Medieval Castle Life Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

The 'garderobe' was a shaft used as a latrine. It could be in the wall itself, or if the wall was not thick enough, it was angled out into the moat or river. Sometimes the shaft went nearly to the ground. Rainwater or water from cisterns could be used to flush out the shaft. I hope this explains it. Did you know enemies were known to climb up the shafts, so structures had to be build around them to prevent this from happening.

Answer: Mound a castle was built on

The motte, in a motte-and-bailey type of castle construction, was the earthen mound upon which the Keep (the central citadel of the castle) was built. The motte was surrounded by a ditch, and a strong palisade of logs encircled the Keep. The motte was built up with earth so that it had steep sides, and was between 100 to 300 feet in diameter at the base. Since the Keep was usually only big enough to house the Lord's family, another motte and palisade was built below it to the lower bailey (courtyard), where the kitchen, barracks, servant quarters, smithy, barns, etc. were housed.

When danger threatened, everyone would crowd up into the palisade on the steep-sided motte. The motte-and bailey was the quickest, cheapest, and simplest type of castle construction, needing no skilled labor to build. Berhamsted Castle, about 25 miles NW of London is one of William the Conqueror's earliest castles.

It has both ruins of a motte-and-bailey and of a later added shell keep.

Answer: True

Knighthood was conferred by striking a blow with the flat of a sword to a man's neck or shoulder. A man could be dubbed at an elaborate ceremony with much fanfare, or with no fanfare (as being dubbed in the midst of a battle). Women were not knighted, but they could (and did) ride at the head of an army.

In England's twelfth-century civil war, William's granddaughter, Matilda, rode against her cousin Stephen of Blois at the head of her own army. Supposedly, after that, Matilda had a headstrong attitude, purposeful stride, and did not speak with modesty (this from the chronicles Gesta Stephani or 'Deeds of Stephen').

In other words, she had the confidence of a warrior.

Answer: Dummy used in jousting practice

It was a dummy used in jousting practice. The knight rode with lance in hand and practiced his aim against the dummy.

Answer: A scutage

Scutage first came into being in the twelfth century. From the Latin 'scutum' meaning 'shield', a vassal could give his lord money instead of military service. An 'allure' is a passage, or walkway, behind a castle's parapet. 'Heriot' was a death duty paid to a lord.

Answer: Medieval instrument akin to the trombone

Many instruments were played by minstrels, and the sackbut was one of them. Lutes, harps, cornets, shalmes (reed pipes), trumpets, and vieles (an ancestor of the violin), were also played. Many lords wrote songs and poems, also. The sackbut was a medieval trombone.

Answer: False

Mustard was used lavishly on foods, but a 'donjon' is another word for 'keep' (the inner stronghold). Dungeon derives from the word donjon.

Answer: Room used for the serving of beer and wine

A buttery was a service room in which the wines and beer for serving were kept. The butler or bottler was in charge of serving the castle's beverages.

Answer: False

Mummers were masked, costumed pantomimers that went from house to house dancing and playing dice. In England, mumming was accompanied by plays. Mummers could be accompanied by minstrels (musicians), playing sackbuts, lutes, etc.

Answer: War engine used to hurl heavy missiles

A trebuchet was very effective in battering a hole in a defensive wall because it was driven by counterpoint, so that it had precise aim, over and over, and could land a heavy missile on the same target. A trebuchet could be calibrated for range, pulled down with a winch, and loaded with a rock weighing as much as 88 pounds (forty kilograms).

It was first used in Italy during the twelfth century. It is just not possible to cover everything about medieval castle life in the confines of one quiz, or a series of quizzes, but I hope you enjoyed this short tour. My main source was "Life in a Medieval Castle" by Joseph and Frances Gies. Thank you for taking my quiz.