What was the nobility like in sir Thomas Malory time and how it unlike noble knights he wrote about?

Sir Thomas Malory lived in the late 15th century, a time when the traditional chivalry of the medieval period was already fading. While he romanticized the noble knights of the past in his work "Le Morte d'Arthur", the reality of nobility in his time was quite different.

Noble Knights in Malory's Writings:

* Idealized Chivalry: Malory's knights are paragons of chivalry, embodying courage, loyalty, honor, and Christian virtues. They are committed to serving their king and upholding justice.

* Grand Gestures and Adventures: Their lives are filled with epic quests, battles against monstrous creatures, and romantic love affairs.

* Social Hierarchy: They are part of a strict social hierarchy, with a king at the top and knights serving as his warriors and protectors.

Actual Nobility in Malory's Time:

* Shifting Power: The power of the nobility was being challenged by the rising power of the Tudor monarchy. The Wars of the Roses (1455-1487) had left many noble families weakened and fragmented.

* Emphasis on Politics: Nobility was increasingly preoccupied with political maneuvering and consolidating their power, rather than the idealized chivalry of the past.

* Pragmatism: The emphasis was on maintaining their wealth and status through alliances and strategic marriages.

* Patronage: Nobility often functioned as patrons of the arts and learning, but this was seen as a means of promoting their own prestige and power.

* Less Emphasis on Chivalry: While some nobles still adhered to traditional ideals, many were more concerned with practical matters of wealth, influence, and survival.

Key Differences:

* Reality vs. Ideal: Malory's knights are idealized figures, while the nobility of his time were more complex and often driven by political ambition and pragmatism.

* Chivalry in Decline: The chivalric ideals that Malory celebrated were already fading in the 15th century, as the feudal system and the role of the knight were changing.

* Focus on Power: While the nobility still held significant influence, their primary focus was on maintaining their power and status, not necessarily on upholding chivalric ideals.

Malory's work can be seen as a nostalgic reflection on a bygone era, romanticizing a past when chivalry was more prominent. It highlights the contrast between the idealized world of his knights and the more complex reality of the nobility in his time.