Courtly Love - The Ultimate Game of Romance

[Grandmaster]

As this is a time of knights, lords and ladies, where chivalry allegedly reigns supreme, there is no more intricate, complex and exquisite game of romance than the Ideals of Courtly Love. It is a game of long looks, sighs, poetry of varying skill, subtle gifts... and no touching whatsoever.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? It's not.

Traditionally existing between a knight and his chosen lady, the game of Courtly Love has since extended past the Chivalric Orders to enter the courts as a challenge between those who occupy it to see who can achieve the greatest notoriety and approbation without causing a scandal.

Confused yet?

Here is how - in theory - courtly love works:

Across the room, your eyes meet those of another and you find yourself transfixed. This lord or lady is the epitome of your heart's desires, stirring an unslakeable yearning that transcends mere emotion and elevates you heavenwards.

There's just one very large problem. Your beloved, the apple of your eye, is betrothed or married already. By the Codes of Honor and the Church, you cannot pursue them or risk a scandal that could mean anything from a royal slap on the wrist to royal disfavor to exile or imprisonment.

So what is a lovesick soul to do with all that love, devotion and dreams?

Play the game of courtly love through the following:

- attending to the beloved in the most courteous and honorable of fashions - chaperoned walks, rides, dancing.
- writing letters, songs and poetry to them. These must be chaste, of course.
- innocent flirting and jesting, making your beloved laugh.
- flowers and small, innocent gifts. Nothing valuable.
- lots of longing looks, wistful sighs and yearning airs. The more intensely passionate, the better, of course.
- suffering your plight nobly and in silence. You're supposed to be brave about this.
- showing considerable courtesy, honor and deference to your beloved's spouse or betrothed.
- soliciting a favor from the beloved prior to engaging in feats of arms and contests of honor.

In all of this, you can not engage in efforts to seduce your beloved or solicit any kind of physical manifestation of your desire. No kisses, no hand holding, and definitely no sex! If you can survive the torment, you will gain a reputation for romance that will leave others sighing after you and wishing they were the object of your heart's focus.

It sounds a little silly, but to so many who were denied their true loves, this was the only means whereby they could accomplish a means of purging their feelings without winding up dead from jealous spouses/overprotective parents. There is not a single, solitary dishonorable or scandalous act in the game of Courtly Love, therefore it can be conducted openly and without fear of reprisal.

Often, courtiers in this time spent the 'season' of court in these pursuits as harmless amusements and means of spicing up the time at court. Vast reputations were built on the success or failure of such courtly games, lending attractiveness to previously overlooked lords or ladies, or further enhancing those beyond reach.

But most of all? It's just plain fun.