Ethical Aspects in Ramon Llull’s Book of the Order of Chivalry

In the Book of the Order of Chivalry (1279-1283), Ramon Llull aims to systematize and guide newcomers interested in the office of knighthood to fill a vacancy in the Order of Chivalry and, to this end, lists spiritual, moral and ethical values. In this way, the Enlightened Doctor invokes Christian values to explain the characteristics of this office, which was destined for only a few during the European Middle Ages. This systematization exposed the divine character of the knight, who, for Llull, must be at the service of the Christian faith in its fight against the infidels, pacifying men. This work was Llull's contribution to standardizing and establishing his own code of ethics for knighthood through polarities, virtues and vices, as well as the definition of knighthood, its customs and the issues involved in this noble office.