I agree entirely with Peter that there are few things more fascinating than to study & discuss than history, especially military history.

Chivalrous behavior in war is especially interesting. I wonder where it springs from. What do the “evolutionary psychology” crowd have to say about it? Anyone know?

It seems to have always been there. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle somewhere (or possibly ‘The Battle of Maldon’ — no time to look it

up) there’s the story of some Viking longboats that pulled up to a muddy river bank to attack some Saxons dug in on high ground. Jumping out, the Vikings found themselves up to their thighs in thick mud.

Seeing the enemy in this plight, the Saxons held their fire, shouting that when the Vikings had reached dry land & relieved themselves of the mud, they’d be ready for them. I forget who won the battle (though if it was Maldon of course the answer is: the Vikings).

Even further back, around 600 BC, there was a war between the Chinese state-lets of Sung and Chu. The Chu army advanced across a river.

Chivalrously, the Duke of Sung refused to attack while they were helpless in the water. As a result, he lost the battle. Mao Tse-tung, who knew his classics, was fond of saying: “I am not the Duke of Sung.” Everybody got the point.