The Chivalric Virtues: A Musing by Monster.
The Chivalric Virtues are something I spend a lot of time thinking about, and not just in the SCA context. This is NOT a conversation limited to SCA context, even though that will likely be the audience.
Preface:
The discussion of said Virtues is a snarly subject, compounded by the fact that there are different lists and versions.
Are there 5? 12? 4? 7? (there are MANY versions/list of Virtues)
The list I find I gravitate to are these 7 terms:
Courage
Nobility
Loyalty
Mercy
Largesse
Humility
Franchise
[The words I choose to name the Virtues themselves inform my views, one could replace Loyalty with Obedience and ALMOST say the same thing….but not quite as we will see.]
Franchise:
The first Virtue I would like to discuss is, in my mind, one often overlooked or nebulously defined but the most crucial in my view...Franchise.
What the HELL is Franchise? As I use it...simply put…..Accountability.
It is to always strive to embody all the other Virtues without compromises in one's commitment to any of them.
To be able to see in oneself errors and failing in the Virtues, and to publicly not only accept the weight of that error but put forward amends in a public and active way, far and away from a simple apology. In addressing and changing behavior and attitudes that have caused any form of hurt or harm.
To some it means ‘Bearing’ or the SCAism of PLQs.(Peer Like Qualities).
To me, it is the core value of all Good, Right and Just actions, for it is outward facing and weighs more heavily how my actions affect OTHERS than myself.
Without Franchise….it all falls down.
Loyalty:
As I alluded to above, Loyalty and Obedience are often used as synonyms, but I find them quite divergent.
Loyalty is not the fawning following of Orders or Proclamations….it is a thing of the spirit.
Prima Facie adherence to commands is Obedience, whereas fulfilment of vows and responsibilities is Loyalty.
It is the difference between following orders, and fulfilling intent and anyone who has ever served or studied military history should plainly see the contrast.
A just person could, through Obedience, commit atrocities at the order of a leader.
Loyalty requires one to speak up when a leader oversteps, and offer counsel.
Loyalty also requires one as a leader to maintain good faith and care of those in their charge.
It should never be Loyalty to a person, rank or even country/kingdom.
It needs to be a Loyalty to Ideals.
Courage:
Courage means many things, and has distinct flavors.
There is Courage of the Body. The willingness to face hazard and harm of self in the pursuit of the Virtues and ideals.
To stand aside as others are persecuted or ‘bullied’ in order to remain safe in one’s self is a failing of Courage of the Body.
There is Courage of the Spirit. The willingness to face social consequences and ‘fallout’ from a stance or the defense of a Virtue and ideal.
To allow an unfair, or untrue statement to pass unchallenged because the act of challenging it makes one the target of ire is a failing of Courage of the Spirit.
There is not much else I have to say on this Virtue other than when it is needed...it is needed direly.
Largesse:
Largesse is another Virtue that has similar synonyms and interpretations...but the use of them slightly imparts a different meaning.
Often Generosity is used as a synonym and it is not a BAD one….but it lacks for me a component.
Largess is also often taken to mean gifts and physical items...and while that can be Largesse to me, a key item is to WHOM said gifts are given. Largesse is better defined as going DOWN than UP.
An SCA Example:
Gifting a new person an item to improve their efforts is Largesse.
Gifting the Crown goods and items is Humility...the Crown then giving those same goods and items to the populace is Largesse.
Additionally...Largesse need not be in items and goods, it can(and should) most commonly be in time, and love. To give of your time to help teach, guide or mentor a person is Largesse.
[Note: the same Down/Up dichotomy exists here.
Down is Largesse, Up is Humility, and since I have mentioned it twice now...]
Humility:
Humility as a Virtue is to acknowledge that one also SERVES no matter their rank or position.
One can serve a Crown/Leader, and one can serve a recruit with the same Humility. It is to acknowledge that you in fact are a student, even as one teaches. It is to put aside one’s own goals and ambitions for the achievement of a greater goal, and in doing so achieve more together than alone.
Mercy:
My original list had Wisdom on it instead of Mercy, however on reflection I found that Wisdom is but a part of Mercy...therefore I made a change.
One should always work to find a way to teach, correct and motivate others without causing harm and hurt. It is ALSO accepting others efforts at Franchise, and helping to foster the same.
It is in knowing when one must use Courage, and when one must apply Mercy that is Wisdom.
Nobility:
Nobility is a slippery one to grab. The best I can do is this, Nobility is one holding oneself to the Virtues even when no one is watching. It is to do the right thing, with no expectation of recognition or gain/reward. Nobility is to be more invested in another’s success than one’s own.
Special Note:
Yes...my list lacks Prowess.
Prowess is often(especially in SCA circles) deeply linked with the Virtues,and is in fact often the de facto defining characteristic of the Chivalric idea in the SCA…...and while I do not fully agree with that viewpoint in a larger global sense, I see the intent.
However, one need not have buckets of Prowess to be Knightly.
And Prowess by itself is not in fact REQUIRED to be Knightly….simply to be considered for elevation to the Order of Chivalry in the SCA.
Please share your thoughts as this is a living document.
