Courtly Love

Courtly love was a medieval European concept of chivalrous, often idealized, and non-sexual romantic love between a knight and a noblewoman, typically married to another. Originating in the 12th century, it celebrated admiration, devotion, and service by the knight to his "lady." This love idealized the beloved, emphasizing virtue, beauty, and an unattainable, transcendent quality. Courtly love was a central theme in medieval literature, poetry, and art, often focusing on the tension between the code of chivalry and the demands of illicit passion. While it rarely mirrored reality, it influenced cultural notions of love and manners during the Middle Ages.