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Stronghold against conquerors from invading lands
- The use of medieval castles was primarily three-fold: as a stronghold against conquerors from invading lands, to keep the nobility and treasures safe, and provide a safe haven for the surrounding villages to flee to. Most castles were initially built as fortifications, located on trade routes and along borders between countries.
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Sieges were common during the Middle Ages and because of this many cities fortified their walls and castles to defend against the use of siege engines by their attackers 1. Many cities utilized catapults that would hurl stones and other missiles at enemy siege engines and soldiers.
Jul 21, 2023 · Medieval castles are iconic architectural structures that emerged during the Middle Ages, spanning from the 5th to the 15th century in Europe. These castles served multiple purposes, including defense, residence, and as symbols of power for the ruling classes.
In medieval times, castles were not only built in strategic locations for defense but also for expansion and territorial conquest. Castles were positioned in remote frontiers to facilitate the growth of territories and exert political control .
- The Evolution of The Castle
- Features of A Medieval Castle
- Moat
- Barbican
- Curtain Walls & Towers
- Fortified Gatehouse
- Keep
- Bailey
A good location for a castle was on a natural rise, near a cliff, on the bend of a river, or where older fortifications such as Roman wallscould be usefully reused. Castles needed their own water and food supplies and usually a permanent defensive force, additional factors to be considered when choosing a location. Castles were an expensive underta...
The typical features of a medieval castle were: 1. Moat- a perimeter ditch with or without water 2. Barbican- a fortification to protect a gate 3. Curtain Walls & Towers- the perimeter defensive wall 4. Fortified Gatehouse- the main castle entrance 5. Keep(aka Donjon or Great Tower) - the largest tower and best stronghold of the castle 6. Bailey or...
An artificial ditch or moat was dug to surround the entire castle complex and could be filled with water permanently or temporarily during attack in some cases. As creating a moat was a huge undertaking, the presence of natural rises and depressions were important factors in choosing where to build the castle in the first place. The earth or stone ...
The barbican was a defensive fortification built to protect potential weak spots like a gate. Typically consisting of a short stretch of fortified wall, perhaps forming an echelon form, it allowed the defenders to ward off a direct attack on the wall or gate proper. The barbican could be protected by covering fire from the towers behind it and was ...
Walls surrounding the castle proper presented a formidable challenge to attackers. If the foundations were not of rock then they had to be specially prepared to bear the tremendous weight. The most common method was to dig a trench wider than the width of the wall and fill it with rammed stone rubble. Alternatively, oak piles could be driven into t...
The main gate of a castle was potentially one of its weakest points, and for this reason, gates gained more and more protective features over time. Twin towers were built from the end of the 12th century CE with the gate tucked between them and recessed. The gate itself was protected by a heavy wooden door and a portcullis (or even two) - a metalan...
The tower keep or donjon was a multi-storied tower building with especially thick walls and a well-defended entrance, which made it the safest place in the castle when under attack. They began to appear in most castles from the early 12th century CE. A keep could be square or rectangular and often had its own small towers or turrets on top; alterna...
In the inner bailey or courtyard, besides the keep, there could be several other buildings such as granaries, workshops (for blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers and potters), a buttery (for wine and beerstorage), stables, secondary accommodation, and perhaps a space for hunting dogs and birds if in a bigger castle. These structures were built using st...
- Mark Cartwright
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars usually consider a castle to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble.
Aug 30, 2024 · Fortifications built in France in the 10th century often included a high mound encircled by a ditch and surmounted by the leader’s particular stronghold, as in the castles at Blois and Saumur. Later, one or more baileys or wards (grounds between encircling walls) were enclosed at the foot of the mound.
Sep 24, 2015 · This Early Medieval dynasty of German kings ruled during the 10th and early 11th century and built a lot of fortresses! In a six-year period between 929-936, Henry I “The Fowler”, built three dozen fortresses! But why? Fortresses were built as part of a well planned defensive system.
