Henry's Medieval Match Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fief

Life is very uncertain during the time in which I live. After the Roman Empire fell in 476, there were countless wars over control of the land, and these wars are still taking place in some areas. Hundreds of years later, powerful leaders still need help in maintaining their control over certain areas.

A new system of government called feudalism is being used; my Lord, the Earl of Warwick, has been given a fief, or a piece of land, to help protect. He has the power to do whatever is necessary to control this piece of land, but he does have to fulfill certain obligations in exchange, such as provide military assistance if needed or attend court as required.

Answer: Castle

Because there is so much war and fighting, the lord, or noble, who controls the fief, must have a safe place to live. He and his family aren't the only ones who live in a castle; there is a host of other people, including us pages, who live here as well! If the castle is ever under attack, those people who live on the estate may come to the castle for protection. Warwick Castle, where we live, was one of the original motte-and-bailey fortifications made after William the Conqueror came to England; today, however, it is made of stone.

Answer: Serf

In our social system there are three classes: those who fight, those who pray, and those who work and farm. It is the responsibility of the nobles to fight and defend the people; the clergy pray and help us find our way to heaven. The serfs farm the fields and take care of the animals so that we all can eat. If all three groups fulfill their responsibilities, life is good; we are all safe and fed, and can plan on spending our afterlife in heaven.

Answer: Knight

Many boys from noble families (like me!) hope to become knights one day. When they are about seven years old, they normally go live in the household of one of their father's allies, and are taught manners, as well as the use of weapons. When a page is approximately thirteen years old, he becomes a squire, assisting a knight and practicing skills necessary for battle.

After a squire has proven himself, he achieves knighthood.

Answer: Homage

The feudalistic system under which we live can be rather complicated with a whole hierarchy of greater lords and lesser lords who control the land. What makes the system work, however, is the vow of homage that is taken when the lord gives his vassal a piece of the land to protect.

In return for a piece of land, the vassal pledges to provide his lord with military service. In addition, the vassal serves in the lord's court and, heaven forbid, helps to ransom his lord if he is ever captured by the enemy.

Answer: Chivalry

One of the expectations of a knight is to uphold the code of chivalry. Knights are supposed to be good, kind, considerate, fair, Christian men. They are also expected to treat women in a respectful way. These teachings comprise much of what we pages learn from my Lady, and she expects us to show that we have learned our lessons well!

Answer: Tournament

Life around the castle can become a bit - well, dull. Sometimes we hold tournaments, sponsored by my Lord, the Earl of Warwick, to show off our military skills. He invites other allies to come to our estate, and offers prizes to the knights who win the different contests.

It is fun entertainment for everyone, a good time to catch up on our neighbors' news, and a good way for the knights to stay in shape!

Answer: Coat of Arms

The armor worn by knights sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish who is who. We have a system called heraldry, where nobles use different symbols and colors on their shields, armor, and banners, so that we can tell each other apart. My Lord, the Earl of Warwick, is identified by the bear and ragged staff on his coat of arms.

Some say these symbols go all the way back to the time of King Arthur.

Answer: King

In the feudalistic system of greater nobles and lesser nobles that I was explaining earlier, the king is the highest ranking noble. He is the one who rules over us all, even though he needs the help of others to protect and secure his land. Some say this system really limits the power of the king, but it is how we are accustomed to running our government. My Lord, the Earl of Warwick, is one of the higher ranking nobles in the system; we pages are taught that while our service to the Earl is important, our highest allegiance goes to the King.

Answer: Gauntlet

The armor worn by the knight protects him when he goes into battle; it is a very heavy, complicated suit that can contain over forty different pieces! Covering the hand and lower arm, a gauntlet is especially important piece of armor considering the hand-to-hand combat techniques that knights employ.

Some wear a demi-gauntlet, which is a leather glove and a plate armor that only protects the back of the hand and wrist. While it is lighter and gives the knight more flexibility, the hand is not nearly as well protected.