Chivalry and nobility

The spirit of chivalry

The chivalric path does not belong to a glorious past, for it is possible for each of us, according to our own aspiration, to follow it.

If this new chivalry enchants us, we have to recognize that it really concerns us in our everyday lives.

Even today, we can follow this ideal, not out of nostalgia, but to face the challenges of our existence.

The chivalric ideal differs from one era to another, and each of us has his or her own perception of chivalry.

The nobility may have appropriated this ideal, but it is by no means consubstantial with it. In principle, chivalry does not depend on birth. It is based on personal qualities of those who aspire to it.

"There's nothing noble about being superior to your fellow man. True nobility consists in being superior to who you were before."

ERNEST HEMINGWAY

This perspective, if we take it to heart and adopt it, intersects with the democratic ideal that marks our times. Indeed, democracy is an opportunity that gives the chivalric ideal its true meaning.

There really is a fundamental wisdom that enables us to work towards a fairer society.

Everyone has the freedom to conceive the standard of their being.
" We are all valiant knights "

Texts inspired by Fabrice Midal's book "L'Esprit de la Chevalerie". 

Chivalry and nobility

Contrary to popular belief, chivalry and nobility are two distinct worlds. While today's nobility is linked to birth, chivalry is a matter of service.

Although they later became so in the 11th and 12th centuries, knights were not nobles.

In those days, a nobleman was one who was recognized as such by his lifestyle, relationships, wealth and power. Gradually, however, the nobility appropriated the heritage of chivalry.

Thereafter, it became difficult for anyone not belonging to this social class to become a knight.

The chivalric ideal was profoundly transformed.

Being a knight even became a privilege for certain nobles.

Making someone a Knight is a way of signalling bravery and rewarding services rendered to an existing institution.

Chivalry takes on an honorific character not unlike that of the Legion of Honor, the Order of Malta or even scouting, which also adopts many of the principles of chivalry without imposing any preconditions.

The Fondation de l'Ordre des Chevaliers de Rondmons is now one of these officially recognized institutions. It has a structure that was given to it by its founder. terms of chivalry while distinguishing itself from the nobility of by birth or former regimes, replaced by social nobility (Titres Farges).

Over the centuries, the chivalric ideal has been transformed. There's no point in trying to pit one model against the other, if we're careful to consider that we're dealing with different conceptions of chivalry that can, in some cases, enrich each other.

Democracy is an opportunity that gives new meaning to the chivalric ideal.

"Nil Obstat"
means there's nothing to stop anyone becoming a Knight.