The Order of Chivalry, by Ramon Lllull

The Book of the Order of Chivalry (c. 1275), was written by Ramon Llull (1232–1315), a polymath and Christian mystic from Majorca. Llull thought that knights should be chosen, trained, and ordained like priests. Llull’s book became a handbook of chivalry throughout much of Europe.

Until longbows and gunpowder came into widespread use in the 14th century, an armored knight was a formidable force on the battlefield. Something like a ‘tank’ in medieval warfare. So Llull thought that with this great power comes great responsibility.

It’s worth noting that — at least as far as I’m concerned — these metaphorical reflections on Chivalry have nothing to do with physical gender. As the eminent psychiatrist Carl Jung said, we all have animus (masculine) and anima (feminine) aspects in our psyches. (And, I have wondered if one of the reasons males have dominated physical combat throughout humanity’s history is because — in terms of the ongoing survival of the tribe — males are more expendable than females. Just a thought!)

Ramon Llull

Ramon Llull (1232–c.1315/16) was born to a wealthy family in Barcelona and became the chief administrator of the royal household there as well as a troubadour. However, in 1263 (aged 31), while writing a bawdy song for his lady-friend, “he looked to his right and saw our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, as if suspended in mid-air.” The vision occurred five times. Llull took the hint, sold all his possessions imitating Saint Francis of Assisi (c.1181 – 1226), and set out on pilgrimages to various holy shrines, never to return to his family and profession.

For the next nine years, he engaged in study and contemplation in relative solitude, reading extensively in Latin and Arabic and learning Christian and Muslim theological and philosophical thought. (Llull had the novel idea that one should “convert the Islamic indels” by learning the Arabic language, religion, and culture and persuading them, instead of at the point of a sword.) Over the remainder of his life, he wrote over 250 books on philosophy, and theology — and one on Chivalry.

He also invented a philosophical system known as the Art, conceived as a type of universal logic to prove the truth of Christian doctrine. The Art consists of a set of general principles and combinatorial operations — considered by some to be a precursor to the branch of mathematics known as Combinatorics. Some computer scientists have also adopted Llull as a founding father, claiming that his system of logic was the beginning of information science.

Posthumously, he was revered as a saint in Catalonia, elsewhere condemned as a heretic, but beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1847.

Why Does “Chivalry” Matter?

At the dawn of humanity, people banded together for mutual survival, prioritizing the well-being of the community because it was only together that they could survive. By him/herself, a person’s chances of survival were negligible, but in a tribe — vastly better. Through this cooperation — this recognition that “we’re all in this together” — civilization was born.

However, with the passage of time and the growth of affluence, we forget the necessity that once brought us together. Instead of nurturing the community that sustains us, many begin to look for ways to game the system, to take without giving, and to exploit without contributing. This erosion of virtue — the very thing that makes civilization possible —threatens the foundation on which society rests.

Chivalry, in its truest sense, is not just a relic of the past, but the living embodiment of the virtues that sustain civilization: truthfulness, courage, loyalty, keeping one’s word, and an understanding that “I am not the center of the universe”. These principles are not mere ideals, but absolute necessities for the survival and flourishing of any society. Without them, the fabric of our community unravels, and no law or authority can stop the ensuing descent into chaos.

The Order of Chivalry seeks to remind us of these essential truths. In a world where the pursuit of personal gain often scorns the common good, the values of chivalry serve as a beacon — a call to return to the virtues that once made our society strong. The virtues that make society and civilization possible at all. Chivalry is not merely about personal integrity; it is about the survival of civilization itself.