ABSTRACT

Chivalry is best defined as the medieval knightly system, with its religious, moral and social code. The Crusading spirit, translated into action by chivalry and by those associations of warrior monks, the Military Orders, exercised an enormous influence on the foundation of the Kingdom of Portugal, and on the oversea discoveries and conquests to which that country owes its place in world history; hence the religious side of chivalry, as being the most important there and the basis of the others, will be the principal subject of this chapter.