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Table of Contents
Castles are fortified structures dominantly built in the Middle Ages. The term βcastleβ is usually associated with members of the nobility. Castles are typically fortified residences of lords or nobles. Compared to palaces and fortresses, castles have different features such as curtain walls, portcullises, and arrow slits.
See the fact file below for more information on Castles or alternatively, you can download our 32-page Castles worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Etymology
- The term βcastleβ is derived from the Latin word castellum, which means fortified place. In other languages, it is called a chΓ’teau (French), castillo (Spanish), castelo (Portuguese), and castel (Old English).
- In England, castle building was introduced by the Normans after 1066.
Historical Background
- According to historian Charles Coulson, the earliest fortifications existed during the ancient civilizations in the Indus Valley, Fertile Crescent, China, and Egypt.
- Fortifications in Northern Europe developed during the Bronze Age. Scholars associated their emergence with peopleβs accumulation of resources, such as food.
- By the time the Romans expanded in Northern Europe, evidence of hill forts and fortified settlements was present.
- Beginning in the 7th century, the Great Wall was built incrementally over the centuries. The wall served as a border and fortification against the invading nomadic forces of the Eurasian Steppe.
- The European counterpart of the Great Wall of China, Hadrianβs Wall was the largest Roman archaeological feature in Britain. First built in 122 CE, the wall spans a total of 73 miles or 117.5 km. It served as the boundary between Roman Britannia and Caledonia.
- Another theory for the emergence of castles in Europe was the need to defend settlements from the attacks of Muslims, Magyars, and Vikings.
- From fortifying lordly homes, defense structures such as ditches, ramparts, and stone walls were added. By the Middle Ages, raising a motte became common. Wooden castles were replaced with stone to make castles immune from fire attacks.
- The use of pebbles in cement was first introduced in Europe, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula after the Muslim invasion in the 8th century. After that, castles were gradually rebuilt from timber to stones or mud-brick.
- In England, castle building was introduced by the Normans after William Iβs conquest. In addition to warfare, castles in early Norman England symbolized the new conquerorβs authority and power.
- By the 12th century, motte and bailey castles became common in England, Wales, and Ireland.
- In the 13th century, castles in Europe were more polygonal in shape. Because of their complex design, some castles did not have a keep. Moreover, gateways and entrances were more strongly defended. Most Crusader castles were built by the Military Orders, such as the Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller, and Teutonic Knights.
- Regarded as one of the best-preserved Crusader castles, the Krak des Chevaliers is an example of a concentric castle with strong curtain walls. If the attackers crossed the defensive walls, they were caught in the killing ground, the gap between the inner and outer walls.
- When gunpowder reached Europe in the 1320s, artillery in castles also changed. Gunports became a common feature in castles.
- By the 15th century, trebuchets were replaced by cannons as siege weapons. As a result, castles were built with thicker walls and round instead of rectangular towers.
- In the 16th century, castle construction began to fade. From their defensive purpose, some castles were turned into law courts and other administrative offices.
Characteristics and Features
- Most castles are built in a motte, an earthen mound with a flattened top. In the earlier period, mottes are part of the pre-existing landscape. As time passed, some motte became artificial.
- Mottes during the Middle Ages were often surmounted by another fortified structure, like a keep and a palisade. Most were connected with a flying bridge.
- Also known as a ward, a bailey is a fortified enclosure that served as the home of the nobleβs household. While the motte was the lordβs domicile, the bailey contained a garrison, stables, and workshops.
- Before the end of the crusades in the 12th century, knights began to move out of their houses in the bailey to fortified houses in the countryside.
- Despite being associated with a motte, a bailey could be an independent defensive structure. A castle could have several baileys and one enceinte, or a main defensive enclosure. Before the 10th century, castles had no keeps. Most were enceinte castles.
- Considered as the great tower, a keep was the most defended part of a castle. Before the 16th century, a keep was called a donjon or turris.
- In motte-bailey castles, the keep often stands on top of the motte. It housed lords or nobles.
- Enclosing a bailey were curtain walls. These defensive walls were high and thick to withstand sieges. A typical curtain wall was as thick as 3 m or 10 ft and as tall as 12 m or 39 ft. Walkways were built along the top of curtain walls for the defenders.
- By the 13th century, arrow slits were introduced in the walls. Stone skirts were also common to protect the walls.
- When castles were built in earth and timber, the gateway was often the first part to be rebuilt in stone. The Romans developed projecting towers on each side of the gateway to remove the blind spot.
- As castles developed, provisions at the top of gatehouses were added. This kept the gatehouse defended at all times.
- Surrounding a castle was a moat. It could also divide a part of a castle from another. Moats could be filled with water or dry.
- Moats were built as an additional defense structure during sieges. People coming to the castle often needed to cross a drawbridge.
- Surmounting curtain walls and tops of gatehouses were battlements. These typically contained crenellations or alternating crenels and merlons, hoardings, machicolations, and loopholes.
- Battlements served as an additional defensive stone wall. They defended a castle from arrows and archers.
- The crenels or gaps in castle battlement walls were typically rectangular or square in shape.
- Also known as loopholes, arrow slits were small vertical openings in defensive walls that allowed arrows to be fired.
- Guests were received by a lord in a great hall. Often the most decorated part of a castle, the great hall presented the lordβs wealth and authority. Events such as feasts, council meetings, and judicial trials were also held in the great hall. If the hall was built in a separate building, it was a hall-house.
Types of Castles
- In the Middle Ages, motte-and-bailey, stone keep, and concentric-style castles were common. Between the 10th and 12th centuries, Britain had hundreds of motte-and-bailey castles.
- Stone keeps were the most common castles built in the Middle Ages but are still standing today. Most have four towers and thick and tall walls. Such castles could be in square, round, and shell designs.
- A concentric castle offered layers of defenses. It was a combination of stone keeps and motte-and-bailey-type castles.
- In the Victorian era, castles were heavily decorated for banquets and gatherings. From being a fortified place, castles became fancy living spaces for the rich and famous.
Most Famous Medieval Castles
- Built in the 13th century, the Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland was strategically located on an island between three sea lochs. It was heavily damaged during the Jacobite rebellions and rebuilt in the 20th century.
- Also in Scotland is Edinburgh Castle that sits on top of Castle Rock. Its ownership was transferred many times between the Scottish and the English during the First and Second Wars of Scottish Independence.
- Located in Andalusia, Spain, the Alhambra was built in the 13th century by the Emirate of Granada. Built on top of the Roman ruins, the Alhambra served as a royal palace in 1333. It also served as the Royal Court of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand, and Isabella.
- Other famous Medieval castles include Eltz Castle in Germany, Bran Castle in Romania, Kilkenny Castle in Ireland, Mont-Saint-Michel in France, Castle del Monte in Italy, Vianden Castle in Luxembourg, Malbork Castle in Poland, Bodiam Castle in England, and Fenis Castle in Italy.
Historic Castles in England
- Founded in the 11th century, Dover Castle located in Kent is said to be the largest castle in England, along with Windsor Castle. It was one of the first castles built by the Normans in England. During the reign of Henry II, inner and outer baileys and the great keep were added. During the English Civil War in 1642, the castle was taken by the Parliamentarians.
- Built in Warwickshire, Kenilworth Castle was also founded shortly after the Norman conquest and was further developed until the Tudor period. It witnessed the longest sieges in Medieval English history in 1266. Moreover, it became the base for the Lancasters during the Wars of the Roses.
- Middleham Castle was built by Robert Fitzrandolph in 1190. Located in Wensleydale, it was the childhood home of Richard III.
- Other historic castles in England include Tintagel, Bolsover, Portchester, Warkworth, Dunstanburgh, Carisbrooke, and Beeston castles.
Castles Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Castles across 32 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Castles which compared to palaces and fortresses, have different features such as curtain walls, portcullises, and arrow slits.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Castles Fact File
- Blueprint I
- Purpose of a Castle
- English Castles
- Picture Worthy
- Blueprint II
- Castle Project
- Castle Types
- Castle Figures
- Interpret Me!
- Castles Today
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Link will appear as Castles Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 20, 2021
Use With Any Curriculum
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