24 terms

Terms	Definitions
Feudalism	a governmental, and social system that developed during the Middle Ages (Post-Roman Empire); Kings and queens held the most power followed by nobles, vassals, knights, peasants, and serfs; noble land owners offered protection and land in return for service
Jousting	Fighting on horseback with lances, with the goal of knocking the opponent from his horse
Lance	a long pointed rod used as a weapon; often used in jousting tournaments
Geoffrey Chaucer	Famous Medieval English poet and writer remembered as author of the Canterbury Tales (1340-1400)
Peasant	A person at the bottom of the political and social pyramid in Medieval Europe; survived through subsistence living and farming the land for the nobles
Squire	a knight in training; the second stage to becoming a knight, knights assisted by caring for horses, training with weapons, and possibly assisting when going to battle
Knight	originally a person of noble birth trained in weapons, fighting, and chivalry ~ William wanted to be this in our "history movie"
Coat of Arms	A group of emblems and figures for identification purposes that were usually placed on the knights armor and/or shield; represented your family tree; you printed one in the computer lab recently
Heraldry	the use of symbols or emblems during the middle ages; often worn on shields, cloaks, and cloths draped over horses; the study of Coats of Arms
Quintain	revolving post that knights use for practicing jousting; can look like a stuffed dummy or just a shield that knights would typically charge at for jousting practice
Spangen	Medieval helmet
Noble	Someone of royal blood or lineage during medieval times; located on the second tier of the Feudal Pyramid (that we discussed in class)
Bill-hook	A medieval weapon used primarily by foot soldiers; looked like a spear with a hook on the opposing side of the spear; the hook was used to pull cavalrymen off of their horse in battle
Cavalry	Soldiers or knights trained to fight on horseback
Gambeson	padded undercoat worn by knights underneath their armor
Troubador	A poet or musician who traveled around and entertained people with songs about chivalry and courtly love during Medieval Times.
Morning Star	a medieval club-like weapon which included one or more spikes connected to a chain and club. Used blunt-force and puncture attacks to kill or wound the enemy in battle
Vassal	person granted land from a lord in return for services; kind of like the medieval manor manager; located on the 3rd tier of the feudalistic pyramid
The Black Prince of Wales	Prince Edward, the eldest son of King Edward III of England (1330 - 1376), Edward was born on 15 June 1330 at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, the eldest son of Edward III. He was created prince of Wales in 1343. He showed military brilliance at an early age, playing a key role in the defeat of the French army at the Battle of Crecy when he was only 16. The infamous nickname was developed after his death and may refer to the black armour that he wore.
Constable	the single most important figure in the daily life of a castle was this person; often thought of as a sheriff or lawman today; the person whose job it was to look after the castle in the lord's absence. He had a number of people who worked beneath him too. There was the garrison, whose members vary in status, including knights, men-at-arms, archers, and engineers. Castle staffs also had grooms, watchmen, porters, cooks, and scullions, who did all the washing up in the kitchen.
Stockades	enclosure where prisoners were kept by locking the prisoners head and hands locked into a wooden holding unit
Chivalry	a code that knights adopted in the Middle Ages; requiring them to be brave, loyal and true to their word; they had to fight fairly in battle and ALWAYS SO RESPECT TO A MAIDEN (LADY)
Chamber Pot	the vessel used for bodily waste that was often emptied onto the street in medieval Europe; typically just a metal or wooden bucket...yuck huh
Gauntlets	the metal armored gloves that a knight would wear in battle or in a jousting tournament; Also is a literary cliche' meaning to make or accept a challenge such as a joust; Ex: He threw down the gauntlet and we all knew it was going to be an exciting battle.

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• "Jousting" image
• "Lance" image
• "Geoffrey Chaucer" image
• "Squire" image
• "Knight" image
• "Coat of Arms" image
• "Heraldry" image
• "Cavalry" image
• "Gambeson" image
• "Chivalry" image
• "Chamber Pot" image
• "Gauntlets" image

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