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26 February 2026

Faith and Honor:The Influence of Christian Ethics on Medieval Chivalric Ideals

Zhiyu Xiao*
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1 China West Normal University, School of History and Culture, Nanchong 637002, Sichuan, China
CEF 2026 , 4(2), 162–167; https://doi.org/10.18063/CEF.v4i2.1604
© 2026 by the Author. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between Christian ethics and medieval chivalry. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Church worked with Germanic warrior traditions and gradually reshaped them. Knights were no longer only fighters, but also defenders of faith and protectors of the weak. This change can be seen in knighting ceremonies, the Crusades, and religious teachings. By studying both historical events and literary works such as The Song of Roland, this paper shows how Christianity gave new meaning to honor, loyalty, and courage, and helped turn knighthood into both a social role and a religious duty.

Keywords
Christianity
The Middle Ages
The chivalric system
Funding
2025 General Project“A Study of International Law Issues in the India-Pakistan Border Dispute” (Project No.: PSC25YB07) by the Pakistan Research Center and India Research China West Normal University. 2025 General Project “A Study of Economic Interactions Among Han, Tibetan, and Qiang Communities in the ‘Hengfengjiu’ Trading House in the Zaguonao River Basin During the Qing Dynasty” (Project No.: QX2025YJS02) by the Sichuan Minjiang River Upper Economic and Social Society and Ecological Civilisation Research.
References

[1] The Holy Bible. 2017, Shanghai Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee, “Acts of the Apostles” 4: 32.
[2] Anonymous, 1996, The Song of Roland. Translated by C. K. Scott-Moncrieff. Project Gutenberg. Section LXXIX.
[3] Tacitus, 2011, Agricola. Germania, translated by Yong Ma et al. The Commercial Press: 21.
[4] Prestwich E (Ed.), 2010, Chivalry, translated by Lin Zhongze et al. Shanghai Joint Publishing: 46.
[5] Walker W, 1991, A History of the Christian Church, translated by Sun Shanling. China Social Sciences Press: 276.
[6] Anonymous, 1996, The Song of Roland. Translated by C. K. Scott-Moncrieff. Project Gutenberg. LXXXVIII

[7] Anonymous, 1996, The Song of Roland. Translated by C. K. Scott-Moncrieff. Project Gutenberg. LXXXIX

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