cavallereschi

Cavallereschi is the Italian term used to refer to knights or knightly qualities and, more broadly, to the culture and literature associated with the medieval chivalric code. It denotes both real knights and the idealized figure of the knight found in romances, courtly culture, and the broader tradition of chivalry.

The concept originates in the institutions of knighthood in feudal Europe and the evolving chivalric code developed between the 11th and 15th centuries. Chivalry integrated martial ethics with religious and social duties, emphasizing bravery in combat, loyalty to lords and companions, protection of the weak, piety, and generosity. Knights practiced heraldry, tournaments, and acts of service to principled authorities, the church, and ladies.

In Italian literature, cavallereschi describes a body of chivalric romance and epic that centers on knight-errantry, quests, and enchantments. Italian works such as Matteo Maria Boiardo’s Orlando Innamorato and Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso are central to the cavalleresco tradition, drawing on earlier French and Spanish models. The genre often blends adventure with romance, allegory, and satire, shaping contemporary conceptions of knighthood and virtue.

Legacy and modern usage include ongoing critical and historical study of medieval literature, heraldry, and Renaissance culture. In contemporary Italian, cavallereschi can describe idealized or exaggerated knightly behavior, and the concept informs modern adaptations in film, theater, and games. The study of cavallereschi thus encompasses both historical practice and the enduring cultural imagination of chivalry.