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Quiz about Feudal Terms
Quiz about Feudal Terms

Feudal Terms Trivia Quiz


All these words date from the Middle Ages, with some still in use into the twenty-first century. Can you match the descriptions to the names?
This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author jacobfl

A matching quiz by rossian. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
rossian
Time
3 mins
Type
Match Quiz
Quiz #
38,295
Updated
Nov 02 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
520
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: shvdotr (10/10), Guest 90 (8/10), Guest 86 (10/10).
(a) Drag-and-drop from the right to the left, or (b) click on a right side answer box and then on a left side box to move it.
QuestionsChoices
1. Overseer of a manor   
  Cavalcade
2. Stableman at inns   
  Ostler
3. English Royal Council and Court of Justice   
  Curia Regis
4. Official in charge of hedges and fences  
  Glebe
5. Household officer in charge of the lord's household  
  Chamberlain
6. A mounted escort to nobility   
  Hayward
7. Royal official in charge of a shire or county  
  Verderer
8. A war horse  
  Destrier
9. Forestry officer for Royal hunting grounds  
  Reeve
10. Land granted to a clergyman  
  Sheriff





Select each answer

1. Overseer of a manor
2. Stableman at inns
3. English Royal Council and Court of Justice
4. Official in charge of hedges and fences
5. Household officer in charge of the lord's household
6. A mounted escort to nobility
7. Royal official in charge of a shire or county
8. A war horse
9. Forestry officer for Royal hunting grounds
10. Land granted to a clergyman

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Overseer of a manor

Answer: Reeve

When feudalism was introduced after the Norman Conquest, a reeve was the name applied to an estate manager in charge of the serfs and peasants who worked the land. The role was effectively a middle manager, answerable to the lord of the manor.

In Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales', the reeve is one of the pilgrims traveling to the shrine, and is depicted as shrewd and efficient.
2. Stableman at inns

Answer: Ostler

Apart from walking, the only means of traveling in the Middle Ages was on horseback, so long journeys meant stopping at inns en route. The horses needed to be taken care of, fed, and rested, so all inns had stables, and the ostler was the person in charge of them.

The name is believed to have derived from the French word, 'hostelier', which became corrupted into ostler.
3. English Royal Council and Court of Justice

Answer: Curia Regis

In England, the predecessor to the Curia Regis was known as the Witan, but the Normans brought their system with them and used the Latin name, which means the Royal Council or Court. It was made up of barons and other noblemen, the leaders of the clergy, such as bishops and abbots, and the senior members of the monarch's staff.

Eventually, the curia regis devolved into Parliament and the Privy Council.
4. Official in charge of hedges and fences

Answer: Hayward

The hayward was charged with making sure hedges were kept in good condition and prevented livestock from straying where they shouldn't. A hayward could be appointed by either a lord of the manor or by a group of serfs. His other duties would include watching out for livestock and preventing them damaging growing crops.

The name is reasonably common so anyone with this last name can probably claim ancestry from someone who carried out this work.
5. Household officer in charge of the lord's household

Answer: Chamberlain

The chamberlain held an important role in the running of the household, being responsible for the smooth running of the household and the person who received and paid out money. The position was normally held by someone of good social standing such as a nobleman.

Even in twenty-first century Britain, the highest ranking person of the Royal household goes by the name of Lord Chamberlain.
6. A mounted escort to nobility

Answer: Cavalcade

Accompanying their lord was a feudal duty originally known as chevauchee, 'cheval' being the French word for horse. The whole group became known as a cavalcade, and the name is still in common use, often in re-enactments of historic events.

Cavalcade is also used to describe a procession of cars or other vehicles, although motorcade is sometimes substituted for this. It can also be used for any kind of procession.
7. Royal official in charge of a shire or county

Answer: Sheriff

The sheriff was appointed by the monarch and was responsible for the maintenance of law in a specific area, often the shire (county). Many counties of the UK end in the word 'shire' and sheriff is a derivation of the words 'shire' and 'reeve'. The sheriff could order any men aged fifteen or over to join a 'posse comitatus' to round up criminals.

Those western films, with their sheriffs and posses, have their roots in Mediaeval times.
8. A war horse

Answer: Destrier

The destrier was the elite among horses, carrying knights in tournaments, jousts and, most importantly, into war. The destrier is not a breed, but describes a type of horse bred for strength. For normal purposes and everyday riding, other horses such as palfreys were used.

Other warhorses included coursers .
9. Forestry officer for Royal hunting grounds

Answer: Verderer

Verderers were appointed to oversee the Royal forests in Britain, such as the Royal Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire and the New Forest in Hampshire. Their role was to protect the habitat of the boar and deer which lived in the forests, so the nobles could hunt them, and to make sure that the animals weren't poached by the commoners. They also prevented unauthorised cutting down of trees.

Verderers still exist in modern times in the Royal forests - Epping Forest is the third - although the emphasis is now on conservation rather than hunting.
10. Land granted to a clergyman

Answer: Glebe

The glebe formed part of a church minister's benefice - in other words, his income. Other names for a glebe include rectory manor and the land could be used to grow crops by the priest's household. Alternatively, the priest could rent out the land and enhance his income that way.

Glebe Road is a common street name in the UK and means that historically the land originally belonged to the church.
Source: Author rossian

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