1. COURTLY LOVE

2. WHAT IS COURTLY LOVE?
 A code of behavior that gave rise to modern ideas of
chivalrous romance.
 A relationship between aristocratic lovers in Western
Europe during the Middle Ages.
 Courtly Love required adherence to certain rules, but
was basically sanctioned adultery.

3. WHO PARTICIPATED?
 The man was a nobleman, usually a knight.
 The woman was married and of equal or
higher status.
 Frequently the woman was the wife of the
knight’s Lord and the knight’s admiration of the
woman was a sign of loyalty.

4. WHY?
 Marriages in the middle ages were almost NEVER about love.
 Marriages were little more than business contracts
 Love may interfere with creating dynasties or brokering peace.
 Love was considered irrelevant to marriage.

5. HOW DID IT WORK?
 The knight would pledge his
love to the woman from afar,
seeking to protect her honor and
win her favor.
 The woman would refuse his
advances in public, but privately
encourages him.

6. CHARACTERISTICS
 Associated with nobility (peasants could not engage in “fine
love”)
 Secrecy
 Adultery
 Chastity – the passion could never be consummated due to social
circumstances, thus it was a “higher love” unsullied by selfish, carnal
desires.

7. BENEFITS
 It was believed to improve men because they
would be more concerned with the concept of
honor.
 The knight would win more victories in
tournaments
 The inspiration of the woman would curb
arrogance and coarseness.