Norman England - Key Vocabulary Flashcards
Chivalry
A code of behaviour for medieval knights, emphasising bravery and good manners
Croft
An area of land surrounding a peasant’s dwelling, used to grow crops or keep livestock
Demesne
Land kept by a lord, which peasants were obliged to farm on his behalf
Baron
The highest rank of medieval society, ruling land directly on behalf of the king
Bayeux
Tapestry A 70-metre long embroidered cloth depicting William of Normandy’s conquest of England
Bishop
A Christian clergyman with authority over a large number of priests and churches
Manor
The house at the centre of a medieval lord’s
Conquest
Taking control of a place or people through military force
Disembowel
To cut someone open and remove their internal organs
Domesday Book
A book commissioned by William the Conqueror detailing the possessions of every settlement in England
Exile
Being forced to live outside your native country, typically for political reasons
Pottage
A stew of vegetables and grains, eaten by peasants for their main meal
Fealty
A pledge of loyalty from a feudal vassal to their lord
Feudal system
The structure of medieval society, where land was exchanged for service and loyalty
Heir
A person set to inherit property or a title, often used to mean next in line to the throne
Hereditary
Passed through a family, from parents to their children
Hierarchy
A form of social organisation where people are ranked according to status or power
Homage
The practice of giving an annual payment to your Lord to show that you are their vassal
Huscarls
The professional bodyguard of Anglo-Saxon kings
Illegitimate
Not recognised as lawful; once used to describe someone born of unmarried parents
Knights
Soldiers on horseback who belonged to the nobility
Lord
A general term for a medieval landholder, or a member of the peerage today
Monarch
A royal head of state; can be a king, queen or emperor
Strip farming
The division of large fields into many narrow strips worked by different peasants
Steward
Servant who looked after the lord’s manor on his behalf.
Motte-and-bailey castle
A simple fortification with an artificial hill and a defensive courtyard
Noble
Member of the nobility, with land and titles that pass through the generations
Normans
People from a region in northern France, who were descended from Viking invaders
Oath
A solemn promise, often said to be witnessed by God
Omen
An event that is thought to foretell the future, perhaps as a message from God
Peasant
The lowest member of medieval society, usually a farm labourer
Royal blood
Those who are blood relatives of a ruling monarch
Subject
A member of a country or territory under the rule of a monarch
Vassal
Anyone who was below you in medieval society, and had to call you ‘my lord’
Tithe
A medieval tax, paying one-tenth of all farm produce to the Church
Wattle and Daub
Woven sticks, covered in a mixture of mud, clay, animal dung and horsehair
A code of behaviour for medieval knights, emphasising bravery and good manners
Chivalry
An area of land surrounding a peasant’s dwelling, used to grow crops or keep livestock
Croft
Land kept by a lord, which peasants were obliged to farm on his behalf
Demesne
The highest rank of medieval society, ruling land directly on behalf of the king
Baron
Tapestry A 70-metre long embroidered cloth depicting William of Normandy’s conquest of England
Bayeux
A Christian clergyman with authority over a large number of priests and churches
Bishop
The house at the centre of a medieval lord’s
Manor
Taking control of a place or people through military force
Conquest
To cut someone open and remove their internal organs
Disembowel
A book commissioned by William the Conqueror detailing the possessions of every settlement in England
Domesday Book
Being forced to live outside your native country, typically for political reasons
Exile
A stew of vegetables and grains, eaten by peasants for their main meal
Pottage
A pledge of loyalty from a feudal vassal to their lord
Fealty
The structure of medieval society, where land was exchanged for service and loyalty
Feudal system
A person set to inherit property or a title, often used to mean next in line to the throne
Heir
Passed through a family, from parents to their children
Hereditary
A form of social organisation where people are ranked according to status or power
Hierarchy
The practice of giving an annual payment to your Lord to show that you are their vassal
Homage
The professional bodyguard of Anglo-Saxon kings
Huscarls
Not recognised as lawful; once used to describe someone born of unmarried parents
Illegitimate
Soldiers on horseback who belonged to the nobility
Knights
A general term for a medieval landholder, or a member of the peerage today
Lord
A royal head of state; can be a king, queen or emperor
Monarch
The division of large fields into many narrow strips worked by different peasants
Strip farming
Servant who looked after the lord’s manor on his behalf.
Steward
A simple fortification with an artificial hill and a defensive courtyard
Motte-and-bailey castle
Member of the nobility, with land and titles that pass through the generations
Noble
People from a region in northern France, who were descended from Viking invaders
Normans
A solemn promise, often said to be witnessed by God
Oath
An event that is thought to foretell the future, perhaps as a message from God
Omen
The lowest member of medieval society, usually a farm labourer
Peasant
Those who are blood relatives of a ruling monarch
Royal blood
A member of a country or territory under the rule of a monarch
Subject
Anyone who was below you in medieval society, and had to call you ‘my lord’
Vassal
A medieval tax, paying one-tenth of all farm produce to the Church
Tithe
Woven sticks, covered in a mixture of mud, clay, animal dung and horsehair
Wattle and Daub
