The History of Chivalry: Knighthood and Its Times (Vol.1&2) (Annotated)

In The History of Chivalry: Knighthood and Its Times, Charles Mills offers a sweeping two-volume account of medieval knighthood, tracing chivalry from its martial and feudal origins through its ceremonies, ideals, romances, crusading energies, and gradual decline. Written in a richly allusive, early nineteenth-century historical prose, the work combines antiquarian learning with narrative elegance. Mills situates chivalry not merely as a military institution, but as a cultural code shaping manners, literature, religion, love, and honour in medieval Europe. Charles Mills (1788–1826) was an English historian deeply engaged with the Middle Ages and the Islamic and Crusading worlds, subjects that also informed his histories of Mohammedanism and the Crusades. His interest in chivalry reflects the Romantic era's fascination with medieval institutions, heroic conduct, and the moral imagination of the past. Though writing before modern academic medievalism, Mills brought seriousness, breadth, and literary sensitivity to his reconstruction of knightly culture. This work is recommended to readers interested in medieval history, Romantic historiography, and the enduring myth of knighthood. It remains valuable both as a study of chivalric ideals and as a revealing document of how the nineteenth century reimagined the medieval world.This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.