Henry and the Black Prince Trivia Quiz

Answer: Woodstock Palace

Edward was the eldest son of King Edward III and Queen Philippa. He was called Edward of Woodstock. In spite of all the rumors about him, it was said that he is a very fair-minded man who has treated conquered nobles with respect.

It wasn't until much later in history (well past Henry's time) that Edward was called the Black Prince. Some say the name was due to his use of black armour, while others say it has to do with some actions in war that weren't exactly within the boundaries set forth in the code of chivalry. For the purpose of keeping the different Edwards straight, in this quiz he will be referred to as the Black Prince.

Answer: Hundred Years' War

After his father, Edward III, laid claim to the throne of France, the Black Prince participated in many campaigns during the early part of the Hundred Years' War. These included the Crécy Campaign, the Siege of Calais and the Poitiers Campaign, during which King John of France was captured.

Although it was said that he treated the French king with the utmost respect, the Black Prince did take him to England and led his prisoner through the streets of London. It was said that the ransom the French were asked to pay for their king (3 million Crowns in gold) was four times their annual gross domestic product.

The king was not been released because the French were unable to raise the full payment. At the time of Edward's visit with the Earl of Warwick (in the 1360s) John was still a prisoner in England and Edward III ruled about half of France.

Answer: 15 years old

Since Henry waited forever to become a squire, he knew that it usually happened when a page was thirteen years old. Most knights went through their investiture by the age of twenty-one. However, it was possible to gain spurs earlier if a squire could prove himself somehow.

It was told that Edward exhibited military ability at an early age, and played a major role in the victory at the Battle of Crecy when he was just sixteen years old. The Earl of Warwick said that he saw King Edward III embrace the Black Prince after the battle, and praise his show of loyalty to his father's cause.

Answer: True

Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick held many important positions, such as High Sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire, and Marshall of England. At the Battles of Crécy and Poitiers he was one of the commanders of the great English victories and he was also at the Siege of Calais. At the Battle of Crécy he was the guardian of the Black Prince. Henry was lucky to have such an experienced and esteemed mentor.

(Note that Beauchamp is pronounced as 'beechem' in English).

Answer: Aquitaine

Actually, quarreling over control of the Aquitaine is what helped trigger this long war. King Philip VI of France tried to reclaim the Aquitaine from King Edward III in 1337; King Edward retaliated by claiming the title King of France, which he says is his right by descent from his mother's (Queen Philippa's) grandfather. Not too long ago, the Treaty of Brétigny was negotiated; King Edward III agreed to renounce the French crown and maintain control of the Aquitaine. Shortly after, however, the treaty was broken, and Edward, the Black Prince was made Prince of Aquitaine in 1362.

It was from an incident in the Acquitaine that some believe Edward was given the name the Black Prince. In 1370, long after Henry met the Black Prince, the Bishop of Limoges in Acquitaine was said to have defected to the French. It was written by Jean Froissart that in retaliation Prince Edward massacred about 3,000 of the townspeople - men, women, and children. Although this type of massacre was not unusual in war, the killing of so many civilians in this situation raised some eyebrows. Some believe this is why Edward was later called the Black Prince. A recently found letter written by Edward himself, however, has shed some new light on what really happened. Edward indicated that he took some high-ranking prisoners including 200 men-at-arms and knights. Another local source counted the fatalities from the attack at 300. Historians may have to rethink this nickname or claim for sure that it was given due to Edward's black armour!

Answer: Prince of Wales

The title "Prince of Wales" had been used for about two hundred years by Henry's visit with the Black Prince. One of the first to take the title was Owain Gwyneddl; his grandson, Llywelyn the Great, used the title "Prince of Northern Wales". There were several native Welsh princes until 1301, when King Edward I was the first English king to give his son and heir the title.

King Edward II did not give his own son, who became King Edward III the title. However, the practice was revived by Edward III and has been continued ever since. The heir-apparent has usually been the oldest living son. The signet ring has long been the symbol of the English aristocracy because it was used to seal letters and mark official documents: it bore the heraldic symbol of the individual. The ring pictured was the signet ring of Edward, the Black Prince, and was found in the Auvergne, France in 1866.

Answer: The Most Noble Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter was established by King Edward III. The story Henry heard is that while the Countess of Salisbury was dancing at a court ball in Calais, her garter fell from her leg. Angry that many of the noble knights laughed at the lady's embarrassment, King Edward picked it up, gave it back to her, and said, "Honi soit qui mal y pense". Translated from French it means "Accursed be he who thinks evil of it". There were other legends; some people say that it was connected somehow to the king's claim of the French throne, but this was the story the Black Prince told in the Great Hall during his visit. There originally were 25 knights in the order, which included the king, the Black Prince, and, Henry's lord, the Earl of Warwick.

Prince William became the 1000th knight to join the prestigious order in 2008.

Answer: True

King Edward III created three dukedoms in 1337: Cornwall, Lancaster, and Clarence. Edward, the Black Prince was made Duke of Cornwall when he was seven years old. His father, King Edward III had previously named him the Earl of Chester. Edward served as a guardian of England and served his father well while he was on campaign. He attended all of the council meetings in his father's absence, and even negotiated with the Pope about the war in 1337. Creating the dukedom was a way that that king could provide an annual income for the Black Prince.

The title, the Duke of Cornwall, may sound familiar as it is one of the current titles bestowed on Charles, the Prince of Wales, in 1973. The dukedom may only be held by the oldest son of the monarch, who is also the heir-apparent.

Answer: I serve.

When Edward, the Black Prince found the dead king's helmet, it was lined with ostrich feathers. Edward called the shield the "shield of peace", and used it for jousting.

Although Henry loved hearing the story, many believe that in all probability the use of the feathers were inherited from Edward's mother, who was descended from the counts of Hainault, whose oldest son had the title "Count of Ostrevent", the ostrich. It could also have derived from her connection to the Counts of Luxembourg, who also used the badge of the ostrich. The feathers and the motto have been used by every Prince of Wales since Edward, the Black Prince. They also appear on the British two pence coin.

Answer: Joan

Edward, the Black Prince and Joan of Kent were cousins. They grew up together, but each had other relationships before marrying. Troubadours sang Joan's praises and said she was beautiful, calling her the "Fair Maid of Kent", and said that the two were crazy in love.

Some believed that Joan's past life was too scandalous, and that Edward would have done better to marry a foreign princess with title, money, and land.