Charles the Bald, King of West Francia, promulgated the Edict of Pistres on 25th July 864. The edict sought to strengthen the realm’s resistance to Viking attacks. Charles established a cavalry for rapid response to Viking raids. He required all men with horses, or who could afford horses, to serve in the army as cavalrymen. This was the origin of french chivalry which was so famous for the next seven centuries. The word chivalry comes via the French chevalerie, from Latin caballerius meaning horseman. The edict also required the construction of fortified bridges in all towns on rivers. This was intended to prevent Viking longships travelling far inland.
Coincidently, it was also on this day in 1593 that Henry IV of France converted to the Catholic faith. He said that Paris was well worth a mass. Henry IV is a key character in The Suggested Assassin, the third book of the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Charles the Bald was born in Frankfurt, which is the setting for Called to Account, the fourth book.
Actually, Charles had a fine head of hair. The bald reference referred to his initial lack of lands, whilst his elder brothers had been sub-kings for years.
The establishment of a force of heavily armed and violent cavalrymen brought its problems. They were prone to taking whatever they wanted through rape and pillage. They were also prone to fighting each other. In order to build a cohesive force a code of chivalry had to be established which included military bravery, individual training, and service to others. The development of a code of chivalry as we know it today owes much to medieval literature. The Carolingian cycle, or Matter of France, is a body of literature concerning Charlemagne and his knights. The Matter of Britain concerned the legendary King Arthur and his knights of the round table.