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Medieval Weaponry Trivia Quiz

How much do you think you know about medieval weapons? Here's your chance to test your knowledge and perhaps even learn something new. I hope you enjoy your visit browsing the annals of history.

A multiple-choice quiz by FuzzyElf. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
FuzzyElf

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
298,337

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3347

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 192 (9/10), Guest 103 (6/10), Guest 86 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Suppose you're browsing a swords and medieval weapons shop and you spot a long, thin dagger with a plaque saying that it's called a 'mercygiver'. What on earth was a 'mercygiver' used for and why did it have such an odd name? Hint

It was used to give the killing blow, called a mercygiver because it 'put him out of his misery'

It was used like any other dagger, and got its name from its inventor, Misericordia, which means 'mercy'

It was very difficult to kill someone with it, so it became known as a mercygiver becauses if someone pulled it out, his enemy knew he would probably only be wounded

You wouldn't see this weapon in a sword shop because it never existed

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. On another shelf of the sword shop you see a plaque that says 'poniard' but there's nothing in the stand. What belongs there? Hint

A dagger

A bow

A sword

A spear

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Question 3 of 10

3. You find a time machine and travel back in time to the 15th century to the middle of a battle, but you don't know where in the world you are. However, thanks to your prodigious knowledge of swords, you notice that all the men are fighting with 'Grosse Messer' and so deduce that you are in what country? Hint

Norway

Poland

Sweden

Germany

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Question 4 of 10

4. During your European tour, you find a small antiques shop specializing in items unique to that country. On the wall, you see a claymore displayed. What country is the antique shop in? Hint

Wales

Ireland

Scotland

England

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Question 5 of 10

5. The quarterstaff is the English fighting stave. However, many countries used fighting staves. Which of the following is NOT one of them? Hint

Chinese gun

Japanese bo

French baton

Spanish francisca

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Question 6 of 10

6. You're browsing a shop selling Japanese weapons, spot one labeled 'katana', and immediately complain to the shop owner that it is incorrectly labeled. How do you know this? Hint

The sword is forty inches long

The sword is double-edged

The sword doesn't have a fuller

The sword is curved

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Question 7 of 10

7. You're flipping through an illustrated book of non-lethal weapons and you find a picture of a device that consists of a pole with two semi-circular prongs with a spring-loaded 'door' between them. It was used to catch horsemen around the middle and pull them to the ground. What is this weapon called? Hint

Pole net

Demounter

Man-catcher

Flipper

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Question 8 of 10

8. You're glancing through a catalogue and see an ad selling replica caltrops. In medieval warfare, caltrops would most likely have been used against which of these? Hint

Ships

Horses

Battering rams

Siege towers

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Question 9 of 10

9. You're reading a medieval novel, and a character mentions that his army was decimated by Greek fire. What's Greek fire? Hint

A burning-liquid weapon

Fire ballistas

Fire arrows

Flaming swords

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Question 10 of 10

10. You're watching a movie and a hardened soldier pulls out his trusty scramaseax, a type of dagger. Judging by his weapon, what nationality is the soldier? Hint

German

Roman

Dutch

Saxon

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: It was used to give the killing blow, called a mercygiver because it 'put him out of his misery'

Another name for this weapon is misericorde, derived from the Latin word 'misericordia', meaning mercy. In medieval times, warfare was bloody and brutal, and often a knight would receive a fatal wound, but it would take hours, or even days, of agony before he actually died.

The mercygiver was thin enough to slip between cracks of armor to finish an enemy off immediately, saving him from a painful, lingering death.

2. On another shelf of the sword shop you see a plaque that says 'poniard' but there's nothing in the stand. What belongs there?

Answer: A dagger

A poniard was a short dagger originally used in India from the 14th to the 17th centuries. It had a straight, often triangular, blade.

Answer: Germany

'Messer' were German weapons. Because 'Grosse Messer' were the weapon of the common man, rather than professional soldiers, you would also be able to deduce that few noblemen used them.

4. During your European tour, you find a small antiques shop specializing in items unique to that country. On the wall, you see a claymore displayed. What country is the antique shop in?

Answer: Scotland

Early claymores were two-handed and had a cross hilt, while later claymores had a basket hilt and were shorter and one-handed.

5. The quarterstaff is the English fighting stave. However, many countries used fighting staves. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

Answer: Spanish francisca

The francisca wasn't Spanish, first of all. It was used by the Franks. Secondly, it wasn't a stave but a throwing axe.

6. You're browsing a shop selling Japanese weapons, spot one labeled 'katana', and immediately complain to the shop owner that it is incorrectly labeled. How do you know this?

Answer: The sword is double-edged

Katanas are not double-edged; the double-edged ones are tsurugi. Most katanas are between 27 and 35 inches long, are curved, and don't necessarily have a blood channel.

Answer: Man-catcher

This device was used to capture noblemen for ransom and a variation of the man-catcher is used by riot police in Japan today.

8. You're glancing through a catalogue and see an ad selling replica caltrops. In medieval warfare, caltrops would most likely have been used against which of these?

Answer: Horses

Caltrops are small weapons made of two or more sharp points arranged so that any way it lands on the ground, there's a sharp point standing up from a stable base. Historically, they were used to slow down the advancement of infantry, horsemen, war elephants, and camels. In the modern day, caltrop-like devices are used by law enforcement officers to pop tires.

9. You're reading a medieval novel, and a character mentions that his army was decimated by Greek fire. What's Greek fire?

Answer: A burning-liquid weapon

Greek fire could also burn on water, making it a highly effective naval weapon. The Byzantine Empire used it to great effect.

10. You're watching a movie and a hardened soldier pulls out his trusty scramaseax, a type of dagger. Judging by his weapon, what nationality is the soldier?

Answer: Saxon

Almost every Saxon warrior carried a scramaseax, indeed nearly every free man. The single-edged knife was invaluable for everything from everyday chores to finishing off an enemy. I hope you enjoyed my quiz and expanded your knowledge of medieval weaponry. Please rate it and feel free to give me feedback. Cheers!

Source: Author FuzzyElf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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