Feudal Terms Trivia Quiz

Answer: Reeve

When feudalism was introduced after the Norman Conquest, a reeve was the name applied to an estate manager in charge of the serfs and peasants who worked the land. The role was effectively a middle manager, answerable to the lord of the manor.

In Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales', the reeve is one of the pilgrims traveling to the shrine, and is depicted as shrewd and efficient.

Answer: Ostler

Apart from walking, the only means of traveling in the Middle Ages was on horseback, so long journeys meant stopping at inns en route. The horses needed to be taken care of, fed, and rested, so all inns had stables, and the ostler was the person in charge of them.

The name is believed to have derived from the French word, 'hostelier', which became corrupted into ostler.

Answer: Curia Regis

In England, the predecessor to the Curia Regis was known as the Witan, but the Normans brought their system with them and used the Latin name, which means the Royal Council or Court. It was made up of barons and other noblemen, the leaders of the clergy, such as bishops and abbots, and the senior members of the monarch's staff.

Eventually, the curia regis devolved into Parliament and the Privy Council.

Answer: Hayward

The hayward was charged with making sure hedges were kept in good condition and prevented livestock from straying where they shouldn't. A hayward could be appointed by either a lord of the manor or by a group of serfs. His other duties would include watching out for livestock and preventing them damaging growing crops.

The name is reasonably common so anyone with this last name can probably claim ancestry from someone who carried out this work.

Answer: Chamberlain

The chamberlain held an important role in the running of the household, being responsible for the smooth running of the household and the person who received and paid out money. The position was normally held by someone of good social standing such as a nobleman.

Even in twenty-first century Britain, the highest ranking person of the Royal household goes by the name of Lord Chamberlain.

Answer: Cavalcade

Accompanying their lord was a feudal duty originally known as chevauchee, 'cheval' being the French word for horse. The whole group became known as a cavalcade, and the name is still in common use, often in re-enactments of historic events.

Cavalcade is also used to describe a procession of cars or other vehicles, although motorcade is sometimes substituted for this. It can also be used for any kind of procession.

Answer: Sheriff

The sheriff was appointed by the monarch and was responsible for the maintenance of law in a specific area, often the shire (county). Many counties of the UK end in the word 'shire' and sheriff is a derivation of the words 'shire' and 'reeve'. The sheriff could order any men aged fifteen or over to join a 'posse comitatus' to round up criminals.

Those western films, with their sheriffs and posses, have their roots in Mediaeval times.

Answer: Destrier

The destrier was the elite among horses, carrying knights in tournaments, jousts and, most importantly, into war. The destrier is not a breed, but describes a type of horse bred for strength. For normal purposes and everyday riding, other horses such as palfreys were used.

Other warhorses included coursers .

Answer: Verderer

Verderers were appointed to oversee the Royal forests in Britain, such as the Royal Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire and the New Forest in Hampshire. Their role was to protect the habitat of the boar and deer which lived in the forests, so the nobles could hunt them, and to make sure that the animals weren't poached by the commoners. They also prevented unauthorised cutting down of trees.

Verderers still exist in modern times in the Royal forests - Epping Forest is the third - although the emphasis is now on conservation rather than hunting.

Answer: Glebe

The glebe formed part of a church minister's benefice - in other words, his income. Other names for a glebe include rectory manor and the land could be used to grow crops by the priest's household. Alternatively, the priest could rent out the land and enhance his income that way.

Glebe Road is a common street name in the UK and means that historically the land originally belonged to the church.