Kathryn Le Veque on the father of all heroes: The medieval knight
Kathryn Le Veque, whose latest releases are Scorpion and the With Dreams Only of You collection, gives us a history lesson on how medieval knights found their way into our hearts as romance heroes.
Kathryn: First, there were Roman heroes. There were Dark Ages and perhaps even Egyptians or mystic Caucasus heroes to be written about, but those heroes aren't "as big" as other historical heroes. No one has ever used the term "a Roman in battle armor" to ride up on a white horse and save the day. But we have heard the term "a knight in shining armor.". Why is that? Let's think back in history to discover just where our modern ideal of a hero starts ... the legendary, nearly mythical knight in shining armor, the medieval knight.
What is it about the medieval knight that makes him so "swoon-worthy"? Is it the thought of a strong, powerful man sweeping you off your feet? Is it the thought of a savior, taking you off into a world of dreams where everything is lovely and rosy? All valid questions. The history behind our cultural ideas of a true romantic hero is quite interesting.
"Chivalric romance" came into vogue in the High Middle Ages. Much like Greek or Roman mythology, chivalric romances had an element of love, quest and, ultimately, heroic deeds. They were bigger than life, and the men who dominated the stories were also much bigger than life. Women were portrayed as weak and needing to be rescued, charmed, revived or all three. It was a formulaic process that became the basis for the romance tales we know today. Think about it — all romances have love, a quest or adventure of some kind and, ultimately, a happily ever after. And all heroes, in any romance, have a heroic or a strong quality about them.
Of course, there were stories of love and adventure long before the advent of the chivalric romances, but they often had more of a moral to the story or perhaps a message of good vs. evil. Chivalric romance was all about the "courtly love"; i.e., properly moral love between a man and a woman according to the custom of the times. Emerging from these high ideals of prim, proper and sweet love came the stalwart medieval knight who slayed dragons, saved women, was kind to children and the elderly and walked on water. Well, all but the last part, anyway. The English medieval knight was considered the standard to which all heroes were held to after that, at least in the romantic sense, because he embodied a sense of invincibility. Nothing could harm the lady so long as the knight was by her side to protect her.
Chivalric romance was predominantly written in English, French, Spanish and some Italian. It was written because of the ideal of courtly love was very popular among the nobility of the time. Everyone wanted to hear great tales of valor and romance. But the idea of chivalric love was considered out of vogue by the 16th century. Don Quixote was written around that time, sort of lampooning that traditional chivalric romance, but the idea of the father of all heroes — the medieval knight — lives on until this day. You can't erase a symbol of greatness in the chivalric sense. As children, we were sold on stories of great knights doing great deeds (i.e., Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, etc.). As girls, we wanted to be that princess and as boys, we wanted to be that knight who saved the day. So the idea of a "knight in shining armor" who rides up on a white horse to save the day is something from our earliest memories.
A medieval knight from the chivalric romance represents that almost unattainable dream of goodness, loyalty and, ultimately, happiness. The ideal of a chivalric medieval knight touches every romance story, everywhere, because we all want our happily ever afters. We all want that knight in shining armor to a certain extent. Isn't that why people read romances, after all?
The father of all heroes, the great medieval knight — he's the stuff romances are made of.
About Scorpion (courtesy of Dragonblade Publishing):
1289 A.D. — Sir Kevin Hage, stinging over the loss of the object of his affections to the Welsh warrior known as the Serpent, drowns himself in warfare in order to forget his heartache. He travels to The Levant to fight the Muslim infidels, transforming himself in the process. He becomes hardened, brutal, and heroic and returns to England a changed man, an English assassin known as the Scorpion.
Now on the home front, he must fight a battle greater than himself — the fear of loving a woman under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. With all odds against them, follow Kevin and his lady on their journey of discovery, adventure, and an awakening love that is stronger than all the stars in the heavens in this unforgettable Medieval romance.
Love... thy name is Scorpion.
About With Dreams Only of You boxed set:
One family. One Legend. One chance to reverse the tides of fortune.
Welcome to a multi-genre collection unlike any other historical romance collection. Six of the top authors in their respective genres bring you this powerhouse collection, With Dreams Only of You. Join the de Reyne family as they grapple with a family legend that follows them through centuries of hope, heartache, adventure, and romance in seven amazing segments:
Roman Scotland - The origins of the Theodosia Sword.
Medieval England - The legend begins.
The Scottish Highlands - The legend takes a twist.
Tudor England - A new dimension to the legend.
Georgian Era - The legend upon the high seas.
Regency England - The legend has new life.
Contemporary Times - The legend concludes.
Seven unique and powerful stories take the legend of the gladius, the Theodosia Sword, through the ages. Discover how each era of the family finds their own love, peace, and happiness. The sword that can tear them apart is also the one that binds them.
One family. One legend. One chance to reverse the tides of fortune... will each generation of the family take that chance?
Authors include Kathryn Le Veque, Christi Caldwell, Eliza Knight, Cynthia Wright, Suzan Tisdale and Eva Devon.
Find out more about Kathryn and her books at kathrynbouseleveque.com.