- Translation
The Norman Conquest of England led to a boom in castle building, but the process of creating a fortress from scratch is far from simple.
Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, founded in 1385
1) Choose your building site carefully
It is extremely important to build your castle on high ground and at a strategic point.Castles were usually built on natural elevations, and were usually equipped with a link connecting them with the external environment, such as a ford, bridge or passage.
Historians have rarely been able to find evidence from contemporaries regarding the choice of location for the construction of the castle, but they still exist. On September 30, 1223, 15-year-old King Henry III arrived in Montgomery with his army. The king, having successfully carried out a military campaign against the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, was planning to build a new castle in the area to ensure security on the border of his domains. The English carpenters had been given the task of preparing the wood a month earlier, but the king's advisers had only now determined the site for the construction of the castle. 
Montgomery Castle, when it began to be built in 1223, was located on a hill
After a careful survey of the area, they chose a point on the very edge of a ledge overlooking the Severn valley. According to the chronicler Roger of Wendover, this position "looked unassailable to anyone." He also noted that the castle was created “for the security of the region from frequent attacks by the Welsh.”
Advice: Identify areas where the topography rises above traffic routes: these are natural locations for castles. Keep in mind that the design of the castle is determined by where it is built. For example, a castle will have a dry moat on a ledge of outcroppings.
2) Come up with a workable plan
You will need a master mason who can draw plans. An engineer knowledgeable in weapons will also come in handy.Experienced soldiers may have their own ideas about the design of the castle, in terms of the shape of its buildings and their location. But it is unlikely that they will have the knowledge of specialists in design and construction.
To implement the idea, a master mason was required - an experienced builder whose distinctive feature I had the ability to draw a plan. Understanding practical geometry, he used such simple tools, like a ruler, square and compass, for creating architectural plans. Master masons submitted a drawing with a building plan for approval, and during construction they supervised its construction.
When Edward II ordered the construction of the tower at Knaresborough, he personally approved the plans and demanded reports on the construction
When Edward II began building a huge residential tower at Knaresborough Castle in Yorkshire in 1307 for his favorite Piers Gaveston, he not only personally approved the plans created by the London master mason Hugh of Titchmarsh - probably made as a drawing - but also demanded regular reports on the construction . From the mid-16th century, a new group of professionals called engineers increasingly began to take on a role in drawing up plans and constructing fortifications. They had technical knowledge of the use and power of cannons, both for defense and attack on castles.
Advice: Plan loopholes to provide a wide angle of attack. Shape them according to the weapon you're using: longbow archers need larger slopes, crossbowmen need smaller ones.
3) Hire a large group of experienced workers
You will need thousands of people. And not all of them will necessarily come of their own free will.The construction of the castle required enormous efforts. We have no documentary evidence of the construction of the first castles in England from 1066, but from the scale of many castles of that period it is clear why some chronicles claim that the English were under pressure to build castles for their Norman conquerors. But from the later Middle Ages, some estimates with detailed information have reached us.
During the invasion of Wales in 1277, King Edward I began building a castle at Flint, north-east Wales. It was erected quickly, thanks to the rich resources of the crown. A month after the start of work, in August, 2,300 people were involved in the construction, including 1,270 diggers, 320 woodcutters, 330 carpenters, 200 masons, 12 blacksmiths and 10 charcoal burners. All of them were driven from the surrounding lands under an armed escort, who made sure that they did not desert from the construction site.
From time to time, foreign specialists could be involved in construction. For example, millions of bricks for the reconstruction of Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire in the 1440s were supplied by a certain Baldwin “Docheman”, or Dutchman, that is, “Dutchman” - obviously a foreigner.
Advice: Depending on the size of the workforce and the distance they have to travel, they may need to be housed on site.
4) Ensure the safety of the construction site
An unfinished castle on enemy territory is very vulnerable to attack.To build a castle on enemy territory, you need to protect the construction site from attacks. For example, you can surround the construction site with wooden fortifications or a low stone wall. Such medieval defense systems sometimes remained after the construction of the building as an additional wall - as, for example, at Beaumaris Castle, the construction of which began in 1295.
Beaumaris (English: Beaumaris, Welsh: Biwmares) is a town on the island of Anglesey, Wales.
Secure communication with outside world for the delivery of building materials and provisions. In 1277 Edward I dug a canal to the River Clwyd straight from the sea to the site of his new castle at Rydlan. The outer wall, built to protect the construction site, extended to the piers on the banks of the river.
Rydland Castle
Security problems may also arise when radically renovating an existing castle. When Henry II rebuilt Dover Castle in the 1180s, the work was carefully planned so that the fortifications would provide protection for the duration of the renovation. According to the surviving decrees, work on the inner wall of the castle began only when the tower was already sufficiently repaired so that guards could be on duty in it.
Advice: building materials for building a castle are large and voluminous. If possible, it is better to transport them by water, even if this means building a dock or canal.
5) Prepare the landscape
When building a castle, you may have to move a significant amount of earth, which is not cheap.It is often forgotten that the castle’s fortifications were built not only through architectural techniques, but also through landscape design. Huge resources were devoted to moving land. The scale of the Norman land work can be considered outstanding. For example, according to some estimates, the mound built in 1100 around Pleshy Castle in Essex required 24,000 man-days.
Some aspects of landscaping required considerable skill, especially the creation of water ditches. When Edward I rebuilt the Tower of London in the 1270s, he hired a foreign specialist, Walter of Flanders, to create a huge tidal ditch. Digging the ditches under his direction cost £4,000, a staggering sum, almost a quarter of the cost of the entire project.
An 18th-century engraving of the 1597 plan of the Tower of London shows how much earth had to be moved to build the moats and ramparts.
With the increasing role of cannons in siege art, the earth began to play an even more important role as an absorber of cannon shots. Interestingly, experience in moving large volumes of earth allowed some fortification engineers to find work as garden designers.
Advice: Reduce time and cost by excavating the stonework for your castle walls from the moats around it.
6) Lay the foundation
Carefully implement the mason's plan.Using ropes of the required length and pegs, it was possible to mark the foundation of the building on the ground in full size. After the ditches for the foundation were dug, work began on the masonry. To save money, responsibility for construction was assigned to the senior mason instead of the master mason. Masonry in the Middle Ages was usually measured in rods, one English rod = 5.03 m. At Warkworth in Northumberland, one of the complex towers stands on a grid of rods, perhaps for the purpose of calculating construction costs.
Warkworth Castle
Often the construction of medieval castles was accompanied by detailed documentation. In 1441-42 the tower of Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire was destroyed and plans were drawn up for its successor on the ground. But for some reason the Prince of Stafford was dissatisfied. The king's master mason, Robert of Westerley, was sent to Tutbury where he held a meeting with two senior masons to design a new tower on a new site. Westerly then left, and over the next eight years a small group of workers, including four junior masons, built a new tower.
Senior masons could be called upon to certify the quality of the work, as was the case at Cooling Castle in Kent when the royal mason Heinrich Yewel assessed the work carried out from 1381 to 1384. He criticized deviations from the original plan and rounded down the estimate.
Advice: Don't let the master mason fool you. Make him make a plan so that it is easy to make an estimate.
7) Strengthen your castle
Complete the construction with complex fortifications and specialized wooden structures.Until the 12th century, the fortifications of most castles consisted of earth and logs. And although later preference was given to stone buildings, wood remained a very important material in medieval wars and fortifications.
Stone castles were prepared for attacks by adding special battle galleries along the walls, as well as shutters that could be used to cover the gaps between the battlements to protect the castle defenders. All this was made of wood. Heavy weapons used to defend the castle, catapults and heavy crossbows, springalds, were also built from wood. Artillery was usually designed by a highly paid professional carpenter, sometimes with the title of engineer, from the Latin "ingeniator".
Storming of the castle, drawing from the 15th century
Such experts were not cheap, but could end up being worth their weight in gold. This, for example, happened in 1266, when the castle of Kenilworth in Warwickshire resisted Henry III for almost six months with the help of catapults and water defense.
There are records of marching castles made entirely of wood - they could be carried with you and erected as needed. One of these was built for the French invasion of England in 1386, but the garrison of Calais captured it along with the ship. It was described as consisting of a wall of logs 20 feet high and 3,000 steps long. There was a 30-foot tower every 12 paces, capable of housing up to 10 soldiers, and the castle also had unspecified defenses for archers.
Advice: Oak wood becomes stronger over the years, and it is easiest to work with when it is green. The upper branches of trees are easy to transport and shape.
8) Provide water and sewerage
Don't forget about the "conveniences". You will appreciate them in the event of a siege.The most important aspect for the castle was efficient access to water. These could be wells that supplied water to certain buildings, for example, a kitchen or stable. Without a detailed knowledge of medieval well shafts, it is difficult to do them justice. For example, at Beeston Castle in Cheshire there is a well 100 m deep, the top 60 m of which is lined with cut stone.
There is some evidence of complex aqueducts that brought water to the apartments. The tower of Dover Castle has a system of lead pipes that delivers water to the rooms. It was fed from a well using a winch, and possibly from a rainwater collection system.
Effective disposal of human waste was another challenge for lock designers. Latrines were collected in one place in the buildings so that their shafts were emptied in one place. They were located in short corridors that trapped unpleasant odors, and were often equipped with wooden seats and removable covers.
Reflection room at Chipchase Castle
Today, it is widely believed that restrooms used to be called “wardrobes.” In fact, the vocabulary for toilets was extensive and colorful. They were called gongs or gangs (from the Anglo-Saxon word for "place to go"), nooks and jakes (the French version of "john").
Advice: Ask a master mason to design comfortable and private latrines outside the bedroom, following the example of Henry II and Dover Castle.
9) Decorate as needed
The castle not only had to be well guarded - its inhabitants, having a high status, demanded a certain chic.During war, the castle must be defended - but it also serves luxury home. Noble gentlemen of the Middle Ages expected their homes to be both comfortable and richly furnished. In the Middle Ages, these citizens traveled together with servants, things and furniture from one residence to another. But home interiors often had fixed decorative features, such as stained glass windows.
Henry III's tastes in furnishings are recorded very carefully, with interesting and attractive detail. In 1235-36, for example, he ordered his hall at Winchester Castle to be decorated with images of the world map and the wheel of fortune. Since then, these decorations have not survived, but the well-known round table of King Arthur, created perhaps between 1250 and 1280, remains in the interior.
Winchester Castle with hanging on the wall round table King Arthur
The large area of the castles played an important role in luxurious life. Parks were created for hunting, a jealously guarded privilege of aristocrats; gardens were also in demand. The extant description of the construction of Kirby Muxloe Castle in Leicestershire says that its owner, Lord Hastings, began laying out gardens at the very beginning of the construction of the castle in 1480.
The Middle Ages also loved rooms with beautiful views. One of the groups of 13th-century rooms in the castles of Leeds in Kent, Corfe in Dorset and Chepstow in Monmothshire has been named
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After all, medieval architects were geniuses - they built castles, luxurious buildings that were also extremely practical. Castles, unlike modern mansions, not only demonstrated the wealth of their owners, but also served as powerful fortresses that could hold a defense for several years, and at the same time life in them did not stop.
Even the very fact that many castles, having survived wars, natural disasters and the carelessness of their owners, still stand intact, suggests that more reliable housing has not yet been invented. They are also incredibly beautiful and seem to have appeared in our world from the pages of fairy tales and legends. Their tall spiers remind of the times when the hearts of beauties were fought for, and the air was saturated with chivalry and courage.
So that you too get into the romantic mood, website collected in this material 20 of the most famous castles that still remain on Earth. You will definitely want to visit them and, perhaps, stay to live.
Reichsburg Castle, Germany
The thousand-year-old castle was originally the residence of King Conrad III of Germany and then King Louis XIV of France. The fortress was burned by the French in 1689 and would have sunk into oblivion, but a German businessman acquired its remains in 1868 and spent most of of his wealth to restore the castle.
Mont Saint Michel, France
The impregnable castle of Mont Saint-Michel, surrounded on all sides by the sea, is one of the most popular attractions in France after Paris. Built in 709, it still looks stunning.
Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria
The medieval castle of Hochosterwitz was built back in the 9th century. Its towers still vigilantly monitor the surrounding area, proudly towering above it at an altitude of 160 m. And in sunny weather they can be admired even at a distance of 30 km.
Bled Castle, Slovenia
The castle is located on a hundred-meter cliff, hanging menacingly over Lake Bled. In addition to the magnificent view from the windows of the castle, this place has a rich history - the residence of the Serbian queen of the dynasty, and later of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, was located here.
Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
Barciense Castle, Spain
Barciense Castle in the Spanish province of Toledo was built in the 15th century by a local count. For 100 years, the castle served as a powerful artillery fortress, and today these empty walls attract only photographers and tourists.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The romantic castle of the Bavarian king Ludwig II was built in mid-19th century and at that time its architecture was considered very extravagant. Be that as it may, it was its walls that inspired the creators of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland.
Methoni Castle, Greece
Since the 14th century, the Venetian castle-fortress of Methoni has been the center of battles and the last outpost of Europeans in these parts in the battles against the Turks, who dreamed of capturing the Peloponnese. Today, only ruins remain of the fortress.
Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
Chillon Castle, Switzerland
This medieval bastille resembles a warship from a bird's eye view. Rich history and character appearance the castle served as inspiration for many famous writers. In the 16th century, the castle was used as a state prison, which George Byron described in his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon.”
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
The castle, located on a rocky island in the Loch Duich fjord, is one of Scotland's most romantic castles, famous for its heather honey and legends. Many films have been filmed here, but most importantly, the castle is open to visitors and everyone can touch the stones of its history.
Bodiam Castle, England
Since its founding in the 14th century, Bodiam Castle has seen many owners, all of whom enjoyed fighting. Therefore, when Lord Curzon acquired it in 1917, only ruins remained of the castle. Fortunately, its walls were quickly restored, and now the castle stands as good as new.
Guaita Castle, San Marino
The castle has been located on the top of the inaccessible Monte Titano mountain since the 11th century and, together with two other towers, protects the oldest state in the world, San Marino.
Swallow's Nest, Crimea
Initially, there was a small wooden house on the rock of Cape Ai-Todor. And the “Swallow’s Nest” received its current appearance thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who loved to vacation in Crimea. He decided to build a romantic castle that resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine River.
Castle Stalker, Scotland
Castle Stalker, which means "Falconer", was built in 1320 and belonged to the MacDougall clan. Since that time, its walls have survived a huge number of strife and wars, which affected the condition of the castle. In 1965, the owner of the castle became Colonel D. R. Stewart from Allward, who personally, together with his wife, family members and friends, restored the structure.
Imagine that you are a feudal lord whose lands are constantly being raided by very unfriendly colleagues. In order to protect yourself and your property, you decide to build a reliable fortress that will serve you and your retinue as both a home and a defensive point in case of complications in relations with envious neighbors. But a castle is not a barn or a bathhouse; you can’t build it that easily! Last time we talked about the best way, and today we’ll go the opposite way. How to build fortress walls correctly? What factors must be taken into account during a siege? How is the Barbican different from the Donjon? Let's start with the very basics.
What is a castle
Lock is a complex of buildings that combine defensive, fortification and residential purposes. Unlike walled policies, castles are not public buildings, but belong to the feudal lord and are intended for himself, his family and retinue, as well as overlords visiting him. A castle is often confused with a fortress, but you, as a future king, should distinguish between them: if a fortress is just a piece of land with various buildings, surrounded by a wall (for example, the famous ones, one of which was recently excavated by archaeologists), then a castle is a single building , in which towers, walls, bridges, residential and other structures are combined into a single architectural ensemble.
The larger the castle, the higher the prestige of its owner. The fortress yard, the area inside the castle walls, can be densely built up: there are residential buildings for servants, barracks, and warehouses and, of course, their own churches. At the same time, the beauty of the castle itself and the height of its walls do not always indicate its defensive qualities. History knows examples when squat and very poor-looking castles became a real bone in the throat of eminent conquerors.
Choosing a site for construction
It would seem, what difference does it make where to build your fortress? Thick walls, high towers, a deep ditch - and no army is afraid. But let us remember that a castle is not just a fortification unit, but also a dwelling and a potential center of the future city. In order for your castle to meet all the necessary requirements, you should take into account a number of important features of the area:
Relief. The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a site for construction is the nature of the surrounding area. The ideal point would be a high hill or any other hill on which it is physically possible to build a complex of defensive structures. Height is extremely important for a number of reasons. Firstly, the higher your castle, the harder it will be for a potential enemy to reach it. Steep slopes are an impassable obstacle for cavalry and siege weapons, and in some cases for heavily armored infantry. Even if the attackers somehow miraculously climb the mountain slopes, throwing them off will not be difficult. The ideal option would be a high hill, which can be climbed along a single narrow serpentine road: such a road, additionally protected by the rings of fortress walls and several sections of gates, will become the most difficult test even for a huge army: for every meter passed under a hail of arrows and stones and hot oil, the enemy will pay with the lives of his soldiers.
Lichtenstein Castle stands on a cliff 817 meters high!
Resources. Another important factor is access to clean spring or well water, as well as the logistical connection of the castle with surrounding buildings, if any. Oddly enough, the most popular tactic for taking a fortress is not an assault, which in itself is a very risky undertaking, but a long siege. Your castle can turn from a reliable fortress into a real crypt: if your army is isolated for a long time from access to food and drinking water, expect starvation, mass loss of morale and, in extreme conditions, even outbreaks of cannibalism. The castle is a construction from the Middle Ages, at least a couple of centuries before the invention of food canning. If the territory allows you, create a garden or vegetable garden inside the castle walls: lean porridge from rutabaga and roast from rats feeding in the castle warehouses may at some point become the only source of calories.
The favorable location of Heidelberg Castle made it possible to found a huge city at its foot.
Water is not only a drinking resource, but can also act as an alternative transport route. The castle, located on a hill near the river, always has access to running water, which will serve as both additional protection against raids (storming fortifications by swimming is much more difficult than by land) and as a means of retreat in case of emergency measures. Remember, the castle is your prestige, but personal safety comes first!
The availability of sources will also be important. building materials at least in relative proximity to the construction site. If timber is still, at the very least, floated down the river (although these are additional risks), then dragging blocks from distant quarries for the construction of fortress walls is not only a thankless task, but also extremely costly. And you still need to throw some kind of feasts and drinking bouts - otherwise the vassals will laugh and go to a more generous lord.
Lifehacks for every day
But what to do if there are no suitable hills on your lands, but you still want a castle? Bulk hills will come to the rescue: if fortresses were often surrounded by an earthen rampart (a man-made embankment that made it difficult to approach the walls), then for the sake of the castle it would not be a sin to force farm laborers and slaves to fill up a full-fledged hill, mixing the soil with peat, gravel and limestone. To prevent all this earth from spreading away from the rains and under the weight of stone buildings, coat the hill with several layers of clay, or even better, cover it with wooden flooring. Even such primitive reinforcement will make the structure many times more reliable.
Gisors Castle in Normandy: the height of the bulk hill is 20 meters, and the diameter at the base is all 70
The earth can not only be poured, but also dug. Next time we will talk in detail about each type of defensive element of the castle, but the good old moat is a great way to protect the site even at the construction stage. If you manage to divert river or ground water into it, then congratulations: now you have not only additional protection, but also a source fresh water. If not, don’t be discouraged: the ditch itself is an extremely difficult obstacle, and it will take the enemy a lot of time to fill it up. As a last resort, you can stick sharp stakes into it to throw presumptuous warriors onto them during the assault.
Conclusion
This concludes our story. Next time we’ll look in detail at what structures the castle consists of and how best to design it based on their terrain features. And remember: a castle is a universal home for all occasions, so its construction should be approached by thinking through every little detail.
When large landowners appeared in Europe, they began to build fortified estates for themselves. The house, outbuildings, barns and stables were surrounded by high wooden walls. A wide ditch was usually dug in front of them, into which water was diverted from a nearby reservoir. This is how the first castles appeared. But they were fragile, since the wood began to rot over time. Therefore, the walls and buildings had to be constantly updated. In addition, such buildings could easily be set on fire.
The first real knightly castles made of stone, which are well known in our time, began to be built at the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th centuries. In total, 15 thousand such structures were built in Europe. They were especially fond of similar buildings in England. In these lands, a construction boom began during the time of William the Conqueror in the second half of the 11th century. The stone structures rose at a distance of 30 km from each other. This proximity was very convenient in the event of an attack. Cavalry detachments from other castles could quickly arrive at the defenders.
IN X-XI centuries defensive stone structures consisted of a high multi-tiered tower. It was called donjon and was home to the knight and his family. It also housed food, servants, and armed guards. A prison was set up in which prisoners were kept. They dug a deep well in the basement. It was filled with groundwater. Therefore, the inhabitants of the donjon were not afraid of being left without water in the event of a long siege.
From the second half of the 11th century, the dungeons began to be surrounded by stone walls. Since that time, the defensive capabilities of the castle have increased significantly. The enemies first had to overcome high, strong walls, and then also take possession of a multi-tiered tower. And from it it was very convenient to pour hot tar on the heads of the invaders, shoot arrows and throw large stones.
The most active construction of reliable stone structures began in 1150-1250. It was during these 100 years that it was built greatest number locks Kings and rich nobles built magnificent structures. Small nobles erected small but reliable stone fortresses.
At the beginning of the 13th century, towers began to be made not square, but round.. This design was more resistant against throwing machines and rams. In the 90s of the 13th century, one central tower was abandoned. Instead, they began to make many towers, and surrounded them with 2 and even 3 rows of walls. Much more attention was paid to strengthening the gates.
Previously, knightly castles were protected only by heavy doors and a rising bridge over a moat. Now a powerful metal grille has been installed behind the gate. She could go down and up, and was called gers. Its tactical advantage was that bows could be fired through it at attackers. This innovation was supplemented barbican. It was a round tower located in front of the gate.
Therefore, the enemies first had to take possession of it, then overcome the drawbridge, break the metal grating of the castle, and only after that, overcoming the fierce resistance of the defenders, penetrate into the inner territory of the castle. And on top of the walls, the builders made stone galleries with special openings to the outside. Through them, the besieged fired bows and poured hot tar on their enemies.
Medieval knight's castle and its defensive elements
In these practically impregnable stone fortresses, everything was subject to maximum security. But they cared much less about internal comfort. There were few windows, and they were all narrow. Instead of glass, mica or the intestines of cows, bulls, and buffaloes were used. Therefore, even on a bright sunny day there was twilight in the rooms. There were a great many different staircases, corridors and passages. They created drafts. And this had a negative impact on the health of residents.
The rooms had fireplaces, and the smoke escaped through chimneys. But it was very difficult to heat rooms made of stone. Therefore, people have always suffered from lack of heat. The floors were also stone. They were covered with hay and straw on top. Furniture included wooden beds, benches, wardrobes, tables and chests. Hunting trophies in the form of stuffed animals and weapons hung on the walls. And in such decoration the families of nobles lived with their servants and guards.
Attitudes towards comfort and convenience began to change at the beginning of the 14th century. Knights' castles began to be built from brick. Accordingly, they became much warmer. Builders stopped making narrow window openings. They expanded significantly, and multi-colored glass replaced mica. The walls and floors were covered with carpets. Carved wooden furniture and porcelain dishes imported from the east appeared. That is, the fortresses turned into quite tolerable places to live.
At the same time, the locks retained such important functions as storage for products. They had basements and cellars. Grain, smoked meats, dried fruits and vegetables were stored in them. There were stocks of wine in wooden barrels there was a fish. Honey was stored in clay jugs filled with wax. Lard was salted in stone containers.
The halls and corridors were illuminated by oil lamps or torches. Candles made of wax or tallow were used in residential areas. A separate tower was intended for hay. It was kept for horses, of which there were a lot at that time. Each fortress had its own bakery. Bread was baked daily for the masters and their servants.
Ordinary people settled around these majestic buildings. In case of enemy attack, people hid behind strong walls. They also sheltered their livestock and property. Therefore, gradually, first villages and then small towns began to appear around the knights’ castles. Markets and fairs were held right under the walls. The owner of the fortress did not object to this at all, since such events promised him a good profit.
TO XVI century many knights' castles were completely surrounded by residential buildings. As a result of this, they lost their military defensive significance. At this time powerful artillery began to appear. It negated the importance of strong and high walls. And gradually someday impregnable fortresses have become only places where rich people live. They were also used for prisons and warehouses. Nowadays, the former majestic buildings have become history and are of interest only to tourists and historians..
There are few things in the world more interesting than the knightly castles of the Middle Ages: these majestic fortresses breathe evidence of distant eras with grandiose battles, they have seen both the most perfect nobility and the most vile betrayal. And not only historians and military experts are trying to unravel the secrets of ancient fortifications. The Knight's Castle is of interest to everyone - the writer and the layman, the avid tourist and the simple housewife. This is, so to speak, a mass artistic image.
How the idea was born
A very turbulent time - in addition to big wars, the feudal lords constantly fought with each other. Like a neighbor, so it doesn't get boring. The aristocrats fortified their homes against invasion: at first they would only dig a ditch in front of the entrance and put up a wooden palisade. As they gained siege experience, the fortifications became more and more powerful - so that they could withstand rams and were not afraid of stone cannonballs. In antiquity, this is how the Romans surrounded their army with a palisade while on vacation. The Normans began to build stone structures, and only in the 12th century did the classic European knightly castles of the Middle Ages appear.
Transformation into a fortress
Gradually, the castle turned into a fortress; it was surrounded by a stone wall into which high towers were built. The main goal is to make the knight's castle inaccessible to attackers. At the same time, be able to monitor the entire area. The castle must have its own source of drinking water - in case a long siege awaits.
The towers were built in such a way as to hold off any number of enemies for as long as possible, even alone. For example, they are narrow and so steep that the warrior coming second cannot help the first in any way - neither with a sword nor with a spear. And you had to climb them counterclockwise so as not to cover yourself with a shield.
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Imagine a mountainside on which a knight's castle is built. Photo attached. Such structures were always built at a height, and if there was no natural suitable landscape, they made a bulk hill.
A knight's castle in the Middle Ages was not only about knights and feudal lords. Near and around the castle there were always small settlements where all kinds of artisans settled and, of course, warriors guarding the perimeter.
Those walking along the road always face their right side towards the fortress, the side that cannot be covered by a shield. There is no tall vegetation - there is no hiding. The first obstacle is the ditch. It can be around the castle or across between the castle wall and the plateau, even crescent-shaped, if the terrain allows.
There are dividing ditches even within the castle: if the enemy suddenly managed to break through, movement will be very difficult. If the soil is rocky, a ditch is not needed and digging under the wall is impossible. The earthen rampart directly in front of the ditch was often surrounded by a palisade.
The bridge to the outer wall was made in such a way that the defense of a knight's castle in the Middle Ages could last for years. It's liftable. Either the whole thing or its extreme segment. In the raised position - vertically - this is additional protection for the gate. If part of the bridge was raised, the other was automatically lowered into the ditch, where a “wolf pit” was set up - a surprise for the most hasty attackers. The knight's castle in the Middle Ages was not hospitable to everyone.
Gate and gate tower
The knightly castles of the Middle Ages were most vulnerable precisely in the area of the gate. Latecomers could enter the castle through a side gate via a lifting ladder if the bridge was already raised. The gates themselves were most often not built into the wall, but were located in gate towers. Usually double doors, made of several layers of boards, were sheathed with iron to protect against arson.
Locks, bolts, cross beams sliding across the opposite wall - all this helped hold out the siege for quite a long time. In addition, behind the gate there was usually a strong iron or wooden grille. This is how knightly castles of the Middle Ages were equipped!
The gate tower was designed so that the guards guarding it could find out from the guests the purpose of the visit and, if necessary, treat them with an arrow from a vertical loophole. For a real siege, there were also holes built in for boiling resin.
Defense of a knight's castle in the Middle Ages
The most important defensive element. It should be tall, thick and better if it is on the base at an angle. The foundation under it is as deep as possible - in case of undermining.
Sometimes there is a double wall. Next to the first high one, the inner one is small, but impregnable without devices (ladders and poles that remained outside). The space between the walls - the so-called zwinger - is shot through.
The outer wall at the top is equipped for the defenders of the fortress, sometimes even with a canopy from the weather. The teeth on it existed not only for beauty - it was convenient to hide behind them at full height in order to reload, for example, a crossbow.
The loopholes in the wall were adapted for both archers and crossbowmen: narrow and long for a bow, widened for a crossbow. Ball loopholes - a fixed but rotating ball with a slot for firing. Balconies were built mainly for decorative purposes, but if the wall was narrow, they were used by retreating and allowing others to pass.
Medieval knight towers were almost always built with convex towers at the corners. They protruded outward to fire along the walls in both directions. The inner side was open so that the enemy, who penetrated the walls, would not gain a foothold inside the tower.
What's inside?
In addition to the Zwingers, other surprises could await uninvited guests outside the gates. For example, a small closed courtyard with loopholes in the walls. Sometimes castles were built from several autonomous sections with strong internal walls.
Inside the castle there was always a courtyard with household facilities - a well, a bakery, a bathhouse, a kitchen and a donjon - the central tower. Much depended on the location of the well: not only the health, but also the life of the besieged. It happened that (remember that the castle, if not just on a hill, then on the rocks) cost more than all the other buildings of the castle. The Thuringian castle Kuffhäuser, for example, has a well more than one hundred and forty meters deep. In the rock!
Central tower
The donjon is the tallest building of the castle. From there the surrounding area was monitored. And it is the central tower that is the last refuge of the besieged. The most reliable! The walls are very thick. The entrance is extremely narrow and located at a high altitude. The stairs leading to the door could be pulled in or destroyed. Then the knight's castle can hold a siege for quite a long time.
At the base of the donjon there was a basement, a kitchen, and a storage room. Next came floors with stone or wooden floors. The stairs were made of wood; if they had stone ceilings, they could be burned to stop the enemy on the way.
The main hall was located on the entire floor. Heated by a fireplace. Above were usually the rooms of the castle owner's family. There were small stoves decorated with tiles.
At the very top of the tower, most often open, there is a platform for a catapult and, most importantly, a banner! Medieval knightly castles were distinguished not only by chivalry. There were cases when a knight and his family did not use the donjon for housing, having built a stone palace (palace) not far from it. Then the donjon served as a warehouse, even a prison.
And, of course, every knight's castle necessarily had a temple. The obligatory inhabitant of the castle is the chaplain. Often he is both a clerk and a teacher, in addition to his main job. In rich castles, churches were two-story, so that the gentlemen would not pray next to the mob. The owner's ancestral tomb was also built within the temple.