Let's Go To A Medieval Castle Trivia Quiz

Answer: Weapons

The longbow was a bow that was made from a single piece of flexible wood like yew and capable of launching arrows with enough force to penetrate heavy cloth and chainmail at significant distances. It was also valued for being lightweight. In a medieval castle, archers used narrow openings called arrow slits, which provided wide fields of fire while offering protection from incoming projectiles. Standing behind these slits, archers could use the longbow to take out attackers before they could get close to the castle walls.

Answer: Weapons

A cross between a giant crossbow and a catapult, the ballista used a torque system of twisted rope or sinew to launch heavy bolts or stones. It fired these projectiles on a fairly flat trajectory, as opposed to a looping arc. It was the "sniper rifle" of the castle, used to pick off specific targets like enemy officers or people operating siege engines.

The soldiers who wielded them were typically stationed on towers and shot them through the gaps or "teeth" of a castle battlement.

Answer: Weapons

The poleax was a weapon that combined a heavy axe blade, a hammer head, and a sharp top spike that were all mounted onto a long wooden shaft. It was the preferred weapon for armored guards inside a castle as it could be used in tight spaces like corridors or stairways.

It was strong enough to puncture plate armor and to withstand opponents tryng to shear it in combat. The gatehouse was the castle's most vulnerable point with its tight entryway, and guards here were almost always equipped with poleaxes.

Answer: Weapons

Caltrops were small, four-pointed iron spikes that acted as a type of landmine of the day. They were designed that no matter how they were thrown down to the ground, one spike always remained pointed upward. Blacksmiths usually made them and they ranged in size from a big marble to a closed fist.

The first act they provided was to slow an army's momentum. Upon spying them sticking out of the ground around a castle, caution prevailed. Also, the hooves of horses and the underside of medieval boots were very vulnerable to these weapons.

Answer: People's Roles

The constable was the highest-ranking officer of a medieval castle, serving as the lord's direct representative. As the military commander, they were responsible for the conduct of soldiers, the storing of weapons, and the "night watch" (they literally kept the keys to the castle!).

As a legal authority, they presided over internal castle disputes and prison management. They also handled upkeep of the walls and physical structures and made sure there were enough supplies for the people of the castle in case of siege.

Answer: People's Roles

The steward was the highest-ranking civilian official in a medieval castle, serving as the lord's primary business manager. Their role was to ensure the castle wasn't just a fortress, but a profitable and functioning business center. To do this, they managed the estate outside the walls including tracking the harvest, collecting the taxes, and leasing land.

They were also responsible for the "books" of the castle and had an annual audit of the estate. They were also the "Master of Ceremonies" for banquets and feasts and dealt with the logistics, finance, and staffing of those events.

Answer: People's Roles

A page was a young boy, typically between the ages of seven and fourteen, who was in the first stage of an apprenticeship toward becoming a knight. His day was split between serving the household and undergoing training in his field. They did many domestic duties such as carving meat, pouring wine, delivering messages, and cleaning armor.

They were educated in the realms of literacy, art, strategy (e.g. chess games), and courtly manners. Finally, in addition to helping to care for the horses, they also begun their training in combat both on the animals and on foot.

Answer: People's Roles

A marshal was a high-ranking officer in the castle who held multiple roles such as Master of the Stable, Logistical Officer, and Chief of Security. Their primary duty was the oversight of the stables and horses, which were a lord's most expensive assets.

They also were responsible for the organization and the transport of supplies and baggage during military campaigns. Finally, they enforced the lord's laws within the castle and settled disputes among the lower-ranking soldiers or staff as well as organizing the watch rotations and ensuring the gates were properly manned.

Answer: Rooms

The solar was the private living suite in a medieval castle, typically located on an upper floor. It served as the lord and lady's personal sanctuary, providing a secluded space for sleeping, private meetings, and administrative work. It usually had large windows to let in the sunlight (hence the name solar).

It had tapestries lining the walls for insulation and artistic value and usually featured a great bed that was the most expensive piece of furniture in the castle.

Answer: Rooms

The Great Hall was truly the heart of the medieval castle, serving as the primary hub for dining, socializing, and conducting official business. During the day, the large area is where the lord received guests and settled local disputes. At the end of the day, it was where the evening feast was held.

At this point, multiple courses were served following strict etiquette rules, while jesters, minstrels, and storytellers entertained people. At night, the massive space was transformed as servants and soldiers rolled out straw pallets to sleep on the floor.

Answer: Rooms

The garderobe was a medieval castle's version of a toilet. It was a small, cramped stone projection built into the external walls of the building. Waste would drop through a hole in the seat directly into a cesspit at the base of the castle or into the surrounding moat.

At night, gong fermors ("nightmen") were hired to manually shovel out the accumulated waste to prevent the castle from becoming uninhabitable. Interestingly, the name "garderobe" (literally "guard robe") comes from the practice of hanging expensive clothing nearby, as the ammonia fumes from the waste were believed to kill fabric-eating moths and fleas.

Answer: Rooms

The undercroft was a vaulted stone cellar located beneath the main floors of a medieval castle. Its thick walls and subterranean position made it the perfect "refrigerator" for storing grain, salted meats, and barrels of wine or ale. Bundles of firewood, charcoal for the kitchens, and large vats of tallow or wax for making candles and torches were stashed in the drier corners. Because they were often the most secure, fireproof, and difficult-to-access parts of the castle, they were also frequently used to store heavy chests containing valuables.

Answer: Animals

The destrier was a warhorse, specifically bred and trained for the heavy impact of the joust and mounted combat. Known for their great strength, stamina, and bravery in the heat of battle, they were considered prize assets of the castle. They were typically medium-sized horses but incredibly muscular, allowing them to carry a fully armored knight.

They were kept in the finest castle stables under close supervision.

Answer: Animals

The talbot was a specialized breed of hunting hound that was primarily used by the nobility at a castle for tracking large game like deer and boar. They were carefully trained to ignore "trash" (distractions like rabbits) and stay focused solely on the specific scent of big game.

They were fed a unique diet of bran, meat scraps, and broth and were often kept in well-maintained kennels. Their presence in a castle was a clear sign of the lord's status, as maintaining a pack of these hounds required significant wealth and a dedicated staff.

Answer: Animals

The rouncey was an all-purpose horse that served as the backbone of medieval castle transportation and low-level military service. They could handle a variety of tasks, from carrying pack loads to serving as mounts for squires. Rounceys were typically housed in larger, communal stable blocks just inside the castle walls.

They were frequently turned out to pasture in the fields surrounding the castle when they weren't needed. This reduced the cost of expensive grain and allowed them to stay hardy and fit.

Answer: Animals

In a medieval castle, the swan was classified as "royal" meaning only the monarch or high-ranking lords with a direct royal license were permitted to own these birds. Therefore, they were a symbol of nobility and their presence in a moat was a clear sign of status. Unfortunately for the swan, they were also a centerpiece for extravagant banquets.

At feasts, they were prepared as a "show dish," often roasted and then painstakingly re-dressed in their own white feathers to be taken into the celebration.