Which medieval French knight wrote the 14th-century Book of Chivalry?

Geoffroi de Charny wrote the 14th-century Book of Chivalry, a major medieval work on knightly conduct.

Charny was a French knight and military commander who served King John II of France during the Hundred Years’ War. His treatise presents ideals of courage, loyalty, honor, reputation, and service, while also emphasizing the practical dangers and sacrifices of warfare.

The work is valuable because it reflects the views of an active knight rather than a purely literary writer. Charny argued that a knight’s reputation had to be earned through difficult deeds, especially in battle and tournaments.

Charny died at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 while carrying the French royal oriflamme. His text is often confused with later courtesy manuals, but it is especially important for its direct discussion of aristocratic martial culture.