arbalestrier |
user of an arbalest or crossbow |
avoué |
hereditary title of secular representative of ecclesiastical institution |
bachelier |
unmarried household knight |
bataille |
squadron of mounted knights/sergeants 100–120 strong, cf. eschiele |
Brabançon |
mercenary soldier originally from Brabant in Flanders |
Boulonnais |
appertaining to Boulogne |
chevauchée |
mounted raiding expedition |
Cinque Ports |
confederacy of Channel ports, originally five in number |
cog |
large sailing ship, cf. nef |
commençailles |
opening stages of a tournament |
conroi |
troop of mounted knights/sergeants twelve to twenty-four strong |
curialis |
member of the court |
demesne |
land exploited directly by a feudal lord |
denier |
silver penny; the standard unit of currency |
destrier |
war horse |
eschiele |
squadron of mounted knights/sergeants 100–120 strong, cf. bataille |
fee |
landed estate held in exchange for military service; also feodum or fief |
gambeson |
padded protective jacket used by mounted or foot troops, cf. pourpoint |
haubergeon |
short mail shirt, sometimes hooded, used by foot troops |
hauberk |
long mail shirt with hood, used by mounted troops |
Hospitaller |
knightly monk, member of the religious order of the Hospital of St John |
knot |
nautical measure of speed = 1 sea mile per hour (2025yd/1.8km) |
losengier |
deceitful flatterer |
Marcher |
Anglo-Norman lord or knight resident on the Welsh border |
mesnie |
band of knights maintained in a lord’s household |
Michaelmas |
29 September |
nef |
large sailing ship, cf. cog |
Outremer |
Frankish overseas possessions in the East, e.g. Kingdom of Jerusalem |
palfrey |
gentleman’s riding horse |
perrière |
small counter-weight stone-thrower or petraria |
pourpoint |
padded linen jacket, cf. gambeson |
Poitevin |
someone from Poitou, south of the Loire |
prud’homme |
counsellor of repute |
recet |
palisaded refuge at tournament |
rouncey |
poor-quality riding horse or pack horse |
routier |
member of a band of mercenary soldiers or ruta |
scutage |
tax levied on knights in lieu of personal service |
seneschal |
originally steward of a great house, hence deputy for its absent lord |
sergeant |
mounted or foot soldier of non-noble origin |
snecca |
fast longship powered by oars, from snekkjur or ‘snake’ |
tallage |
tax levied on towns and the royal demesne |
Templar |
knightly monk, member of the religious order of the Temple |
Tourangeau |
someone from Touraine, near Tours on the Loire |
trébuchet |
large counter-weight stone-thrower |
trovère |
troubadour or poet |
vavassour |
knightly warrior living on his own estate |