Modern mythologies of medieval chivalry
Dominique Barthélemy
History-books tell the reassuring and happy story of civilisation's progress in twelfth century. That period saw rough habits a warrior class becoming gentler more courtly: if they still resorted to fighting, did so for causes that were just, crusades or royal service, as game sport tournaments. A historical origin is ascribed 'chivalry', meaning by that, military technique, social class, set values. It's certainly true there some developments medieval technology: spurs appeared sometime eighth century; stone keeps became common atop mottes around year 1000. The chapter distinguishes three sorts historiographical myth, all them created from sources whose bias, legendary ideological character, even deliberate falsehoods, have not been sufficiently taken into account. There are myths ascent; about Christianisation war; civilising conduct.
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