Chivalry Today Podcast

In the podcast’s final episode, Prof. Paul Sturtevant, founder of the Society for the Public Understanding of the Middle Ages, joins Scott to talk about the organization and how modern understanding of chivalry is built, colored, and reflected by real historical studies, as well as video games, movies, Renaissance faires, and the historical reenactors who work in the heritage industry. Also: A farewell to the Chivalry Today podcast as we announce our final episode — with thanks to the people who’ve made the show possible, and some final thoughts and reflections. Quicklinks: Use the links below to learn more about the books, programs, and products mentioned in this episode of the podcast: * Visit the website of the Society for Public Understanding of the Middle Ages. How Do We Understand the Code of Chivalry? From movies (Lord of the Rings) and television shows (Games of Thrones), to Renaissance Faires, political speeches, and social movements, our view of what is truly “medieval” is constantly being affected and re-formed by images of “medieval-ism” we see all around us – including the historical interpretative events and demonstrations put on by Chivalry Today. (The image above shows just such a thing occurring as demonstrators in the Occupy Wall Street movement protest supposed corporate greed by donning costumes of the medieval outlaw-hero Robin Hood.) What does our perception of the Age Of Chivalry tell us about who we are, and who we want to be as individuals, and as a society? And how do our own cultural and social assumptions frame, color, and distort our view of medieval history and the code of chivalry? Is it even possible to have such a thing as an “unbiased view of history,” or does our cultural baggage always travel with us as we venture into studies of the world of the past? Scott’s guest in this episode of the podcast is Prof. Paul Sturtevant, visiting lecturer at the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity College, and founder of the Society for the Public Understanding of the Middle Ages (PUMA). In this final episode of the podcast, Prof. Sturtevant provides some interesting thoughts on how we see ourselves reflected in studies and depictions of medieval history and the code of chivalry.  

Prof. Ken Mondschein joins Scott Farrell to talk about his new book The Knightly Art Of Battle, which explores both the military skills, and the detailed artwork found in the late medieval fighting manuscript Flos Duellatorum, written by the fencing master Fiore dei Liberi, which is in the collection at the J. Paul Getty Art Museum in Los Angeles, California. They discuss the fighting arts of the 14th and 15th centuries, and how the illustrations and verse of this book provide a glimpse into the ideals of its author, and the code of honor that prevailed in the world of medieval Italian knights of the time. Quicklinks: Use the links below to learn more about the books, programs, and products mentioned in this episode of the podcast: * Buy a copy of The Knightly Art Of Battle (http://amzn.to/1OcGY0z) by Prof. Ken Mondschein; * Learn more about the work of the Higgins Sword Guild (http://www.higginssword.org/); * Arrange a visit to the J. Paul Getty Museum (http://www.getty.edu/museum/). (http://chivalrytoday.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ken4.jpg)The fighting manuals of the late Middle Ages are intriguing windows into the skills that knights and men-at-arms trained in in preparation for battles, duels and tournaments. But these books - highly illustrated and many written in verse - are also works of art and literature. The drawings in them show us the fashions of the times, and the text, whether enigmatic poetry or detailed technical description, gives us the author’s voice and their outlook on the world around them. If you doubt that a book on sword-fighting can honestly be considered art … well then, you might be surprised to learn that a copy of the fighting manual called The Flower of Battle, written by Italian fencing master Fiore dei Libre, is held in the art collection at the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California. So, does examining a manuscript, like Fiore’s fighting manual, from an artist’s perspective give us new insight into the life and training of a medieval knight? As we explore themes in the text or styles in the form and execution of the illustrations, does a more refined understanding of the knightly sense of honor and chivalry emerge - or do we simply see violence and cruelty cloaked behind flowery language and pretty pictures? Scott is joined by Prof. Ken Mondschein, research fellow and historical fencing instructor at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worster, Mass., visiting fellow at the Center for Renaissance Studies at the Univ. of Mass., Amherst, and author of several books on medieval and Renaissance fighting techniques, including Fencing: A Renaissance Treatise (http://amzn.to/1MyTW8r), which is a translation of the 1553 fencing manual of Camillo Agrippa, and The Art Of The Two-Handed Sword (http://amzn.to/1JnDFzV), a translation of Francesco Alfieri's Lo Spadone with a Guide to Modern Practice. His most recent book is The Knightly Art Of Battle (http://amzn.to/1OcGY0z), published in 2011 by Getty Publications, to talk about Fiore's work and its artistic depiction of the skills of chivalry.

Prof. Ken Mondschein joins Scott Farrell to talk about his new book The Knightly Art Of Battle, which explores both the military skills, and the detailed artwork found in the late medieval fighting manuscript Flos Duellatorum, written by the fencing master Fiore dei Liberi, which is in the collection at the J. Paul Getty Art Museum in Los Angeles, California. They discuss the fighting arts of the 14th and 15th centuries, and how the illustrations and verse of this book provide a glimpse into the ideals of its author, and the code of honor that prevailed in the world of medieval Italian knights of the time. Quicklinks: Use the links below to learn more about the books, programs, and products mentioned in this episode of the podcast: * Buy a copy of The Knightly Art Of Battle by Prof. Ken Mondschein; * Learn more about the work of the Higgins Sword Guild; * Arrange a visit to the J. Paul Getty Museum. The fighting manuals of the late Middle Ages are intriguing windows into the skills that knights and men-at-arms trained in in preparation for battles, duels and tournaments. But these books – highly illustrated and many written in verse – are also works of art and literature. The drawings in them show us the fashions of the times, and the text, whether enigmatic poetry or detailed technical description, gives us the author’s voice and their outlook on the world around them. If you doubt that a book on sword-fighting can honestly be considered art … well then, you might be surprised to learn that a copy of the fighting manual called The Flower of Battle, written by Italian fencing master Fiore dei Libre, is held in the art collection at the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California. So, does examining a manuscript, like Fiore’s fighting manual, from an artist’s perspective give us new insight into the life and training of a medieval knight? As we explore themes in the text or styles in the form and execution of the illustrations, does a more refined understanding of the knightly sense of honor and chivalry emerge – or do we simply see violence and cruelty cloaked behind flowery language and pretty pictures? Scott is joined by Prof. Ken Mondschein, research fellow and historical fencing instructor at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worster, Mass., visiting fellow at the Center for Renaissance Studies at the Univ. of Mass., Amherst, and author of several books on medieval and Renaissance fighting techniques, including Fencing: A Renaissance Treatise, which is a translation of the 1553 fencing manual of Camillo Agrippa, and The Art Of The Two-Handed Sword, a translation of Francesco Alfieri’s Lo Spadone with a Guide to Modern Practice. His most recent book is The Knightly Art Of Battle, published in 2011 by Getty Publications, to talk about Fiore’s work and its artistic depiction of the skills of chivalry.

Podcast 60: Chivalry Makes The Lyst

The organizers of the 2012 Lysts On The Lake, Steve Hemphill and Scott Wilson, discuss this upcoming event that combines the sport of competitive jousting with the burgeoning interest in the field of Western martial arts and historical sword combat, and talk about what role chivalry will play in this year’s event. Plus: A look at the centennial of the Titanic’s sinking and the lessons of chivalry and courtesy to be learned from that fateful “night to remember.” Quicklinks: Use the links below to learn more about the books, programs, and products mentioned in this episode of the podcast: * Learn more about the Lysts On The Lake and the Chivalric Martial Arts International symposium. * Visit the website of Darkwood Armory, supplier of premium WMA and historical fencing swords. * Titanic Disaster – Official Casualty Figures Recently the martial arts of medieval Europe have been undergoing nothing short of a Renaissance – moving away from the theatrical pomp and play-acting of scripted jousting shows, and staged sword-fight displays, and toward the more serious study and practice of real, authentic combat on horseback and foot, with lances, swords, and other realistic weapons. Not one, but two recent television series have focused on the growing practice of live, competitive sport jousting. And there is an exploding number of conventions and symposia for practitioners of 14th and 15th century fencing, wrestling, and armed combat. All of these martial arts were, of course, practiced by knights, and those of knightly status in the Middle Ages – back in the days of real chivalry. (That is to say, when chivalry was a current, contemporary concept – not a topic for debate about historical accuracy.) But for someone of “knightly spirit” in the 21st century, getting a solid grounding in all of these martial arts is difficult. After all, few of us have a castle courtyard where we can go for private lessons with our masters of horse and sword. But, on May 8th through the 13th, if you’re in the vicinity of Austin, Texas, you can have the next best thing – because that’s when both of these styles of medieval chivalric sports are going to come together in Taylor, Texas at the East Williamson County Event Center, and the Taylor Rodeo Association Arena as spectators, students, and competitors come for the Chivalric Martial Arts International convention, and the Lysts On The Lake jousting tournament. Of course, watching these instructors, students and competitors gather to wrestle, hammer, slash, stab, and joust with one another is certainly exciting and colorful. But in these practices of the martial arts of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, will they be exploring the ideals of chivalry, or simply proving that a sense of honor goes out the window once the swords are drawn and the lances come down? Will spectators come away with greater respect for the ideals and practices of chivalry in a competitive environment – or is this merely an exhibition of the obsolescence of the knightly code. Scott is joined by Steve Hemphill and Scott Wilson, organizers of the event, to discuss how the ideals of chivalry are viewed by the participants in these events. You can purchase tickets to the event in advance (at a discount) through the Lysts On The Lake website. See the promotional video for the 2012 Lysts On The Lake j...

Podcast 59: Chivalry To The Extreme

Visit the Higgins Armory Museum to learn about their new exhibit Extreme Sport: The Joust as Scott is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Forgeng, the museum’s curator of arms and armor, and one of the coordinators of the exhibition. Dr. Forgeng is one of the world’s few professional scholars of the history of European martial arts. His books include Joachim Meyer’s Art Of Combat and The Medieval Art Of Swordsmanship, and he is one of the lead trainer-interpreters with the Higgins Sword Guild. He is the Paul S. Morgan Curator at the Higgins Armory Museum, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Quicklinks: Use the links below to learn more about the books, programs, and products mentioned in this episode of the podcast: * Donate to Chivalry Today in the Choose Your Rewards listener support drive; * Learn more about the work of the Higgins Armory Museum, or plan a visit. Chivalry To The Extreme: The Higgins Armory Museum’s Exhibition “Extreme Sport — The Joust” Anyone interested in medieval history or the code of chivalry knows that jousting has been used as a focus for dramatic tension in practically every work of fiction set in medieval times – from L’Morte Darthur, to Edmund Spencer’s The Fairy Queen, to Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. Lerner & Lowe’s musical Camelot brought a jousting match right up onto a Broadway stage; and more recently, A Knight’s Tale gave us a movie that was, in fact, entirely set in the jousting arena. But recently there’s been a shift – away from the dramatized depiction of the joust as a set piece of conflict and hero’s journey, and more towards restoring the jousting match as an honest, unscripted athletic competition. Live, competitive jousting events, such as the World Joust Tournament of the Phoenix, and international jousting competitions held at castles and museums in Europe, are creating an audience that is no longer satisfied with sparking swords, fake blood, and gymnastic stunts. This new interest in jousting has also given rise to not one, but two television shows that focus on the sport in a “reality TV” sort of way: Nat Geo’s Knights of Mayhem, which took a behind the scenes look at a sport-jousting troupe, and History Channel’s Full Metal Jousting, which is currently on-air, that takes more of a game-show approach to the sport by inviting sixteen athletes and riders from various disciplines to “come on down” and see which one of them can become the best jouster after 30 days of training. So, what does this new interest in athletic jousting tell us about our understanding of medieval knights and the culture they created? Do these new “sport jousting” events provide a more authentic picture of this uniquely medieval sport, or are they creating a new sort of mythology about jousting that is no more realistic than the bombastic Renaissance Fair jousting performances we’re all familiar with? And, perhaps most importantly, does seeing jousting as a sport provide us with a more complex understanding of the ideals and practices of chivalry – or does that,

Dr. Thom Richardson, keeper of armor at England’s Royal Armouries, joins Scott to talk about the artistry of medieval armor. Dr. Richardson is author of the foreword in the new two-volume photography book The Royal Armouries by acclaimed Italian photographer Carlo Paggiarino, published by Hans Prunner. He has also written a variety of articles on the history and study of medieval and Renaissance arms and armor for several academic journals. Plus: The Chivalry Today podcast needs your help – please take a moment to make a donation and take part in our Choose Your Rewards support drive. Quicklinks: Use the links below to learn more about the books, programs, and products mentioned in this episode of the podcast: * Donate to Chivalry Today in the Choose Your Rewards listener support drive; * Purchase a copy of the two-volume The Royal Armouries photography album by Carlo Paggiarino; * Plan a visit to England’s Royal Armouries at Leeds. The Style of Chivalry In the Armourer’s Art The Royal Armouries at Leeds has become known as one of (if not the) finest collection of arms, armor, and militaria in the world – but one of the Royal Armouries’ missions is to bring arms and armor to life in their “native environment,” which is not gathering dust behind a glass display case, but in use as wearable, practical, functional pieces of equipment. The Royal Armouries is constantly exploring new and dynamic ways to bring its pieces to life in the public eye, from lectures and special exhibits, to live interpretations of jousting and sword combat, and educational outreach programs. Still, to learn about medieval armor, there’s nothing quite like holding a piece of it in your hands – although the Royal Armouries’ recent collaborative project is just about as close as your going to get. Working with acclaimed international photographer Carlo Paggiarino, the Royal Armouries has helped produce a new two-volume set of books titled simply The Royal Armouries, published by Hans Prunner Books. Paggiarino has done photography work for other arms and armor collections before, including the Wallace Collection and the Churburg Armory – and for anyone who has seen these books, you know this is not just a run-of-the-mill picture book. Captured in the 624 pages of Paggiarino’s books are some of the most clear, vivid, and true-to-life photographs of armor you’re ever likely to see; when you turn the pages, you’ll swear you can almost hear the metal plates clanking and the mail armor jingling. With a limited publication run of only 1,000 copies, these books are true collector’s editions. So, if this photographic chronicle of some of the Royal Armouries’ finest pieces of armor gives us a true “knight’s eye” view of medieval armor, how does it change our perception of the skills and status of the knights who wore it in the Middle Ages? Does the craft and beauty of the armorer’s art lend an iron-clad framework to the image of the chivalric champion? Or does each dent and rust spot reveal the fallacy of chivalry by reminding us of the violent, brutal culture of the men who fought and killed while wearing this armor? Dr. Thom Richardson, keeper of the Royal Armouries’ Armor collection and author of the foreword to Paggiarino’s books joins Scott to talk about the work of photographing these historic pieces of armor, and what the images reveal about medieval knights and the code ...

Podcast 58: The Style of Chivalry In the Armourer’s Art

In this episode: Scott is joined by Prof. Richard Kaeuper, author of Holy Warriors: The Religious Ideology of Chivalry for a conversation about the sometimes tenuous relationship between knights and the church throughout the Middle Ages, and how the teachings of Christianity affected the ideals of chivalry. Also: An interview with Sarah Wendell, co-author of Beyond Heaving Bosoms, about “romance novel chivalry”; and we want you to take our listener challenge! Quicklinks – Buy the titles from authors interviewed in this show by using the following links: * Holy Warriors by Prof. Richard Kaeuper * Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan Segment 1: Take the Listener Challenge We want you to nominate someone for our list of Nine Worthies of Chivalry Today — nine individuals (living, historical or fictional) who represent the ideals of chivalry in action. You can suggest one, some or a whole list of nine names – each month Scott will choose some of the nominees to read on the podcast, and everyone who sends in a suggestion will be entered into our monthly drawing. Visit our Listener Challenge page for full details.     Segment 2: Ideology of Chivalry — Interview with Prof. Richard Kaeuper, author of Holy Warriors: The Religious Ideology of Chivalry * Read a review of Holy Warriors, reviewed by Prof. Stephen Muhlberger, author of Deeds Of Arms and a past guest on the podcast. * Buy Holy Warriors: The Religious Ideology of Chivalry.   Segment 3: Romance Novel Chivalry – A Conversation with Sarah Wendell What are the three elements that comprise the “trifecta of awesome” on a romance novel cover? Sarah discusses this, and other (more serious) elements of the romance genre in the video below: * Read Chivalry and Other Romantic Behaviors on Sarah’s blog; * Buy Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan. Next month on Episode 39: John Clements, director of the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts joins us to talk about historical sword combat and the code of chivalry.

Podcast 38: Ideology of Chivalry

Scott speaks with Prof. P.M. Forni, founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project and author of the book Choosing Civility, who discusses the history of “civil” behavior and chivalry, and why this concept still matters today. Plus: Chivalry Today needs your help! Please donate and take advantage of our Choose Your Rewards donor appreciation program. Quicklinks – use the links below to learn more about the books, videos, products and programs mentioned on this episode of the podcast: * Choosing Civility– Buy a copy of Pier Forni’s book about 25 ways to bring more civility into your life; * Learn more about the Civility Project of Johns Hopkins University, created by Prof. Forni; * Learn more about the selection of gifts you can choose from in our Choose Your Rewards donor appreciation program. Chivalry Urbanis — Civil-izing The Knightly Code Back in the Age of Chivalry, there was a book written that encapsulated much of the important knowledge of being a knight and a member of noble society. It wasn’t a book of battle tactics or heroic tales of glory – it was called Liber Urbanis … the Book of Civilized Behavior. The knowledge and mastery of civility was a crucial part of the code of chivalry – being courteous, refined and civil was the way a knight (or a lady) demonstrated that inner sense of nobility and grace. Professor Pier Forni is taking a new look at this age-old concept of civility. With a Ph.D. in Italian Renaissance Literature, Prof. Forni has worked at the Harvard Center for Renaissance Studies in Florence, and in 1997 he became the co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project – a program aimed at assessing the significance of civility, manners and politeness in contemporary society. He is the author of two books on the subject – Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct, and The Civility Solution: What To Do When People Are Rude. Prof. Forni has written on the subject of modern civility for the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times and Forbes Magazaine, and he has appeared in a variety of media, including ABC World News Tonight and the Oprah show.

Podcast 57: Chivalry Urbanis – Civil-izing the Knightly Code

Scott speaks with Brett McKay, founder of the Art Of Manliness and co-author of Manvotionals: Timeless Wisdom And Advice On Living The 7 Manly Virtues, about the gentlemanly arts and the place of the code of chivalry within the framework of manly philosophy. Plus: A message of generosity from one of the great coaches of college basketball; and you can send a Pledge Of Chivalry to a friend as a holiday gift for as little as $20. Quicklinks: Use the links below to learn more about the books, videos, products, and programs mentioned on this episode of the podcast: * Visit the Art Of Manliness website to learn more about the skills of being a modern gentleman (even if you’re a woman!); * Purchase the book Manvotionals by Brett and Kate McKay; * Buy a copy of John Feinstein’s new book One On One. Manvoted To Chivalry Chivalry is often defined as the “lost art of being a gentleman.” Why don’t young men act like gentlemen anymore? people – particularly young ladies – often complain. The days when gentlemen used polite manners, stood up for what’s right, took pride in being confident and self-reliant, and lived up to their word seem to be a thing of the past. Recently there have been a variety of efforts to recapture what might be called “The Art of Manliness” – and to teach young men (or, actually, men of all ages) what it is to be a man who lives with a real sense of discipline, honor, industry, and courage, rather than just to be couch-potato playing World of Warcraft in your man-cave. But part of the challenge in this reclamation of the art of manliness is the understanding of the difference between what a man does and what a man is … you can learn to run a bulldozer, hunt big game, and sail the seven seas all you want,  but the trappings of manliness are nothing without the ideals, values, and principles of manly character. So just what is it that makes a male into a man? How does one achieve not just the skills, but also the philosophy of a modern gentleman? Are the qualities of chivalry still relevant to the contemporary practice of the art of manliness, or has the notion of the chivalrous knight been eclipsed by the more up-to-date profile of the cosmopolitan man-about-town? These are the questions Scott explores with Brett McKay, author of Manvotionals: Timeless Wisdom And Advice On Living The 7 Manly Virtues. Bobby Knight – A Slam-Dunk Lesson In Gratitude A clip from a recent episode of the on-air talk show Fresh Air, hosted by Dave Davies, provides a memorable lesson on the value of generosity and gratitude in a fiercely competitive environment as sports commentator John Feinstein talks about his observations of coach Bobby Knight in his new book One On One: Behind The Scenes With The Greats In The Game. (Listen to the full broadcast of the show on NPR’s Fresh Air website.) Coming Up On Episode 57: Scott will be joined by Dr. Jeffrey Forgeng, curator of arms and armor at the Higgins Armory Museum, to talk about the newly opened exhibit The Joust.

Podcast 56: Manvoted To Chivalry