever cause they chose, and sometimes for no other reason than to defend their own prickly honor.

In other words, chivalry was a troublesome and ambiguous ideal, as much problem as solution.

To illustrate this, Kaeuper takes the reader on a fascinating tour of all kinds of medieval chivalric literature. All of it, he says, was reformist in nature, even the romances which were primarily meant to entertain. But reform could mean many things: knights should control their violence; or, knights should remember that they are fighters first.

The best part of this book is the masterly way Kaeuper allows us to see all the different ways medieval writers and their audiences thought about knighthood. It is quite an achievement.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some things never change, August 31, 2005

By 

Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren (Oxford, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe (Hardcover)

In Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe, Richard Kaeuper explores the concept of chivalry in an attempt to understand its true nature and place in medieval society. He takes into consideration the tendency of early writers and more modern historians to take a romantic view or a cynical view of chivalry based on prejudices. In his book, Kaeuper disputes a modern romanticized belief that chivalry was a positive and uncomplicated factor that helped to restrain men and that the problems with order in medieval society brought about by war and violence were not inherent in chivalry, but rather a lack of properly dispersed chivalric ideals. He argues that, "in the problem of public order the knights themselves played and ambivalent problematic role and that the guides to their conduct that chivalry provided were in themselves complex and problematic."(3)
To support his thesis, Kaeuper draws on a variety of medieval literature and histories, as well as some modern interpretation. He seeks to explain, through these sources, the concept of violence in medieval society, and to explain how that violence figured in the medieval social structure and in the minds of the knights who practiced it. Keauper recognizes, as do many of the medieval sources he quotes, that during the medieval period there was both licit and illicit violence. Licit violence was used to bring about order. He first turns to the Norman monk Orderic Vitalis who believed that violence for the right cause was acceptable. He quotes Vitalis who said, "Wrong must be done to put an end to a wrong thing."(13) He also refers to the French abbot Suger, who praised the royal use of force in the interest of order.
Kaeuper also used chivalric literature as a source of information about the use of violence in medieval society. He claims that, "Almost without failure these works give prominence to acts of disruptive violence and problems of control."(22) Regarding the effects of illicit violence, Kaeuper refers to the literary images of unusual power such as the black knights who fight each other and attack others. These knights are demonic in nature, and in some cases are the souls of knights being punished for sins. These knights are found in the story of Arthur, Lancelot and Gawain on the grail pilgrimage as well as others.
Kaeuper brings up the question of whether knights read romances, which is important to understanding how or if knights and chivalric literature interacted. Kaeuper states that there is evidence to believe knights did read such literature since Geoffrey de Charny referred to Lancelot do Lac, and Raymond Llull "drew heavily on thirteenth century romances."(31)
Kaeuper next looks at the idea of knights as pious people. Examples of this are again found by Kaeuper in literature as Galahad in The Quest for the Holy Grail and Lancelot in Mort Artu both regularly hear mass and take pains to do so. William Martel's biographer, according to Kaeuper, "recorded William's belief that all his knightly achievement was the personal gift of God."(47) Further, according to Kaeuper, both William Marshall and Geoffrey de Charny were crusaders, who also founded religious houses.
Despite their piety, there can be no doubt that knights were violent men. This is again supported through medieval literature. Kaeuper finds reference in Lancelot do Lac where upon hearing there would be a war with Arthur, "The good and bold knights were happy and joyful at this, for they felt there had been peace too long."(162-163) He also looks to the Chanson Gaydon where he finds that knights, "have no desire to make peace, they have always heard the war-cry."(163) He also finds such reference in biography such as the Chandos Herald's portrayal of the Black Prince, "There they made many a widowed lady and many a poor child orphan."(182)
Kaeuper arranges his book topically. Within each topic, he draws on various sources to make his point. This book is easily read, and supplies enough literary reference and narrative of events to be entertaining. Kaeuper has attempted to write a balanced description of the realities of a life dedicated to chivalry, and he succeeds. He consistently points out the good and bad associated with chivalry and knightly violence.

Michael E. Watson and Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the full monty, June 5, 2001

By 

"novicaine19" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe (Hardcover)

I've taken a couple of Prof. Kaeuper's courses, and I got what I expected in this book. I can't speak for professional historians, but I can say that his style accomodates those less familiar with the time period. Indeed, you might find it to be kind of a grind at first, because the emphsais is on strict historical evidence rather than on any prevailing romantic notions about chivalry. This often dissapoints beginning students in this area, but I gurantee that the energy put in leaves one far more gratified. The reader can get a clear sense that the "Dark Ages" were immensely complex and active, and that this thing we call "chivalry" is essential to Western history -even the Western present- and is by no means something people did just so we can watch nifty movies.