The Point of Honor in the 16th Century

[Joshua Santana]

Here is a document I have recently read (and reading it again) and it is a great read!

This gives a new fresh perspective on how Honor was viewed in the Renaissance and how Honor as a Virtue is multifaceted.

Hope you enjoy it!

http://hemaalliance.com/?p=1643 

[Sir Edward]

That could be an interesting read. Tom Leoni did a talk about this subject at WMAW a few years ago and it was fascinating.

[Joshua Santana]

What I can say that it is an amazing read.  The whole crux of it is that in the Renaissance, Italy was the nation in which men discussed in length and detail what Honor is, how it is given, how is it received, how it is tied with a Good Name or Reputation, how Honor can be "wounded" and the ramifications of the Judicial Duel & private affairs of Honor. 

Here is an awesome quote from Aristotle (who is most cited in this reading): "no moral virtue is implanted by nature, but is a result of habit."

Another quote I found was: "Honor is firm as a rock in the essence of every knight, is a state of constant virtue, of never having done or endured any infamy or even any reproach; but of having done, and continuing to do, acts of virtue"  -   Francesco Thonnina, 1557

[Thorsteinn]

There is also a weird blend of Slavic & Jewish honor that I got raised with that started from Norse concepts of honor from over 1000 years ago that got blended with what came up the Volga trade routes.

[Joshua Santana]

There is also a weird blend of Slavic & Jewish honor that I got raised with that started from Norse concepts of honor from over 1000 years ago that got blended with what came up the Volga trade routes.

Quite an interesting comparison!  We can see how the concept of Honor is a universal concept with every Warrior class in History.  I see this document as one of the many pieces of evidence that Chivalry proved very difficult to die during the Renaissance.

[Thorsteinn]

While all Chivalry has Honor not all Honor is Chivalric, some is even Anti-Chivalric (You were raped?! I MUST burn you alive!).

[Joshua Santana]

While all Chivalry has Honor not all Honor is Chivalric, some is even Anti-Chivalric (You were raped?! I MUST burn you alive!).

Point well taken, while there is that mentality or interpretation it comes from one's personal beliefs or personal religious zeal which can turn into an evil that you can claim is justified.  In this case this is more discussion oriented, getting our moral beliefs examined and making comparisons.