The idea of chivalry in eighteenth-century Britain
This thesis seeks to explore the engagement with, and development of, the idea of chivalry in Great Britain, covering a period of over a century, from 1688 to roughly 1800. As a concept, chivalry is usually seen by historians and literary scholars as existing in its original incarnation during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and not experiencing a revival until the early Victorian period. This thesis challenges this traditional periodising, showing that chivalry was widely used and understood as historically significant during the eighteenth century in England, Scotland and Ireland. Studying chivalry as an idea, this thesis examines the works of poets, historians, scholars and politicians such as Gilbert West, Richard Hurd, William Robertson, Lord Lyttelton and Edmund Burke. This broad selection and the long period covered provide insight into the widespread diffusion of chivalry, the changes evident in the opinions held about the concept as the century progresses, and the variety of uses and interpretations it experienced. The several chapters cover literature before and after 1750, historiography in Scotland and England, and politics during the 1790s. At the core of the thesis is the extent to which
Van Santvoort, J. M.
The idea of chivalry in eighteenth-century Britain. This thesis seeks to explore the engagement with, and development of, the idea of chivalry in Great Britain, covering a period of over a century, from 1688 to roughly 1800. As a concept, chivalry is usually seen by historians and literary scholars as existing in its original incarnation during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and not experiencing a revival until the early Victorian period. This thesis challenges this traditional periodising, showing that chivalry was widely used and understood as historically significant during the eighteenth century in England, Scotland and Ireland. Studying chivalry as an idea, this thesis examines the works of poets, historians, scholars and politicians such as Gilbert West, Richard Hurd, William Robertson, Lord Lyttelton and Edmund Burke. This broad selection and the long period covered provide insight into the widespread diffusion of chivalry, the changes evident in the opinions held about the concept as the century progresses, and the variety of uses and interpretations it experienced. The several chapters cover literature before and after 1750, historiography in Scotland and England, and politics during the 1790s. At the core of the thesis is the extent to which
idea chivalry eighteenth_century britain seek_explore engagement development idea chivalry great_britain cover roughly concept chivalry usually see historian literary_scholar exist original incarnation middle ages renaissance experience revival early victorian_period challenge_traditional show chivalry widely_use understood historically significant england scotland_ireland studying chivalry idea examine work poet historian scholar politician west william_robertson lord burke broad selection long_period cover provide_insight widespread diffusion chivalry change evident opinion hold concept century progress variety interpretation experience several cover literature historiography scotland england politics core extent