Discover published sets by community

Troubadours were medieval poet-musicians who composed and performed songs of courtly love, often spreading and reinforcing the ideals of this culture through their art.

Jousting was a martial game or sport in the Middle Ages where knights would try to unhorse each other, and was used as a way to demonstrate martial prowess and to gain honor and recognition.

In the context of courtly love, marriage was often a social or political arrangement, in contrast to the romantic love that knights were to pursue according to the ideals of courtly romance.

Courtly love had a significant impact on medieval literature, inspiring a genre of romance that emphasized noble deeds, the worship of a beloved lady, and the refinement of the knight's character.

Lineage was important in the medieval period, as becoming a knight often required being born into the nobility or gentry, reflecting the idea that martial and chivalrous qualities were hereditary.

In courtly love, the lady is often depicted as an idealized and unattainable figure who is the object of the knight’s affection and devotion.

Inspired by religious devotion to the Virgin Mary, courtly love often elevated the lady to a similarly revered status, blending elements of romantic and spiritual adoration.

Parfait amour, or perfect love, represents the unreachable ideal in courtly love that a knight strives for, often dictating that love should be pure, unselfish, and patient.

Courtly love was thought to 'ennoble' a knight, making him a better person through his love for and service to his lady, reflecting the idea that love could bring about moral improvement and refinement.

Knights would often carry tokens from their ladies, such as a scarf or a sleeve, into battle or tournaments as symbols of their love and as talismans of protection and favor.

Loyalty was a key virtue in knighthood, involving faithfulness to one's lord, lady, and comrades, reflecting the interpersonal bonds that held feudal society together.

The Round Table in Arthurian legend symbolizes chivalric equality, as it was designed so that no knight, including the king, would sit at the head, promoting the idea of noble kinship and comradeship.

The 'Mirrors for Princes' literature aimed to educate future rulers and knights on proper conduct, combining practical governance advice with moral lessons aligned with the values of chivalry.

Chivalry refers to the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code that knights were expected to follow, involving honor, courteousness, bravery, and gallantry toward women.

Refined Love, or 'Fine Amor', was a term used in medieval literature to describe the form of love that courtly love idealized, characterized by nobility and spiritual enrichment.

Unrequited love is a central theme in courtly romance, highlighting the longing and often unattainable nature of the love a knight feels for his lady, which serves to enhance his devotion and the purity of his love.

Knighthood and its associated quests can be allegorical, representing a knight's inner spiritual journey or the moral challenges faced by individuals in their pursuit of virtue.

The Grail Quest in Arthurian legend is symbolic of the ultimate spiritual and chivalric endeavor, representing the knight's quest for purity, enlightenment, and divine grace.

In courtly romance, a knight's quest is a journey or a set of challenges he undertakes, often to prove his valor and win the heart or favor of a lady or to uphold the values of chivalry.

Secrecy was a major notion in courtly love, as relationships were often illicit or socially unacceptable; thus, lovers needed to hide their affair from the public eye.

Chivalric orders, like the Order of the Garter or the Knights Templar, were societies of knights that upheld specific chivalric codes and were often backed by political or religious authority.

Pas d'armes or passage of arms was a form of chivalric martial event where a knight or group of knights would hold a position and challenge others to combat, testing their skill and bravery.

Love sickness in courtly love narratives describes the physical and psychological suffering that knights often experienced due to their unrequited love, serving to illustrate the depth of their passion.

Courtly love poetry often employed symbolic language, using metaphors and allegory to convey the complex emotions and social restrictions surrounding romantic desire.