Chivalry and nobility
Contrary to a number of received ideas, chivalry and nobility are two separate concepts. Whereas current nobility is connected to birth, chivalry involves service.
Even if they subsequently became it, knights in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries were not nobles.
At that time, a noble was someone who was recognised as such by their lifestyle, the way they treated others, their wealth and their power. Gradually, the nobility adopted the heritage of chivalry.
Afterwards, it became difficult for anyone to become a knight, if they did not belong to this social class.
The idea of chivalry underwent a significant transformation.
Being a knight became a privilege granted to certain noblemen.
Making someone a Knight became a way of indicating his courage and rewarding him for the services he has rendered to a given institution.
Being a knight became an honorary title, with echoes of the role of the Legion of Honour, the Order of Malta and even the Scouts, which also embodies the principles of chivalry without imposing prior conditions.
The Foundation of the Order of the Knights of Rondmons has now become one of these officially recognised institutions. Its structure was given to it by its founder and it includes all aspects of chivalry, whilst separating itself from nobility of birth and former systems of government (Farges Publications).
The chivalrous ideal has changed over the centuries. It is useless to say that one model is better than another, and we should take the stance that these are different conceptions of chivalry that may, in some cases, enrich the ideal.
Democracy is an opportunity to give the chivalric ideal true meaning.
« Nil Obstat »
means that there is nothing to stop anyone becoming a Knight.
|