The better we strike the more the emperor will love us." Beowulf also demonstrates countless examples of chivalry. The soldiers of Beowulf's army showed their loyalty to Beowulf by attending his funeral and paying homage. "To make their lament and mourn for the King: to chant and lay their lord to honor. They praised his daring; deeds of prowess they mentioned in song. For meet it is that men should publish their master's praise. Returning to The Story of Roland, the unique relationship between Roland and his fiancee, Aude, also.
demonstrates a form of chivalry. When Aude is informed of Roland's death by Charlemagne, she replies to Charlemagne: "These words mean nothing to me. May it not please God nor his saint nor his angels that I remain alive after Roland .The French barons weep and lament for her." This quote shows her undying loyalty to Roland and the loyalty of the barons to Roland. Clearly, loyalty is one of the most important factors in chivalry.
The Christian faith is undoubtedly the foremost tradition by which the warring nobility lived by. God was believed to have a hand in every battle, therefore, armies prayed before going into each battle. Without God on their side, they felt that there was no point to a battle. The importance of Christianity is somewhat masked between the lines of Beowulf but can be easily deciphered when held against the actual word of God. "Lays he had learned, of long ago: Ho the Almighty had made the earth, wonder-bright lands, washed by the ocean Life he created for every being, each in it's kind, that moves upon the Earth." Later in the story, the Spear Danes pray for mercy before God and ask for deliverance form Grendel, the evil monster. "Often at heathen altars they made sacrifice offerings, to send them deliverance for assault of the foe. Such was their practice, they prayed to the devil Their maker they knew not, the righteous Judge and Ruler on high" (Beowulf).
