Every knight on the battlefield faced a critical decision: should they fight to the death or choose the shame of fleeing to save their life? This timeless dilemma weighed heavily on the minds of medieval warriors, as the choice between honor and survival was far from simple. Even during the Middle Ages, this question sparked intense debate among scholars and soldiers alike.
One perspective comes from Honoré Bonet, a French scholar of the late 14th century. In the 1380s, Bonet penned The Tree of Battles, a comprehensive work that explored the rules and ethics of warfare. Among the many issues Bonet examined were the duties of a good knight, the obligations of a vassal to their lord, and whether priests and clerics should take up arms. But one of the most profound questions he tackled was whether a knight should choose death over fleeing from battle.
Bonet begins by suggesting that it might be wiser for a knight to choose flight over death. He argues that, according to philosophical reasoning, “to live is more agreeable and pleasant than to die,” making it better to flee than to await death. He also notes that death is “the most terrible and strongest of all things,” and since it brings no pleasure, it should not be desired.
However, Bonet does not dismiss the opposing view, and claims to back up ancient Greek thinker Aristotle offers another argument: that a man should never do what is dishonorable, and fleeing from battle was considered both wicked and shameful. Bonet reinforces this point by citing decrees that state, “It is better to suffer and sustain all ills rather than consent to evil.” In other words, fleeing is an evil act, and a knight should choose the nobler path, even if it leads to death.
Bonet’s analysis does not stop at theoretical reasoning; he considers practical scenarios that knights might face. For instance, if a knight is fighting against Muslims alongside fellow Christians and believes that his flight might lead to the Christians’ defeat, Bonet argues that he should face death rather than flee, as dying for the Faith assures salvation. On the other hand, if the knight realizes that his staying will not affect the outcome of the battle and that he can save himself by fleeing, Bonet advises that he should do so. However, if escape seems impossible, the knight would do better to stay and defend himself and his comrades, even if it means dying alongside them.
Bonet extends this reasoning to knights serving their lords. He argues that knights should be willing to die to uphold their oath of loyalty. This principle also applies to knights who serve kings or other lords in exchange for wages. Having pledged their faith and oath, they must “die in defense of him and his honor,” thereby maintaining their courage and facing whatever may come in the pursuit of justice.
For those interested in exploring Bonet’s thoughts further, the entire work has been translated by G.W. Coopland in The Tree of Battles of Honoré Bonet, published by Liverpool University Press in 1949. Read more from this source at De Re Militari
Top Image: Bibliothèque nationale de France MS Français 2664, fol. 109v
Every knight on the battlefield faced a critical decision: should they fight to the death or choose the shame of fleeing to save their life? This timeless dilemma weighed heavily on the minds of medieval warriors, as the choice between honor and survival was far from simple. Even during the Middle Ages, this question sparked intense debate among scholars and soldiers alike.
One perspective comes from Honoré Bonet, a French scholar of the late 14th century. In the 1380s, Bonet penned The Tree of Battles, a comprehensive work that explored the rules and ethics of warfare. Among the many issues Bonet examined were the duties of a good knight, the obligations of a vassal to their lord, and whether priests and clerics should take up arms. But one of the most profound questions he tackled was whether a knight should choose death over fleeing from battle.
Bonet begins by suggesting that it might be wiser for a knight to choose flight over death. He argues that, according to philosophical reasoning, “to live is more agreeable and pleasant than to die,” making it better to flee than to await death. He also notes that death is “the most terrible and strongest of all things,” and since it brings no pleasure, it should not be desired.
However, Bonet does not dismiss the opposing view, and claims to back up ancient Greek thinker Aristotle offers another argument: that a man should never do what is dishonorable, and fleeing from battle was considered both wicked and shameful. Bonet reinforces this point by citing decrees that state, “It is better to suffer and sustain all ills rather than consent to evil.” In other words, fleeing is an evil act, and a knight should choose the nobler path, even if it leads to death.
Bonet’s analysis does not stop at theoretical reasoning; he considers practical scenarios that knights might face. For instance, if a knight is fighting against Muslims alongside fellow Christians and believes that his flight might lead to the Christians’ defeat, Bonet argues that he should face death rather than flee, as dying for the Faith assures salvation. On the other hand, if the knight realizes that his staying will not affect the outcome of the battle and that he can save himself by fleeing, Bonet advises that he should do so. However, if escape seems impossible, the knight would do better to stay and defend himself and his comrades, even if it means dying alongside them.
Bonet extends this reasoning to knights serving their lords. He argues that knights should be willing to die to uphold their oath of loyalty. This principle also applies to knights who serve kings or other lords in exchange for wages. Having pledged their faith and oath, they must “die in defense of him and his honor,” thereby maintaining their courage and facing whatever may come in the pursuit of justice.
For those interested in exploring Bonet’s thoughts further, the entire work has been translated by G.W. Coopland in The Tree of Battles of Honoré Bonet, published by Liverpool University Press in 1949. Read more from this source at De Re Militari
Top Image: Bibliothèque nationale de France MS Français 2664, fol. 109v
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