Medievel Occupations and Titles
Alderman
An elder, diginitary or chief amongst the people of a town or borough.Alehouse Keeper
Seller of Ale or beer from barreks in their own house.Alewife
A female brewer and seller of ale on a small scale.Anchor Smith
A skilled metal worker who makes ships' anchors.Apprentice
A young person bound to his master in order to learn a trade or art from him. Apprenticeships usually last seven years, or until the apprentice becomes a journeyman.Arkwright
A maker of arks or chests.Ash Man
The man who takes away the ash. In town houses without gardens disposing of ash from the fires can be a problem, so a man collects the ash and selld it to farmers for fertilizer.Atheling
A member of a noble or royal family.Axe man
Aimeine armed with an axe as a weapon for warfare rather than cutting down trees.Bag Man
Someone who lives out of bags or sellls goods out of bags; a travelling samesman; a bit like a tinker.Baggage Maker
Someone who makes baggage; bags, cases and chests for travelling, also tents and camping equipment.Bailiff
Sheriff's officer or an agent for a land-steward, might preside over a Lord's castle or manor in his absence.Banker
Someone who keeps a bank; an institution for taking deposits and lending them out again in return for interest. A userer or money-lender. Christians were forbidden to lend money for interest, which is why Jews often became bankers in the middle ages.Barber
Someone who shaves faces and cuts hair, and extracts teeth.Barber Surgeon
A barber who has progressed to performing minot operations; lancing boils, bleeding the patient, etc.Bard
A poet and singer, a teller of tales and sagasBargeman
Somebody who operates and steers a flat bottomed, river going barge, carrying goods by water.Baron
Laterly the lowest ranked noble inthe house of peers, but in feudal societies the highest ranking tenants-in-chief below the King are called Barons.Baroness
The wife of a Barone, or a noble lady holding a 'baron's' tile in her own right.Baronet
A kind of junior Baron in later times, a title generally used much later than the medieval period.Basket Man
A seller of, or dealer in, baskets, rather than a maker.Beadle
A mace bearer and junior officer/official of a church, college or parish.Bear Baiter
A man who keeps a chained bear and baits it to make it perform for the public.Bell Founder
A maker of bells. These are cast, usually by pouring molten bronze into a sand mould.Bellows Boy
A young child who operates bellows used to keep a fire or forge hot, expecially in large kitchens.Besom Maker
Someone who makes up bunches of twigs into a broom, with a hazel handle called a 'witches' broom'Bird Catcher
Someone who catches birds, usually for food, many small birds can be eaten; hence the rhyme;'four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie'Bishop
A cleric or clergyman in charge of a group of churches, called a bishopric. usually of noble birth, a Bishop is as powerful as a Duke in medieval society and can be very rich and influential.Blade Smith
A metal worker who makes blades, especially sword, knife and dagger blades.Board Hewer
Someone who makes boards by 'hewing' tree trunks into planks, first by splitting with wedges and then trimming and smoothing with a special kind of axe.Boarding Officer
A ship's officer responsible for controlling the boarding of passengers and cargo.Boat Rigger
A craftsman who 'rigs' boats with ropes and lines to control the sails, etc.Boatswain, Bosun
An officer who looks after the ship's boats and their equipment, sails, etc.Bondsman
Someone who is bound, or bonded, to a master, effectively a kind of slave. A lowly type of peasant.Bone Picker
Someone who 'picks' the bones left over when an animal is butchered. The scraps of meat produced in this way can be used in stews and pies.Bookbinder
A maker of books, specifically binding the pages together between two thick boards covered in a skin or hide (thin leather).Bookkeeper
Somone who "keps books" of accounts for a merchant, recording financial transactions in the books or ledgersBoot Boy
A young lad who cleans boots and shoesBottler
Someone who puts or seals liquids (mianly drinks) into bottles, using corks or stoppers.Bowl Maker
A turner specializing in making wooden bowls, the most common form of eating dish for poor folk.Bowl Man
A seller of crude wooden and pottery or stoneware bowls, usually bought from craftsmen for resale.Box Maker
A craftsman who makes small wooden boxes, chests and crates.Braider
Someone who braids or weaves strands of hair or threads into a thicker 'pig tail' or rope.Brewer
Someone who brews ale or beer using hops, barley, yeast and water.Bright Smith
A metal worker sho makes 'bright' things such as decorative work or jewelry rather than a blacksmith who makes dull, cruder metal tools and weapons.Buckler
A maker of metal buckles for shoes, belts and etc.Burgess
A freeman or citizen of a borough or town.Burgher
Same as Burgess, a citizen of a town or borough.Bursar
Someone who keeps the purse; a treasurerButler
A senior servant in charge of the 'butts' or barrels or casks of wine and beer. In castles he cated for and doled out these alcoholic drinks to the household.Cab Driver, Cabby
Someone who drives a 'cab' for hire; a two-wheeled cart with a covred cab to keep rain off of the passengers inside.Cabin Boy
A boy who serves the occupants of a cabin on a ship, usually officers or important passengers.Cadger
A carrier who collects country produce (from farmers for re-sale) also a kind of hawker or tinker.Candlestick Maker
Someone who makes candlesticks, generally of metal but sometimes of wood and other materials.Carder
Someone who 'cards' wool or flax, combining it withe a teasel or a man-made comb designed for the job.Carter
The operator of a two-wheeled cart, someone who transports goods or farm produce in his cart for a fee or salary.Cartwright
A skilled craftsman who makes carts, two wheeled vehicles usually pulled by one horse or pony.Castellan
Governor or captain of a castle.The Castellan supervises the basic cleaning and household management of the castle. His duties are many, and his knowledge of formal affairs and etiquette is second to none.
Caulker
Someone who 'caulks' boats by hammering cloth or fibre into the gaps between the planks of the hull and sealing the joint with tar or something similar.Cellarer
Someone who cares for a cellar and its contentse.g. ;sthe stores, food, and drink stored on the ground floor or basement of a casatle or palace. Later became known as a butler or buteler.Chair Bodger
Someone who makes chairs by turning rough green staves into legs, spindles and so on.Chamberlain/Lord High Chamberlain
The officer in charge of the private apartments of a King or high ranking noble.Of all the positions in a lord’s court, none is more trusted or important to the daily activity of the estate than that of the Lord High Chamberlain. In modern terms, the chamberlain is the lord’s right-hand man. He controls all access to the Lord and can act on his behalf in any instance. Orders which are issued by the Lord High Chamberlain are assumed to come directly from the lord and must be obeyed without question.
A number of individuals will report to the Lord High Chamberlain. It is his job to coordinate reports from numerous lesser officials and present his lord with the information needed to make wise decisions. The Chamberlain enjoys the absolute trust of his monarch and can act in his behalf on any matter. In many cases where an audience has been requested with the lord, the chamberlain will be able to resolve matters without having to “trouble his royal highness.”
Chancellor/Lord High Chancellor
The chief or important minister to the king or high noble, could be responsible for finances or act as a presiding judge.The Lord High Chancellor is entrusted with the day to day operations of the government. He is the absolute head of the civil service, answerable only to the lord himself. The only exception to this would be in cases where his actions might have to be cleared with the Lord High Chamberlain. The relationship between these two officials is close, if not always cordial.
Nearly every member of the lesser bureaucracy is under the direction of the Lord High Chancellor. His people organize tax collections, internal political relationships, and the posting and distribution of all royal decrees and proclamations.
Chandler
A dealer in candles, or a dealer in goods generally. Latterly someone who supplies goods, candles, ropes, etc. to a ship or boat.Chaplain
A junior priest presiding over a chapel, serving a noble in his castle or palace, in later times a priest attached to a regiment or a ship's company.Charwoman
A domestic servant hired on a casual basis to do cleaning or laundry work.Chief Gardener
If the lady has a garden, it must be tended. Note that these rich gardens are often the personal groves of many retired druids, and are also the first training grounds for many young ones.
Chief Porter
The Chief Porter and his watchmen guard the castle during all hours of the day and night. As a rule, they answer to the Lord High Marshall.
Chief Steward
The steward oversees the cooking staff and is busy almost all of the time. Feeding an entire castle is not a simple chore! The Chief Steward has a lot of personal discretion, but reports to the Castellan if any problems arise.
Churchman
Any clergyman or priest from the authorized church.City Officer
An officer employed by the city in some official duty, such as collecting taxes, tolls or dues.City Official
Someone with authority to act on behalf of the City, e.g judging petty crimes and passing judgment. Ot maybe inspecting goods to make sure the right duties have been paid.City Treasurer
The official responsible for controlling the city's coffers, making sure any income is kept secure and paying staff and servants of the city from them.Clay Man
A man who digs clay from the ground, processes or purifies it, and then sells the pure material to potters.Clerk
Someone who writes things down; either money and figures, or letters, deeds, contracts and the like.Clothier
Someone who makes or sells clothes, usually to order to fit a particular customer.Coastal Trader
A ship owner or merchant who is usually the master of his own ship and trades in goods along the coast.Cobbler
Someone who mends and repairs shoes, and sometimes makes them as well.Codpiece Maker
Someone who makes codpieces, fashionable contrivances which pad, protect and exaggerate a gentleman's parts.Coiner
Someone who makes or 'coins' money; usually forged coins, because only the King or someone with a license from him can mint coins legally.College Bursar
The treasurer of an academic college, responsible for the fianaces of the institution.Constable
A state officer (count of the stable) of high rank, often in charge of a castle on behalf of the King.Cooper
A craftsman who makes barrels, casks and butts for a living, using oak staves and metal hoops.Copper Smith
A metal worker who specializes in working copper, usually beating this soft metal into pots and pans.Copyist
A clerk who copies documents for a living. Very important before the invention of printing.Cottar
A peasant occupying a cot or cottage for which he gives service instead of rent; generally working the Lord's land for so many days a week or month.Coxswain
A sailor who steers a small rowing boat or is in charge of a boat and crew.Crabber
A fisherman who catches crabs, or fishes from a small boat also called a 'crabber.'Crumhorn Player
A musician who plays a popular early wind instrument which has a curved spout.Cup Bearer
An attendant at a feast who pours out and serves the wine or drink. Also to hunters before a hunt.Customs Officer
A servant of the government who collects 'customs'; duties or taxes on imported or exported goods. Also responsible for catching smugglers, people who avoid paying the duties due with illicit contraband.Cutler
Someone who makes, repairs and sharpens cutlery, especially knives that cut, hence cut-ler.Dealer
Someone who buys and sells things, a businessman who buys low and sells high.Deck Hand
An unskilled sailor who works on the deck of a ship, rather than below decks or amid the rigging.Delivery Boy
Small traders, butchers, grocers and the like, often have delivery boys; effectively apprentices who deliver produce direct to customers' houses.Dish Turner
A maker of dishes and bowls by turning from wood.Ditcher
A poor agricultural worker who dies the most menial of tasks, digging ditches around fields and by roads.Dock Hand
A worker on the docks, loading and uloading cargo on and off of ships and boats.Dock Master
The official in charge of the dock or docks; someone who decides when and where ships berth, allocates dock workers to load ships, ensures the proper paperwork and dues are paid, etc.Doctor
A medical man or teacher of divinity (a type of cleric) who has obtained a 'doctorate' from a university.Doctor of Physick
An early medical practitioner who specifically cares for the sick in return for a fee.Dog Whipper
A servant who keeps a pack of hunting dogs under control, he has a whip or club-like stick to keep the dogs in line.Doge
The Venetian word for a 'Duke'Donkey Man
Someone who leads donkeys, usually carrying some burden or goods in baskets or panniers.Door Keeper
A guard or night-watchmen who sits or stands by the door and controls who goes through the door.Door Ward
A more formal, maybe military, kind of door keeper.Dowager
A noble widow whose son has inherited an estate on her husband's death. Often dowagers were moved out of the main castle or mansion and into a smaller 'Dowager House' on the estate.Draper
A dealer in cloth or cloth goods; buying and selling drapery and drapes.Drayman
The driver of a low flat wagon (four wheeled and horse drawn) used for transporting heavy goods; especially barrels of beer (hence; a brewer's dray)Duchess
The wife of a Duke, or a woman who holds the title and controls the Duchy in her own right.Duke
The (male) ruler of a Duchy; a territory usually the size of a country or larger, in some cases big enough to be a separate country.Dung Collector
someone who collects dung (animal waste), especially from the streets in towns and cities. This is not just to keep the streets clean, but also is a valuable source of fertilizer which can be sold to farmers.Dust Man
The same as an ash man, someone who collects townspeople's ash and delivers it to farmers. Later became a collector of rubbish or garbage of any sort.Earl
A nobleman of high rank, originally a kinsman or close ally of the king. Latterly a rank between marquis and viscount.Eel Man
A man who catches (usually with baited basket traps) eels in a river or estuary.Engineer
Makers and designers of machines and mechanical devices, including engines, siege engines & etc.Esquire
An attendant or shield bearer for a knight; an apprentice or trainee knight, usually of noble blood.Excise Man
A tax collector who ensures the proper duties are paid on imports, exports or other commercial activities. The enemy of a smuggler!Executioner
An official whose job is to execute (kill) criminals either by hanging (for petty crimes) or by severing the head (for trason & etc.) The latter is often reserved for noble victims.Farrier
Someone who shoes horses and treats minor ailments in horses and ponies.Feather Dresser
Someone who cleans and trims feathers plucked from animals (destined for the table) which will be used to make feather mattresses, pillows, etc.Fence Maker
A craftsman who makes fences, generally for farmers; these might be of riven (split) tree trunks, or poles, or woven hurdles (panels of woven withies.)Fettler
A craftsman who trims or forms something useful from raw or rougher materials; could be whittling twigs into any number of things, or polishing and burnishing an object to make it 'in fine fettle' etc.Feudal Lord
The master to whom you have to pay service (usually military) and give allegiance in return for occupying an area of land; a holding, farm, manor or estate.Fief Holder
Soneone who holds lands or a manor 'in fief' (land held in fee) to a superior lord or noble in return for feudal (usually military) service.Fletcher
An arrow maker, or more specifically, someone who fixes the fletches (feathers) on to an arrow or crossbow bolt which make it fly straight and true.Food Taster
A dangerous job for a servant of a King or high noble who fears he might be poisoned. If the food is poisoned the food taster gets it instead of the king.Footman
A servant dressed in livery who serves his Lord at table, and walks beside or behind his coach. Often more of status symbol than a useful servant.Forge Man
A man who works a forge; a furnace where iron is heated before being forged or beaten on an anvil.Fowler
A hunter or trapper of game birds or fowl.Friar
A member of one of the mendicant monastic orders, a wandering holy man preaching good works and selling indulgences.Fuller
A bleacher and cleaner of raw woolen cloth, by using fullers earth to remove natural oils and dirt.Furbisher
A polisher who rubs up metal objects to make them bright, perhaps copper pots and the like.Furnisher
A supplier and fitter of fittings of all kinds, especially furniture and furnishings.Gaffer
An older, respected man; the leader of a gang of workmen (female - gammer.) A shortened version of grandfather/grandmother.Game Dealer
A buyer and seller of game birds and animals; a middleman between the hunter/trapper and public or meat retailer.Gamekeeper
A servant who cares for the wild game on an estate, usually birds, woodcock, pheasants, partridges, etc.Gilder
A craftsman who applies gold leaf or gold plate onto objects to make them look like gold.Gipsy, Gypsy
A member of a wandering people or tribe thought to be from Egypt (hence gypsy) but actually originating from India.Girdler
A maker of girdles and belts; a girdle being anything that 'girds' around someone's middle; a rope holding a monk's habit around his waist.Glazier
A man who sets glass into window frames, mullions and leaded window lights.Glover
A maker and seller of gloves.Goat Carraige Man
The driver of a goat carraige; a small cart for carrying light goods and parcels (but not people.)Governess
A lady (usually of good birth) who cares for and teaches the younger children of a noble household.Grazier
Someone who grazes cattle, rears and prepares (fattens) them for the market and the slaughter.Green Grocer
A shopkeeper or stall holder who sells green stuff; vegetables, fruit and the like.Groom
A servant in charge of the horses in a noble household; one who 'grooms' and cleans horses.Guest House Keeper
Someone who rents out rooms or chambers in their house to guests.Guild Master
A senior officer in a crafts guild, a 'master' of his trade who has produced his 'masterpiece' to prove his skill and competence.Guttersnipe
A dirty, neglected child or street urchin.Haberdasher
A shopkeeper selling small wares such as ribbons, tape, pins and other fripperies.Harbour Master
A local official in charge of a harbour, organizes the movement, loading and unloading of vessels, as well as making sure duties are paid, etc.Hatter
A hat seller and possibly maker; someone who supplies fine and elegant hats to the gentry.Haulier
A carrier of goods by road, usually on flat wagons.Hawker
A travelling salesman selling goods by going from door to door. Similar to a tinker.Hay Monger
A dealer or merchant who buys and sells hay; an important winter feedstuff for livestock.Hedge Layer
A country worker who makes hedges; cutting part way through the trunks of shrubs and then pulling them over to interweave and 'lay' them, making a livestock-proof barrier.Hedger
A farm worker who hedges or trims hedges.Helmsman
A sailor who 'mans the helm,' holding the steering oar or ships wheel to steer the ship or boat.Help Heckler
A worker sho combs hemp to prepare it for making string, rope or linen.Herald
An officer who makes public proclamations, arranges ceremonies and keeps a register of coats of arms.Hewer
A woodworker who hews wood wood; cuts away with an axe or adze in order to shape the log into a beam.Higgler
Someone who bargains, haggles or chaffers; maybe making money by driving a hard bargain.High Priest
The chief priest or cleric in a temple or city.Honey Dipper
Someone who collects night soil (human waste) to be used as fertilizer.Hosier
A dealer or seller of hose, stockings and other knitted or woolen leg coverings.Hospitaller
A member of a charitable brotherhood; the Knights of St. John; warrior monks who care for the sick, especially pilgrims.Hosteller
The keeper of a hostel, a basic kind of hotel with rools, could be an Inn, or even a kind of hospital.Hostler or Ostler
A servant who looks after horses at an inn.House Wright
A builder of houses, especially timber framed ones.Hunt Master
The master of a hunt; he marshals the riders, dog packs and beater, to orchestrate a successful hunt.Hurdle Maker
A country craftsman who makes hurdles; panels made from woven withies or canes to create temporary fencing, enclosures or gates.Husbandman
A working farmer who works in tillage; ploughing the land to grow crops.Illuminator
An artist who adds highly coloured illustrations to books, usually a monk.Iron Founder
A specialist metalworker who melts iron down and casts it in molds.Jewel Polisher
A craftsman who polishes jewels or 'cuts' diamonds; grinding down edges to create smooth sides or 'facets' and thereby increasing the value of the stone.Jobber
Someone who engages in a mean lucrative affait; a dealer who buys and sells for a profit.Joiner
A woodworker who makes things out of wood using joints (rather than nails) ~ furniture especially.Journeyman
Any worker who works by the day and has completed his appreticeship. But not yet become a 'master' of his trade (guild).Judge
To pass judgment and inflict punishment on criminals. Usually a noble who administers justice in his own domain, although the King also sits in judgment on higher matters and can overturn the judgment of a noble.Lord High Chaplin
The Lord High Chaplin is a representative of the religious community in the lord’s territory. In most cases, the Lord High Chaplin will be a member of the most powerful church in the kingdom. In cases where two faiths of equal power exist, there may be two separate offices.
In manors where the lord is not religious, the Lord High Chaplin will be in charge of handling relations between the lord and the church. A similar state of affairs exists when the lord is religious, but is not of the same faith as the majority of his subjects. In most cases, the lord will, at the very least, pay lip service to the religion of the Lord High Chaplin.
Lord High Inquisitor
One of the more sinister sounding offices, the Lord High Inquisitor is in charge with maintenance of the lord’s intelligence network. He controls the numerous spies which have been placed in the other branches of the castle’s power structure. In addition, he receives reports from his agents in the holdings of those who serve the inquisitor’s lord and from men stationed in other realms.
The nature of the feudal system makes the use of spies and counterspies almost a necessity. The king wants to know what his counts and dukes are up to, so he has men planted in their courts to provide him with information. The counts and dukes, of course, want to know what the knights and barons who serve them are up to, so they send their own spies to investigate. In addition, they want to know which of their own men really work for the king, so they employ counterspies to root out the informants. As you can see, this tangled web of agents can become quite complex. If used correctly, though, such intrigue can add a great deal to any chivalric campaign.
Lord High Justice
The Lord High Justice is in charge of all aspects of the legal system. It is his responsibility to see to it that laws are enforced and that criminals are hunted down and detained. He oversees the actions of the local judges, all of whom answer to him, and the town militia.
Among the people who report directly to the Lord High Justice are the High Sheriff (who heads the town watch), the High Prosecutor (who handles the prosecution of criminals), and the High Forester (who oversees the lord’s woodlands and prevents poaching).
Lord High Wizard
One of the least commonly encountered, the position of Lord High Wizard serves two purposes. First and foremost, it allows the Lord to have access to powerful magical spells. Perhaps more importantly, however, it shows the wealth and power of the lord. After all, keeping a wizard on your staff is an expensive practice. Such advisors are known for their ability to drain large amounts of revenue to fund their experiments, spell casting, and research. Since only the wealthiest (and therefore most powerful) of lords can afford such a burden, any court with a Lord High Wizard is highly respected.
While the court of a king or emperor is certain to have a very powerful Lord High Wizard, lesser estates may have only a token spell caster. Of course, since the average non-wizard does not understand the importance of various spells, a flashy spell of minimal power will often be perceived by the lord as more valuable than a more powerful spell which is less impressive in practice.
King
Originally 'elected war leader' (of a tribe) but latterly evolved into the most superoir noble in a realm or country, answerable only to god, and a hereditary position as the most important person in the land.Kitchen Boy
A boy who does menial tasks in the kitchen of a large house or castle, turning spits, scrubbing floors, etc.Knapper
Someone who knaps or chips off flakes of stone, e.g. flints for tools, arrow heads, etc.Knight
One of gentle birth and bred to arms, a noble warrior, often the Lord of a Manor or Estate. A mounted fighter with feudal rights (to bear arms) and responsibilities (to give military service).Knight-Errant
A travelling knight adventurer, on quests of chivalric love or honorable intention.Lady's Maid
A female servant who serves a Lady, generally by helping her mistress dress, brushing her hair, etc.Lamp Oil Man
A door to door seller, from a cart or barrow, of lamp oil, in large towns or cities.Lancer
A mounted soldier or light cavalryman armed with a lance or spear, usually with a pennant on the tip.Land Agent
An agent, usually a noble lord, who controls, collects rent from or latterly sells, land.Laundress
A female who runs a laundry, taking in clothes and bed linen and washing it for others.Laundry Maid
A servant who washes and irons clothes and bed linen.Lawyer
A practitioner of the law, a solicitor, someone who defends or prosecutes the accused in a law court.Layabout
A Ner'do well (never do well), a lazy good for nothing who literally lays about all day.Lay Brother or Sister
Someone who observes the rules of a religious order (celibacy, obediance) but is exempt from the studies and religious services monks and nuns must perform.Ledger Man
The keeper of a ledger; the principle book of accounts of a merchant. Similar to a bookeeper.Leech
A physician (doctor) who applies leeches to bleed the patient, which is believed (usually erroneously) to cleanse the blood and aid healing.Lighter Man
The operator of a large open boat (or barge) used for loading and unloading ships without them having to tie up to a quay or dock.Lord
The master or noble with control of a manor, village, estate or town, and who receives the income from it.Lord of the Manor
The noble master or lord of a specific landed estate, usually centered on a laarge house or mansion (hence manor) which can be fortified, or even a castle.Lord High Executioner
The most senior of executioners who is responsible for cutting off nobeland royal heads.Lout
A clown or awkward fellow, clumsy and insensitvie.Magistrate
A jusge who ensures the enactment of laws in the lower courts, often the Lord of the Manor.Maid
A young woman who has not lain with a man; a virgin or innocent girl.Man at Arms
A professional soldier, often a vassal of a Lord; someone whose main occupation is fighting.Marine
A soldier serving on a ship, a sea-soldier.Marshal/Lord High Marshal
Officer charged with regulating combats and battles, a senior officer in an army.This individual is the head of the lord’s military forces. He commands the armies and directs the actions of the city watch in the event of an attack. In all matters which require the use of the lord’s troops and knights, the Lord High Marshal is in absolute charge.
In addition to the lesser military personnel in the manor, the Lord High Marshal is in charge of the Royal Armorer and his armory, the hiring of any mercenary troops or adventurers, and the acquisition of new military technologies and strategies from other kingdoms. Because of his dealings with adventurers and mercenaries, it is probable that the Lord High Marshal is the first individual which player characters will come into contact with as they rise in levels.
Marshal of the Stables
The Marshal of the Stables is in charge of all of the lord’s horses, whether for war or show. He is always attended by many well-treated serfs and while he carries little or no power within the manor, a personal friendship with a horse-loving king is not to be taken lightly.
Some kings have hunting dogs for chasing foxes in the nearby forests, or falcons for hunting small birds, and these duties also fall under the marshal’s supervision or those of his staff.
If the lord has a special mount like a dragon or a pegasus, the personal attention such a unique beast requires calls for the hiring of another Marshal of the Royal Steed, who is likely to have an interesting background to say the least.
Marquis, Marquess
A noble of a rank next below a Duke; originally a prefect of the marches (border lands.)Master
A highly skilled craftsman who has 'mastered' his trade or craft.Master Mason
A skilled stone mason and leader of the Masons (guild). In medieval societies the master mason was equivalent to an architect in the sense that he drew plans, measured, laid out and supervised building projects, including cathedrals and castles.Master of Hounds
A servant or officer in charge of the hounds of a hunt.Mercenary
A soldier for hire in return for money, sometimes unscrupulous and prepared to fight for the highest bidder. Occasionally outright bandits.Mercer
A merchant or dealer in textiles or small wares.Midwife
A female or wise woman who helps with childbirth.Milk Maid
A young girl who milks cows, or processes the milk.Miller
A man (or woman) who has charge of a mill where grain; wheat, corn & etc. is ground or 'milled.'Milliner
A woman who makes and sells ladies headgear; hats and trimmings, especially ribbons.Minstrel
An entertainer, often a harpist, who sings or recites poems and tales, accompanied by his music.Moll
A kind of prostitute found in harbor towns.Money Lender
An early form of banker, someone who lends money in return for interest. Strictly forbidden by the Church in medieval societies, which is why Jews are often money-lenders in Christian countries.Monk
A hermit or member of a religious community which occupies a monastery.Mountebank
A quack, a boastful pretender; who stands on a box and sings the virtues of some worthless remedy.Mounted Sergeant
A soldier riding a horse or pony who is not one of the gentry, often as well armed as a knight.Navigator
A sailor generally, or a skilled man who can navigate a ship across the open sea using stars, the sun, etc.Night Soil Man
A collector of human waste in a town; the contents of chamber pots, which is sold as fertilizer.Night Watchman
A town or city guard who is on duty at night; and specifically keeps 'watch' for attacks and criminals.Nun
A lady who has taken religious vows and joined a nunnery or religious order.Nurse Maid
A servant who nurses; feeeds and cares for babies and small children , in a well-t-do or noble household.Nursey Maid
A servant who has charge of a nursery; a specific room housing the children of a noble family.Offal Seller
A street seller of animal offal; livers, kidneys, hearts, chittlins (intestines,) lungs, and the rest.Old Sea Dog
A retired sailor or navigator, generally bearded and often with a wooden leg or other disability.Orator
A public speaker; in civilized societies likely to be a politician or leader.Outfitter
Someone who 'fots out,' usually with the equipment for a voyage or journey but could be cloting.Oyster Dredger
A fisherman who dredges (drags a weighted net along the seabed) for oysters; a common and popular dish in medieval cultures.Packhorse Man
The owner and operator of packhorses used to carry goods on panniers and baskets slung on their backs.Packman
A man who carries a pack, usually a travelling tinker selling small goods and trinkets.Packsaddle Man
A rider who carries light goods, important messages and the like in his saddle bags. A courier.Page
A servant, generally a young man or boy, who waits at tabel in a gret hall; serving food and drink.Palladin
A knight-errant, a knight who travels seeking adventures; from 'knight of the palace'Pamphleteer
A writer and distributor of pamlets; folded sheets of paper spreading news or publicizing views.Pannier Man
A carrier or merchant who transports goods in panniers (baskets) slung on ponies or donkies.Parson
A junior priest or rector, the incumbent of a parish church or chapel.Pattern Maker
A craftsman who makes patterns or moulds in a foundry for the casting of metal.Pawnbroker
A moneylender who lends money in return for holding goods or chattels as security. He can sell the goods if the loan is not repaid.Peasant
A lowly farmer who is tied to the land and has use of the land in return for service to his Lord. Peasants are virtually agricultural slaves.Peat Cutter
A worker who digs (cuts) peat from a peat bog, dies it in the sun and then sells it as fuel for fires.Pedlar, Peddler
Someone who travels around with a back pack containing goods which they sell from door to door.Pewterer
A maker of pewter utensils; tankards, bowls, plates and the like. Pewter is a mixture of tin and lead.Physician, Physic
A practitioner of the art of medicine, or physic. A doctor who prescribes medicine and treatment.Pilot
A steersman or local expert who guides ships in and out of ports and harbors.Pimp
A man or woman who controls prostitutes; protects them from violence but takes most of their earnings.Ploughman
An agricultural worker who operates a plough, usually pulled by oxen, latterly by heavy horses.Plumber
A worker in lead who installs pipes, cisterns, etc. for water and drainage, also lead work on roofs.Post Boy
A young lad who delivers letters and messages.Pot Boy
A boy in a pub, inn or tavern who carries 'pots' of beer and ale to the customers.Priest
Someone who offers sacrifices or performs sacred rites and rituals, a clergyman below the rank of bishop and above a deacon.Prince
A soverign or ruler in his own right; someone of the highest rank, the son of a King, Queen or Emperor. The eldest Pince is the hier apparent to the throne, but younger brothers are still called princes and addressed as 'your highness.'Princess
The daughter of a King, Queen or Emperor. In the age of chivalry (but not equality) a Princesses' role seems to be to marry a Prince from a different realm in order to build a more powerful state or dynasty.Professor
A teacher of the highest rank in a University, a wise or learned person.Purser
A ship's officer in charge of cabins.Quill Maker
An artisan who makes quills, a king of pen made from a bird's feather.Rag and Bone Man
A collector of rubbish or nearly worthless things which he resells or recycles nto something else.Rag Man
A dealer in rags or old clothes; One person's cast-offs are another person's luxurious robes.Rector
A cleric or junior priest, a person who preaches in a church on behalf of a more senior vicar.Reeve
A high official, the chief magistrate of a district, a bailiff or steward.River Man
Someone who lives on the river; either in a boat or camping on the bank alongside the boat.Riveter
Someone who joins together pieces of sheet metal with rivets; hammered pegs of heated metal.Rogue
A vagrant, a rascal or mischievous knave.Roofer
A workman who covers the roofs of houses and buildings using stone, slate or clay tiles.Rope Maker
A maker of ropes and twine; this is done by twisting strands of plant fiber together. The trick is twisting each layer or level of strands the opposite way.Roper
A rope maker.Rover
A wandering or rambling person, a pirate or buccaneer, a robberRug Man
A street seller selling rugs from a barrow or pitch.Runner
A messenger who runs quickly to deliver his message.Saddler
A leather worker who makes and repairs saddles and other 'tack' for horses; reins, whips, etc.Sail Maker
A skilled artisan who makes sails from canvas or other robust cloth (even leather.)Sapper
A military engineer who digs trenches and mines; tunnels beneath enemy fortifications intended to undermine them.Sauna Attendant
A worker in a sauna who supplies towels, hotwater, oils, skin scrapers and stokes the coals.Sawyer
Someone who saws timber, generally using a saw pit.Scholar
A pupil or student at a school or college.School Keeper
Someone who keeps or runs a school; the owner and usually head master (chief teacher.) Students are charged a fee for attending.Scribe
A professional writer and copyist. Someone who cannot write can go to a scribe and dictate their letters to him.Scrivener
Another word for scribe or copyist, also a kind of money lender who charges interest.Scroll Seller
A dealer and seller of scrolls; learned tracts, recipes, proclamations and magic spells.Soldier
A paid fighter or military man of no rank (a private) in an organized army or company.Sorcerer
A magician or wizard who gets his power for enchantments from evil spirits or deamons.Spice Merchant
A dealer and importer of exotic spices; pepper, nutmeg, cloves, etc.Spinner
A worker who spins wool in order to make threads which are then woven into cloth.Spinster
An unmarried woman or old maid. Or, a woman who spins wool into yarn, a spinner.Spooner
A maker of metal or wooden spoons for eating and cooking.Squire
A trainee knight; a young man of noble birth, a member of the landed gnetry of low rank. The Lord of a single manor or village.Each king or knight has his own personal squire. Most squires are knights-in-training who take care of their lord’s personal steed, see that his armor is repaired and polished, sharpen his sword and lance, and otherwise tend to the lord’s miscellaneous knightly needs. Many of the noblest PCs will have been squired to a great noble or king. Note that many of the wealthiest lords have more than a few squires, and that such positions are rare and prized within the kingdom.
Stable Boy
A young lad employed in stables to care for, groom and much out, horses.Star Gazer
Another name for an astrologer; someone who foretells the future by studying the stars.Steeplejack
A workman who climbs church steeples (and tall chimneys) in order to repair them.Steersman
A man who steers; usually a boat or barge, or a ship with steering oars ruther than a rudder.Stevedor
Someone who manages the domestic affairs of a family or estate. A senior servant or officer in charge of a castle or great house whilst the Lord is away.Stone Carver
A mason who carves stone into shapes for building.Stone Cutter
A specialized worker in a quarry or on a large building project (such as a cathedral or castle) sho cuts the stones into regular blocks using wedges and drills.Stone Mason
A builder who works in stone, shortened to 'mason,' laying the stones to ceate walls and buildings.Story Teller
An entertainer who tells stories and tales; like a bard but without musical accompaniment.Street Seller
Any kind of seller who walks the streets with a tray or a hand cart full of goods to sell.Street Vender
A seller of goods on the street, often from a tray.Strumpet
A prostitute or brash, debauched woman.Swain
A young man, a peasant, an admirer or suitor.Sweet Seller
A seller of sweet things made from sugar or honey.Sweetmeat Seller
A seller of sweetmeats; confections made or preserved with sugar; candied fruits, etc.Swineherd
A pig herd or herder and keeper of pigs.Sword Smith
A specialized metal worker who makes swords for the gentry (poor people are not permitted swords.)Swords Master
A teacher of sword fighting and fencing.Sworn Executioner
If a lord is the sworn legal officer in an area, most likely a newly conquered frontier, or he is the king of a land, he will have on his staff a Chief Executioner to handle the messiest of trials. Such a man earns a great deal of respect as it is an ugly job he does, and his loyalty to the king is never in question.
In his off-hours, the sworn executioner might be Captain of the Guards, but he is also likely to be the Master Torturer (if permitted within the castle walls) and/or the only practicing doctor for miles. His talents at breaking bones and severing limbs give him a lot of knowledge about fixing them as well.
Tailor
Someone whose business is to cut out and assemble cloth into a well fitting garment; suits, cloaks, breeches and doublets.Tallyman
A small-time loan shark who keeps a 'tally' of what he is owed by cutting notches on a stick or making marks on a slate with chalk.Tanner
A leather worker who tans hides; immersing the animal skins in tannin, an extract from oak bark, and other vegetable substances to cure the leather.Tapster
A barman or publican who draws off beer or ale from a 'tap' in a barrel or cask.Taverner
A licensed seller (by the Lord, magistrate, or town burghers) of alcoholic drinks. Owner of a tavern.Tax Collector
A paid servant of the government whose job is to collect and ensure the prompt payment of taxes.Teacher
A paid tutor of children; teaching youngsters to read and write, or older children grammer and the classics.Templer
A 'Knight of the Temple'; a religious order with the object of protecting the Holy Sepulchre and pilgrims on pilgrimage. Founded during the crusades.Thatcher
A skilled craftsman who makes thatched roofs using reeds and wheat straw.Thresher
A farm worker who threshes the grain from the chaff (dry husks) and straw.Thug
A big bully, a robber or assassin; a man who lives by violence; bodyguards, bouncers, etc.Tile Maker
A specialized craftsman who makes clay tiles for floors, and roofs, especially colored floor tiles for churches & other important buildings.Tin Smith
A specialized metal worker who uses tin; a widely used metal for covering and sealing softer metals, and for making vessels; cups, bowls, pans.Tinker
A mender of brass or tin kettles, anyone who sells cheap or second-hand items, maybe door to door.Top Sawyer
The man at the top end of the saw working in a saw pit to convert logs into planks or beams. The bottom sawyer (who is actually in the pit) gets showered with sawdust, so the tip sawyer is of higher status, a bit like 'top dog.'Town Crier
A public official paid to read out public notices and pronouncements.Trader
Someone who buys and sells things for profit, buys low and sell high, a dealer.Treasurer
An official or paid clerk who is responsible for the 'treasure' ~ a stash or hoard of accumulated wealth.Trencherman
A hearty eater; someone who eats well from his 'trencher,' a wooden plate or round board on which food is served and cut.Trickster
A deceiver or cheat who makes money by trickery and illusion.Trollop
A kind of loitoring prostitute (who 'trolls' about.)Trotter
One who trots, a messenger or runner perhaps.Troubadour
A poet-musician who sings of chivalric love.Trumpeter
A musician or military man who plays a trumpet, especially to signal orders to cavalry.Turnspit
A small child whose job it is in a gret kitchen to keep the spit turning to ensure that roasting meat does not burn.Undertaker
A man who literally 'takes you under,' i.e. buries the dead, also provides coffins, hearses and mourners.Upholsterer
A professional craftsman who covers wooden furniture with cloth or upholstery.Valet
A man servant, especially one who attends to a gentleman's comfort; helping him dress & etc.Vassal
A retainer or independent noble who holds land and renders homage to a superior noble who could be the King or Queen.Verger
One who carries a verger (rod, staff or mace) of authority, the beadle of a cathedral church, a pew-opener or church attendant.Vicar
A priest who holds authority as the delegate or substitute of another, a Bishop's assistant who performs rituals in his name. A senior clergyman.Victualler
Someone who supplies provisions, or victuals, especially for journeys and voyages.Viscount
An officer who acts as the deputy of an Earl, the title of nobility next down from an Earl.Waiting Women
The lady of the castle is attended by a large number of serving girls, known as her waiting women. They tend to her every need, and help supervise the many household duties and chores under the lady’s command.
Waggoner
The driver of a wagon or wain; a four wheeled vehicle for carrying heavy goods and produce.Warden
One who 'wards' (to watch in order to protect) the guards; an official responsible for a district or college.Warder
Someone who guards or cares for prisoners.Watch Man
A member of the 'watch' usually a night watch or guard who look after the security of a town or city.Water Boatman
A boatman who plies his boat on water for hire.Water Carrier
A carrier of fresh water, usually in a tank or large earthenware vessels on a two wheeled cart.Water Seller
A street seller of potable (drinkable) fresh water.Weaver
A craftsman who weavers strands of wool into cloth.Wench
A female servant, a maid servant or a harlot.Wheelwright
A maker of wheels using wooden staves and rims plus metal hoops or tyres.Whitesmith
Someone who works with tin by heating and then beating it on a former to create tin plates and bowls.Winkle Picker
Someone who gathers small shellfish, especially winkles, from an estuary for resale as food.Witch
A wise woman, a woman with supernatural or magical powers, a healer or herbalist.Wizard
A wise, or wizened, man; a practitioner of witchcraft or magic, one who works wonders.Wood Cutter
A farm worker who cuts wood in the forest, usually for firewood.Woodblock Maker
An engraver who carves the reverse of an image onto the surface of a wooden block which is then inked and used to make crude prints.Yardman
The worker in a yard, an enclosed workspace such as a farm yard or brewer's yard. Mainly concerned with moving goods, products and raw materials about.Yeoman
A common menial assistant, latterly a class of small scale farmers, the next grade below gentleman.
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