Chivalry 100

The code of chivalry is often thought of today only in terms of the behavior of men toward women. It is so much more than that. The part of chivalry most remembered today is really better known as gentlemanly behavior. I’ve recently had requests for a crash course on being a gentleman so I will keep this a short yet overarching instruction on the manners of gentlemen.

A gentleman knows and follows the rules. The rules of polite society are sometimes insanely complicated. Luckily, many of them can be summarized within just a few categories.

Dressing: Easy! All the rules about black tie, white tie, casual, business, and other forms of dress are well documented. Whether or not you like them isn’t the issue. Ladies don’t like wearing stockings but we do. Also, no matter what you wear, make sure it is clean, without stains, and hole free. Yes, this means even the items “no one” will see.

No, this is not a stock photo. It was a real dinner I attended.
(It was wonderful.)

Dining: Use silverware starting from the outside and work your way in. Which fork? Use the one on the outside. Once the first course is cleared, the next set in is the one used. The staff will clear any silver which is no longer needed.

Drinking: Glasses have even easier rules. Use the one with something in it. Each course may have its own wine. The staff knows which glass to use so you don't have to. Also, know thy limits. At all times a gentleman must be prepared to defend his lady. Impaired judgement in such cases is a no go.

Dancing: Just be able to stand in one spot and move a bit. Most ladies will make you look good anyway.

Deferring: Always defer to a lady. More than anything else, this rule defines a gentleman. If you are sitting and there are no more seats, no lady should be standing in your presence. If you are walking with a lady, make sure she is on the inside of the walkway, away from traffic. If you are at a party and you are starving, so is she. Make sure she is fed first. And if after the party she asks you for the car keys, defer. She’ll thank you later.

Education of a Knight 1

Knights of the 21st century must be at the top of the education level about world affairs. I do not mean an upper level, postgraduate type of education. I mean knowing and understanding the facts of a situation. An uneducated man with a sword is called a thug. It was true in the 11th century and it is true now. Education is absolutely essential to informed decision making. Knights must be able to discern the difference between what is dangerous and what is merely an annoyance. To this end, I urge every citizen of the United States to arm themselves with knowledge regarding world events. I will not give my opinion. I will only provide resource material that is truthful. It comes from a western perspective and I admit that completely, but it is not inaccurate. I also will refrain from bombarding you with too much information at once. This will be the first reference in a series regarding world events, history, and putting chivalry into perspective.

"The Real History of the Crusades"
by Thomas F. Madden, historian
Snip:
Many historians had been trying for some time to set the record straight on the Crusades — misconceptions are all too common. These historians are not revisionists, but mainstream scholars offering the fruit of several decades of very careful, very serious scholarship. For them, current interest is a “teaching moment,” an opportunity to explain the Crusades while people are actually listening. It won’t last long, so here goes.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.crisismagazine.com/2011/the-real-history-of-the-crusades