Chronicles

The nobility of Europe in Froissart’s time was still primarily a class of warriors. As such, concepts like honor and chivalry had a great deal of appeal and power. Although Froissart came from the medieval middle class, he was still “an admirer of chivalry and […] the spokesman to an over-exclusive degree of the ruling and knightly class” (18). Throughout the Chronicles, Froissart is concerned with recording the “great and noble deeds” (91) of not just entire armies, but also individual nobles, like James Douglas (337-340) or Robert of Namur (117-118). In this, Froissart is indeed “impartial” (14) in that he tries to praise the valor of both sides in the battles he describes. For example, in a naval battle between the English and Spanish, Froissart writes that “the Spanish […] did their utmost and never flinched” (117). Elsewhere, Froissart approvingly claims that in battle with each other both the Scottish and the English “stand their ground” and act “chivalrously to one another” (345). Chivalry transcends allegiances to one’s nation. This is shown when French knights host a tournament with English knights participating at Calais (380).

Chivalry and concepts of honorable behavior did not just involve courage in battle and merciful treatment toward prisoners, but also actions outside battle that would be difficult for a modern person to comprehend.