Today, when people hear “chivalry,” the modern idea associated with the word is romance. Many would imagine a man holding a door open for a woman, or think of the phrase “Chivalry is dead!” » In reality, chivalry was more of a code of conduct, and the concept that it is only related to romance is actually only a very small part of it. This conduct was a mixture between the social status of the individual, the way in which the knights treated treaties and the glory, freedom and respect that came with it. Two French rulers began doing this in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. This helped inspire their troops and make them think positively in such a boring atmosphere. Many historical analysts saw it as “a code of moral behavior of upper-class men that displayed “their romantic ideas of justice”; their passion for adventures; their eagerness to bring succor to the afflicted and the pride they felt in righting wrongs and removing grievances'” yet, this is not the most important part of chivalry (Phillips 5). This is where the new interpretation fits into modern chivalry, the concept that you show your love and devotion to a lover through small, meaningful gestures. Before delving into what chivalry is, it is necessary to understand the times surrounding its early existence. This Middle Ages lasted approximately 1,000 years. War and religion strongly influenced the way life was conducted and the way rulers lived. The idea of ​​chivalry is believed to have originated with a famous French emperor named Charlemagne. He issued two authoritative commandments, the most popular being "Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry." This began to shape the way the knights would live their lives for many years. These “virtues are seen over and over again middle of paper......lry. » Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. March 25, 2014. “History of Europe. " Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. March 25, 2014. “Knights.” Gale Student Resources in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Student Resources in Context. Internet. March 31, 2014. “Medieval Literature.” Gale Student Resources in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Student Resources in Context. March 31, 2014. Phillips, Catherine. Tennyson's Idylls of the King and the Chivalric Code." Gale Student Resources in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Student Resources in Context. Internet. March 26, 2014. "Romance". Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. March 25, 2014. “The Medieval Castle.” Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer.. 2014.