Laws of Hospitality in the Middle Ages
The most challenging question for a writer is this:
Where do you draw your inspiration?
And because this is such a difficult question, most writers give it away; in other words, they lie beautifully and elegantly and don’t even realize it. How could a reader ever imagine that a writer could lie, even though the same author tells immortal stories every time he writes?
On the other hand, you have to be idealistic as a reader to believe that a writer will reveal their sources of inspiration. They won’t. Would they tell you, for example, that the idea came to them on a sleepless night with a full moon? Or when the Perseids were coming to their window? I really don’t think so.
No writer will give the correct and precise answer to such a question, although sometimes, they should. In George R.R. Martin’s case, even more so because if the American writer had explained his sources of inspiration, it would be easier for us today to talk about them. But it’s better this way: on the one hand, his creation doesn’t lose its value, and on the other hand, we are free to imagine anything.
Even so, in one of his rare interviews, George RR Martin confessed that he was inspired for The Red Wedding chapter by a real historical event, the Glencoe massacre. The American writer summarizes the Glencoe massacre in these terms:
Clan MacDonald let the Campbell clan stay overnight, and the laws of hospitality supposedly applied. But the Campbells arose and started butchering every MacDonald they could get their hands on.
George R.R. Martin
In another interview, George R.R. Martin also talked about the origin of the laws of hospitality (the well-known custom of offering bread and salt). This custom appears in the Red Wedding episode and A Storm of Swords, when Catelyn Stark insists on receiving bread and salt from Lord Frey and advises Robb to take some of both. Of course, she didn’t trust the wily Lord Frey and needed an extra guarantee.
According to George R.R. Martin, the custom of offering bread with salt comes from history. The laws of hospitality were taken as seriously as possible in the Middle Ages. At that time, hospitality was considered a Christian duty. Hosts and guests didn’t dare harm each other, even enemies. If they tasted salt bread and dared to hurt each other, they were subject to the opprobrium of the whole community. To violate the laws of hospitality meant to condemn themselves before the community to which they belonged.
Why do I mention the laws of hospitality? Because in Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin exemplified them perfectly. We’ll come back to the Red Wedding episode another time. Until then, I’ll tell you more about the laws of hospitality in the Middle Ages, and the custom of offering bread with salt.
Laws of Hospitality in the Middle Ages
The laws of hospitality in the Middle Ages were not just a set of social and moral rules, but a profound influence on the behavior of hosts and guests. These laws, although unwritten, were deeply respected and formed an essential foundation of social and cultural life at the time. In medieval Europe, hospitality was often seen as a Christian duty. Guests, especially travelers or pilgrims, were to be welcomed and treated with respect and generosity. The Bible and other religious writings encouraged hosts to offer strangers food, shelter, and protection. Once a guest was welcomed into a home, the host guaranteed his or her life and well-being. Guests had to be protected from all dangers, including enemies of the host. Violation of this obligation could bring shame and dishonor to the host. Which was very bad.
Hospitality often worked on the principle of reciprocity. A host who offered hospitality expected to receive the same treatment if needed. This reciprocity created and strengthened social bonds between individuals and families. Guests were often honored with the best seats at the table, good food, and special attention from the host. Offering such privileges was a sign of respect and honor, reinforcing the mutual respect and obligation in medieval hospitality.
Salt and bread, symbols of medieval hospitality
Bread and salt were not just simple foods but had a deep symbolic meaning. Bread was a staple food, essential for survival, especially for the poor ones. Giving bread symbolized giving life and well-being. By sharing bread, the host demonstrated generosity and a willingness to share his essential resources with the guest. Salt was a symbol of purity and durability. At a time when salt was valuable and necessary for preserving food, the offering of salt symbolized the desire to preserve and protect the relationship between host and guest. Salt was also considered a symbol of commitment and loyalty, adding a profound depth of meaning to these simple offerings.
Looking at these two symbols, in many medieval cultures, the offering of bread and salt took the form of a ritual. The guest received the bread and salt as a sign of welcome and a guarantee of their safety. This ritual emphasized the host’s obligation to protect and respect the guest. Breaking this ritual and the laws of hospitality was considered a severe betrayal and brought dishonor to the offender. The entire community could ostracize and condemn those who violated these rules. In some cases, the violation of these laws could lead to blood feuds and even wars, as seen in the historical event that inspired George R.R. Martin’s Red Wedding.
The laws of hospitality and the ritual of offering bread and salt were essential for maintaining social order and human relations in the Middle Ages. These practices ensured the protection and well-being of guests and strengthened the social bonds and stability of communities. In contemporary literature, such as in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, these traditions are evoked to emphasize their importance and the seriousness of their violation, reflecting the depth of these customs in the collective cultural consciousness.
