Courtly love facts for kids
Courtly love (also called fin'amor in Occitan) was a special idea of love from the Middle Ages in Europe. It focused on being noble and showing chivalry, which means being brave, honorable, and polite, especially for knights.
Medieval stories are full of knights going on exciting adventures and doing brave deeds for ladies they admired. This was all because of their "courtly love." At first, this type of love was just a made-up idea for fun stories, mostly for kings, queens, and nobles. But over time, these ideas about love became very popular and spread to more people. During the High Middle Ages, a "game of love" even grew around these ideas. People believed that "loving nobly" could make you a better person.
You can find the idea of courtly love in many famous books and poems. Writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, Dante, Gottfried von Strassburg, Walther von der Vogelweide, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Malory, and William Shakespeare all wrote about it.
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What Was Courtly Love?
Courtly love was a special way of thinking about love in the Middle Ages. It was often a secret love between a knight and a married noblewoman. This love was not about marriage or having a family. Instead, it was about a knight's deep respect and devotion to a lady.
The Knight's Devotion
In courtly love, the knight would often be completely devoted to his lady. He would do brave deeds, win battles, and go on long journeys to prove his love and worth. The lady, in return, would inspire him to be a better person. She might give him a small favor, like a scarf or a glove, to wear during a tournament. This showed her support and encouraged him.
Rules of the Game
Courtly love had its own set of unwritten rules. It was often a love that could not be fully realized, meaning the knight and lady could not openly be together. This made the love even more intense and special. It was seen as a way for knights to improve their manners, bravery, and skills. It also added excitement and drama to medieval stories.
Where Did Courtly Love Come From?
The idea of courtly love first appeared in southern France around the 11th century. It was often sung about by poets called troubadours. These poets wrote beautiful songs and poems about love, honor, and chivalry. Their works helped spread the idea of courtly love across Europe.
Famous Stories and Poems
Many famous medieval stories feature courtly love. One well-known example is the story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere from the Arthurian legends. Lancelot was one of King Arthur's bravest knights, and he had a deep, secret love for Queen Guinevere. Their story shows the challenges and strong feelings involved in courtly love.
Another example is the story of Tristan and Iseult. This tragic tale also explores a powerful, forbidden love between a knight and a queen. These stories were very popular and helped shape how people thought about love and heroism.
Impact on Culture
Courtly love had a big impact on medieval culture. It influenced not only literature but also art, music, and even social manners. It helped create the idea of the "gentleman" and the "lady" in society. People learned about proper behavior and respect through these stories.
A Lasting Legacy
Even though courtly love was a medieval idea, its influence can still be seen today. Many romantic stories, movies, and songs still use themes of devotion, sacrifice, and admiration. The idea of a hero doing great deeds for the one they love is a lasting part of our culture.
Images for kids
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God Speed! by Edmund Blair Leighton, 1900. This painting shows a lady giving a favor to a knight before battle.
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Courtly scenes on an ivory mirror-case from the early 14th century (Musée du Louvre).
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Courtly love comes in the basket. This image is of the Minnesinger Kristan von Hamle from the Manesse Codex, around 1305.
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Warfare imagery: the Siege of the Castle of Love on an ivory mirror-back, possibly from Paris, around 1350–1370 (Musée du Louvre).
See also
In Spanish: Amor cortés para niños
