Since the late 14th century, a new type of hero has emerged in the historiographical and literary tradition of France and Germany: lower nobility from the present or recent past, who were primarily stylized as outstanding knights in heroic biographies. This book demonstrates that these representations are by no means a glorification of moribund ideals. Rather, these heroic images are embedded in controversial discussions about the role of the nobility in the changing society of the late Middle Ages. They represent the nobility's claim to keep pace with changes in military and social fields by mobilizing traditional legitimizing resources such as knighthood, princely service, and the noble family, and placing them in a multifaceted interplay.