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GCSE History · key term
A medieval warrior code which valued courage and loyalty, alongside ideals such as mercy, justice and generosity.
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Paper 2
Revise: The Norman AristocracyKnights were skilled mounted warriors, and an emerging code of chivalry linked brave fighting with Christian values. It encouraged loyalty, generosity, justice and mercy, particularly towards defeated aristocratic opponents. William sometimes imprisoned surrendered enemies rather than executing them.
Paper 3
The expected qualities and conduct of a knight. In the late eleventh century, loyalty and belonging to a brotherhood of warriors were particularly important.
Treat chivalry as an ideal, not proof that Normans always behaved mercifully. Norman claims of cultural superiority were beliefs, not objective facts.
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Chivalry was still developing in the late eleventh century, so the expectations of fellow warriors mattered more than the elaborate ideals found in later stories about knights.