The Book of Chivalry of Geoffroi de Charny: Text, Context, and Translation

by Geoffroi De Charny (Editor), Richard W. Kaeuper (Introduction), Elspeth Kennedy (Translator)

The Book of Chivalry is the most pragmatic of all surviving chivalric manuals. Written at the height of the Hundred Years War, it includes the essential commonplaces of knighthood in the mid-fourteenth century and gives a close-up view of what one knight in particular absorbed of the medieval world of ideas around him, what he rejected or ignored, and what he added from his experience in camp, court, and campaign.

Geoffroi de Charny was one of the quintessential figures of his age, with honors and praise bestowed upon him from both sides of the English Channel. He prepared the Book of Chivalry as a guide for members of the Company of the Star, a new but short-lived order of knights created by Jean II of France in 1352 to rival the English Order of the Garter.

Elspeth Kennedy here edits the original French text of Charny and provides a facing-page translation for the modern reader. Richard. W. Kaeuper's historical study places both man and his work in full context. In the formal themes that give Charny's book structure, and in his many tangential comments and asides, this work proves a rich source for investigating questions about the political, military, religious, and social history of the later Middle Ages. With this translation, the prowess and piety of knights, their capacity to express themselves, their common assumptions, their views on masculine virtue, women, and love once more come vividly to life.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Medieval, Nonfiction, Medievalism, Classics

248 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

About the author

Geoffroi de Charny (c. 1300/1306 – 19 September 1356), first name sometimes spelled Geoffroy, was a French knight and author of at least three works on chivalry. He was born around 1300. His father, Jean de Charny was the Lord of Lirey in Burgundy and his mother was Margaret de Joinville (d. 1306), a daughter of Jean de Joinville, biographer of King Louis IX the Saint. Geoffroi was a knight in the service of King Jean II of France and a founding member of the Order of the Star, an order of chivalry founded on 6 November 1351 by Jean II of France similar to the Order of the Garter (1347) by Edward III of England. He was also the carrier of the Oriflamme, the standard of the crown of France, an immensely privileged, not to mention dangerous, honour, as it made the holder a key target of enemy forces on the battlefield. Geoffroi de Charny was perhaps Europe's most admired knight during his lifetime, with a reputation for his skill at arms and his honour. It was said that in his time he was known as a "true and perfect Knight". He was killed at the Battle of Poitiers on September 19, 1356, as attested by Jean Froissart in his Chronicles.

Geoffroi de Charny and his wife Jeanne de Vergy are the first reliably recorded owners of the Turin Holy Shroud.

Geoffroi de Charny's most famous work is his 'Book of Chivalry', written around 1350, which is, along with the works of Ramon Llull and Chretien de Troyes one of the best sources to understand how knights themselves described and prioritised chivalric values in the 14th century. Geoffroi discusses many subjects but above all he values skill at arms over all other knightly virtues and war over all other forms of contest at arms.
He was also the author of 'Demands pour la joute, les tournois, et la guerre', in English, 'Questions for the joust, tournaments and war', a book on knightly pursuits. Only the questions survive; however, the way that the questions are phrased, as well as Geoffroi's actions in his lifetime, allow scholars to reach further conclusions about Geoffroi's conception of chivalry and war.

Reviews

[Robert Nugent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Chivalry of Geoffroi de Charny is an insightful read to the ideals and thoughts held by one of the greatest knights of the 14th century. The translation of Charny's original writing is clear and accessible to the average reader. Kaeuper's introduction helps to provide context to Charny's "how-to" guide on being a knight and sets the stage for the premiere piece while putting the reader in a good place to make connections as they venture into the laws of Charny's chivalry.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating to see how influential some of the earliest literature was on the educated non-royals of the medieval and early modern periods. Boethius? Check. Scippio? Double check.
this manual for how to be a knight is beautiful in its forthrightness and clear to read (a rarity among such texts, I've found). Good for anyone who wants to know about the knight's comportment.

[Sir Mons · Rating 5 out of 5]

All SCA folk should own a copy!

[Steven Muhlberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same book as A Knight's Own Book of Chivalry, but with a more extensive scholarly introduction and the Middle French original text

[kay]

14th century French Knight self-help book.