Nine Worthies

The Nine Worthies were nine historical figures meant to be the embodiment of the ideal of chivalry. They were first written of in the early fourteenth century, by Jean de Longuyon in his Voeux du Paon. Neatly divided into triads, these were the champions of chivalry for the Pagan Law, Old Law, and new Christian Law. His choices rapidly became a common theme in the literature and art of the Middle Ages and stayed in the popular mind as a fixed image.

Related Topics:
Chivalry - Fourteenth century - Jean de Longuyon - Pagan Law - Old Law - Christian Law

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The Worthies were:

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• From Pagan times:
• Hector
• Alexander the Great
• Julius Caesar
• From the Old Testament:
• Joshua
• David
• Judas Maccabaeus
• From Christian times:
• King Arthur
• Charlemagne
• Godfrey of Bouillon

Some versions name Joan of Arc as the Tenth Worthy{{fact}}.

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As a group, the nine represent all facets of the perfect warrior. All, with the exception of Hector, are conquering heroes. Most came from royal families. All brought glory and honor to their nations and were noted for their personal prowess in arms. As individuals, each displayed some outstanding quality of chivalry, which, in combination with their historical context, made them exemplars of knighthood.

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The Nine Worthies were a popular subject for masques in Renaissance Europe. In William Shakespeare's play Love's Labour's Lost the comic characters attempt to stage such a masque, but it descends into chaos. The Nine Worthies had not devolved to folk culture even in the 17th century, for a frieze of the Nine Worthies, contemporary with Shakespeare's comedy, was painted at the outset of the 17th century at North Mymms Place, Hertfordshire, an up-to-date house built by the Coningsby family, 1599 http://brookmans.com/history/house/ch3.shtml.

Related Topics:
Masque - Renaissance - William Shakespeare - Love's Labour's Lost - North Mymms Place, Hertfordshire

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Don Quixote evokes the Nine Worthies in Volume I, Chapter 5, telling a peasant (who is trying to get him to admit who he is) "...I know that I may be not only those I have named, but all the Twelve Peers of France and even all the Nine Worthies, since my achievements surpass all that they have done all together and each of them on his own account."

Related Topics:
Don Quixote - Twelve Peers of France

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