How castles were defended in the Middle Ages. Hever Castle, England. Alcazar de Segovia, Spain

The castles of the feudal lords still attract admiring glances. It is hard to believe that life flowed in these sometimes fabulous buildings: people organized life, raised children, and took care of their subjects. Many castles of the feudal lords of the Middle Ages are protected by the states in which they are located, because their arrangement and architecture are unique. However, all these structures have a number common features, because their functions were the same and proceeded from the lifestyle and state essence of the feudal lord.

Feudal lords: who are they

Before talking about how the castle of the feudal lord looked like, let's consider what kind of class it was in medieval society. European states were then monarchies, but the king, standing at the pinnacle of power, decided little. Power was concentrated in the hands of the so-called lords - they were the feudal lords. Moreover, within this system there also existed a hierarchy, the so-called Knights stood on its lower tier. The feudal lords who were one step higher were called vassals, and the vassal-seignor relationship was preserved exclusively for the nearby levels of the ladder.

Each seigneur had his own territory, on which the feudal lord's castle was located, a description of which we will definitely give below. Subordinates (vassals) and peasants also lived here. Thus, it was a kind of state within a state. That is why a situation called feudal fragmentation developed, which greatly weakened the country.

Relations between the feudal lords were not always good-neighborly, there were frequent cases of enmity between them, attempts to conquer territories. The possession of the feudal lord had to be well fortified and protected from attack. We will consider its functions in the next part.

The main functions of the castle

The very definition of "castle" implies architectural structure which combines economic and defensive tasks.

Based on this, the feudal lord's castle performed the following functions:

1. Military. The construction was not only supposed to protect the inhabitants (the owner himself and his family), but also servants, colleagues, vassals. In addition, it was here that the headquarters of military operations was stationed.

2. Administrative. The castles of the feudal lords were a kind of centers from where the administration of the lands was carried out.

3. Political. State issues were also resolved in the lord's possessions, from here instructions were given to local managers.

4. Cultural. The atmosphere reigning in the castle allowed the subjects to get an idea of ​​the latest fashion trends - be it clothing, art trends or music. In this matter, vassals have always been guided by their lord.

5. Household. The castle was a center for peasants and artisans. This applied to both administrative issues and trade.

It would be wrong to compare the castle of the feudal lord, the description of which will be given in this article, and the fortress. There are fundamental differences between them. Fortresses were designed to protect not only the owner of the territory, but also all residents without exception, while the castle was a fortification exclusively for the feudal lord living in it, his family and the closest vassals.

A fortress is a fortification of a piece of land, and a castle is a defensive structure with developed infrastructure where each element performs a specific function.

Prototypes of feudal castles

The first buildings of this kind appeared in Assyria, then this tradition was adopted by Ancient Rome. Well, after the feudal lords of Europe - mainly Great Britain, France and Spain - they begin building their castles. Often one could see such buildings in Palestine, because then, in the XII century, the Crusades were in full swing, respectively, the conquered lands had to be held and protected through the construction of special structures.

The trend of castle building disappears along with feudal fragmentation, when European states become centralized. Indeed, now it was possible not to be afraid of attacks by a neighbor who encroached on someone else's property.

Special, protective, functionality is gradually giving way to an aesthetic component.

External Description

Before dismantling the structural elements, let's imagine what the feudal lord's castle looked like in general. The first thing that caught your eye was a moat encircling the entire territory on which the monumental structure stood. Next was a wall with small turrets to repel the enemy.

Only one entrance led to the castle - a drawbridge, then - an iron grate. Above all other buildings towered the main tower, or donjon. The necessary infrastructure was also located in the courtyard outside the gate: workshops, a forge and a mill.

It should be said that the place for the building was chosen carefully, it had to be a hill, a hill or a mountain. Well, if it was possible to choose a territory to which, at least on one side, a natural reservoir adjoined - a river or a lake. Many note how similar the nests of birds of prey and castles are (photo for an example below) - both of them were famous for their impregnability.

Hill for the castle

Let's look at the structural elements of the structure in more detail. The hill for the castle was a hill of regular shape. As a rule, the surface was square. The height of the hill averaged from five to ten meters, there were buildings even higher than this mark.

Particular attention was paid to the rock from which the bridgehead for the castle was made. As a rule, clay was used, peat, limestone rocks were also used. They took material from the ditch, which they dug around the hill for greater security.

Flooring on the slopes of the hill, made of brushwood or boards, was also popular. There was also a staircase here.

moat

In order to slow down the advance of a potential enemy for some time, as well as to make it difficult to transport siege weapons, a deep ditch with water was needed, encircling the hill on which the castles were located. The photo shows how this system functioned.

It was imperative to fill the moat with water - this guaranteed that the enemy would not dig into the castle grounds. Water was most often supplied from a natural reservoir located nearby. The ditch had to be regularly cleaned of debris, otherwise it would become shallow and could not fully fulfill its protective functions.

There were also cases when logs or stakes were mounted in the bottom, which interfered with the crossing. For the owner of the castle, his family, subjects and guests, a swing bridge was provided, which led directly to the gate.

Gates

In addition to its direct function, the gate performed a number of others. The castles of the feudal lords had a very protected entrance, which during the siege was not so easy to capture.

The gates were equipped with a special heavy grate, which looked like a wooden frame with thick iron bars. If necessary, she lowered herself to delay the enemy.

In addition to the guards standing at the entrance, on both sides of the gate on the fortress wall there were two towers for better view(the entrance area was the so-called “blind zone”. Not only sentries were stationed here, but also archers were on duty.

Perhaps the gate was the most vulnerable part of the gate - an urgent need for its protection arose in the dark, because the entrance to the castle was closed at night. Thus, it was possible to track everyone who visits the territory at "off-hours" hours.

Courtyard

After passing the control of the guards at the entrance, the visitor entered the courtyard, where he could observe real life in the feudal castle. Here were all the main ones and work was in full swing: warriors trained, blacksmiths forged weapons, artisans made the necessary household items, servants performed their duties. There was also a well with drinking water.

The area of ​​​​the courtyard was not large, which made it possible to follow everything that was happening on the territory of the seigneur's property.

donjon

The element that always catches the eye when looking at the castle is the donjon. This is the highest tower, the heart of any feudal dwelling. It was located in the most inaccessible place, and the thickness of its walls was such that it was very difficult to destroy this structure. This tower provided the opportunity to observe the surroundings and served as a last refuge. When the enemies broke through all the lines of defense, the population of the castle took refuge in the donjon and withstood a long siege. At the same time, the donjon was not only a defensive structure: here, at the highest level, the feudal lord and his family lived. Below are servants and warriors. Often there was a well inside this building.

The lowest floor is a huge hall where magnificent feasts were held. At the oak table, which was bursting with all sorts of dishes, the feudal lord's retinue and himself were seated.

interesting internal architecture: between the walls were hidden spiral staircases, on which it was possible to move between levels.

Moreover, each of the floors was independent of the previous and subsequent ones. This provided additional security.

The donjon kept stocks of weapons, food and drink in case of a siege. Products were kept on the highest floor so that the feudal family was provided for and did not starve.

And now let's consider another question: how comfortable were the castles of the feudal lords? Unfortunately, this quality has suffered. Analyzing the story about the castle of the feudal lord, heard from the lips of an eyewitness (a traveler who visited one of these places of interest), we can conclude that it was very cold there. No matter how hard the servants tried to heat the room, nothing worked, the halls were too huge. Also noted was the lack of a cozy hearth and the monotony of "chopped" rooms, as it were.

Wall

Almost the most important part of the castle, which he owned medieval feudal lord, there was a fortress wall. It surrounded the hill on which the main building stood. Special requirements were put forward for the walls: an impressive height (so that the stairs for the siege were not enough) and strength, because not only human resources, but also special devices were often used for the assault. The average parameters of such structures are: 12 m in height and 3 m in thickness. Impressive, isn't it?

The wall was crowned in each of its corners by observation towers, in which sentries and archers were on duty. In the area of ​​the castle bridge there were also special places on the wall so that the besieged could effectively repel the attack of the attackers.

In addition, along the entire perimeter of the wall, along its very top, there was a gallery for defense soldiers.

Life in a castle

How was life in a medieval castle? The second person after the feudal lord was the manager, who kept records of the peasants and artisans subject to the owner, who worked on the territories of the estate. This person took into account how much production was produced and brought, what amounts the vassals paid for the use of the land. Often the manager worked in tandem with the clerk. Sometimes a separate room was provided for them on the territory of the castle.

The staff included direct servants helping the owner and hostess, there was also a cook with assistant cooks, a stoker - the person responsible for heating the room, a blacksmith and a saddler. The number of servants was directly proportional to the size of the castle and the status of the feudal lord.

The large room was hard enough to heat. Stone walls cooled down at night, in addition, they strongly absorbed moisture. Therefore, the rooms were always damp and cold. Of course, the stokers tried their best to keep warm, but this was not always possible. Particularly wealthy feudal lords could afford to decorate the walls with wood or carpets, tapestries. To keep as much heat as possible, the windows were made small.

For heating, limestone stoves were used, which were located in the kitchen, from where heat spread to nearby rooms. With the invention of pipes, it became possible to heat other rooms of the castle. Tiled stoves created special comfort for the feudal lords. A special material (baked clay) made it possible to heat large areas and retain heat better.

What did they eat in the castle?

The diet of the inhabitants of the castle is interesting. Here, social inequality was best seen. Most of the menu was meat dishes. And it was selected beef and pork.

An equally important place on the table of the feudal lord was occupied by agricultural products: bread, wine, beer, porridge. The trend was as follows: the more noble the feudal lord, the lighter the bread on his table. It's no secret that it depends on the quality of the flour. The percentage of grain products was the maximum, and meat, fish, fruits, berries and vegetables were just a pleasant addition.

A special feature of cooking in the Middle Ages was the abundant use of spices. And here the nobility could afford something more than the peasantry. For example, African or Far Eastern spices, which cost (for a small capacity) were not inferior to cattle.

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 saw both the most perfect nobility and the meanest betrayal. And not only historians and military experts are trying to unravel the secrets of ancient fortifications. The knight's castle is interesting for everyone - a writer and a layman, an avid tourist and a 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. In a neighborly way, so as not to be bored. Aristocrats fortified their dwellings from invasion: at first they would only dig a moat in front of the entrance and put up a wooden palisade. With the acquisition of siege experience, the fortifications became more and more powerful - so that the ram could withstand and not be afraid of stone cores. In antiquity, this is how the Romans surrounded the army with a palisade on vacation. Stone structures began to be built by the Normans, and only in the 12th century did classical 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 knight's castle inaccessible to attackers. At the same time to be able to monitor the entire district. The castle must have its own source of drinking water - suddenly a long siege is ahead.

The towers were built in such a way as to hold any number of enemies for as long as possible, even alone. For example, they are narrow and so steep that a warrior walking second cannot help the first in any way - neither with a sword nor with a spear. And it was necessary to climb them counterclockwise, so as not to hide behind the shield.

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Imagine a mountain slope on which a knight's castle has been erected. Photo attached. Such structures were always built at a height, and if there was no suitable natural landscape, they made an artificial hill.

The knight's castle in the Middle Ages is not only 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 who walk along the road always turn their right side to the fortress, the one that cannot be covered by a shield. There is no high vegetation - no hiding. The first obstacle is the moat. 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 suddenly the enemy managed to break through, movement will be very difficult. If the soil rocks are rocky - a moat is not needed, digging under the wall is impossible. The earthen rampart right in front of the moat was often with a palisade.

The bridge to the outer wall is made in such a way that the defense of the knight's castle in the Middle Ages could last for years. He's uplifting. Either the whole or its extreme segment. In the raised position - vertically - this is an additional protection for the gate. If a part of the bridge was raised, the other part automatically fell into the moat, where a "wolf pit" was arranged - a surprise for the most hasty attackers. The knight's castle in the Middle Ages was not hospitable to everyone.

Gate and gate tower

Knight's castles of the Middle Ages were most vulnerable just in the gate area. Latecomers could enter the castle through the side gate on the lifting ladder, if the bridge was already raised. The gates themselves were most often not built into the wall, but were arranged in gate towers. Usually double-leaf, from several layers of boards, sheathed with iron to protect against arson.

Locks, bolts, transverse beams moving across the opposite wall - all this helped to hold out in the siege for quite a long time. Behind the gate, in addition, a powerful iron or wooden grate usually fell. This is how the knightly castles of the Middle Ages were equipped!

The gate tower was arranged 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, holes for boiling resin were also built in.

Defense of a knight's castle in the Middle Ages

The most important defensive element. It should be high, thick and better if on a plinth at an angle. The foundation under it is as deep as possible - in case of a digging.

Sometimes there is a double wall. Next to the first high - the inner one is small, but impregnable without devices (ladders and poles that were left 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 to their 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, with an extension - for a crossbow. Ball loopholes - a fixed but rotating ball with a slot for shooting. Balconies were built mainly decorative, but if the wall is narrow, then they were used, retreating and letting the others pass.

Medieval knight towers were almost always built with domed towers at the corners. They came out to shoot 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 zwingers, other surprises could be expected outside the gates of uninvited guests. For example, a small enclosed courtyard with loopholes in the walls. Sometimes castles were built from several autonomous sections with strong internal walls.

There was definitely a courtyard with a household inside the castle - a well, a bakery, a bathhouse, a kitchen and a donjon - 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) was more expensive than all the other buildings of the castle. The Thuringian castle Kuffhäuser, for example, has a well over one hundred and forty meters deep. In rock!

central tower

Donjon - the most tall building castle. From there, the surroundings were monitored. And it is the central tower - the last refuge of the besieged. The most reliable! The walls are very thick. The entrance is extremely narrow and located on high altitude. The stairs leading to the door could be pulled in or destroyed. Then the knight's castle can keep the siege for quite a long time.

At the base of the donjon there was a cellar, a kitchen, a pantry. Next came the floors with stone or wooden ceilings. The stairs were wooden, with stone ceilings they could be burned to stop the enemy on the way.

The main hall was located on the whole floor. Heated by a fireplace. Above were usually the rooms of the family of the owner of the castle. 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 the 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, temples were two-story, so that the gentlemen would not pray next to the mob. The family tomb of the owner was also equipped within the temple.

Imagine that you are a feudal lord whose lands are constantly 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 a home and a defensive point in case of complications in relations with envious neighbors. But the castle is not a barn or a bathhouse, you can’t build it that easily! Last time we talked about how best, and today we will go the opposite way. How to build fortification walls? What factors should be taken into account during the siege? What is the difference between a barbican and a donjon? Let's start with the very basics.

What is a castle

Lock is a complex of buildings that combine defensive and fortification and residential tasks. Unlike walled policies, castles are not a public building, but belong to the feudal lord and are intended for himself, his family and retinue, as well as overlords visiting him. Often a castle is confused with a fortress, but you, as a future king, should distinguish between them: if a fortress is just a piece of land with a variety of buildings, surrounded by a wall (for example, the famous ones, one of which was recently dug up by archaeologists), then the 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. Fortress yard, zone inside castle walls, can be densely built up: there are residential houses for servants, and 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 speak of its defensive qualities. History knows examples when squat and quite poor-looking castles became a real bone in the throat of eminent conquerors.

Choosing a building site

It would seem, what difference does it make where to build your fortress? Thick walls, high towers, a deep moat - and no army is afraid. But remember that the 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 elevation on which it is physically possible to build a complex 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 get to it. Steep slopes are an impenetrable obstacle for cavalry and siege weapons, and in some cases for heavily armored infantry. Even if the attackers somehow miraculously climb the mountain steeps, it will not be difficult to throw them off. The ideal option would be a high hill, which can be climbed along a single narrow serpentine: such a road, additionally protected by the rings of the fortress walls and several sections of the gate, will become even for a huge army the hardest test: for every meter traveled under a hail of arrows, stones and hot oil, the enemy will pay with the lives of his fighters.

Liechtenstein 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 the 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 discouragement and, in extreme conditions, even outbreaks of cannibalism. The castle is a construction of the Middle Ages, before the invention of canning food for at least a couple of centuries. If the territory allows you, set up a garden or vegetable garden inside the castle walls: lean swede porridge and roast from rats feeding in the castle warehouses may at some point become the only source of calories.

The favorable location of the 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, standing on a hill near the river, always has access to running water, which will serve as an additional protection against raids (it is much more difficult to storm the fortifications by swimming than by land), and as a retreat in case of emergency. Remember, the castle is your prestige, but personal safety is above all!

The availability of sources will also be important. building materials at least in relative proximity to the construction site. If the forest is still more or less rafted 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 feasts and drinking parties for some shisha - otherwise the vassals will laugh and go to a more generous lord.

Life hacks for every day

But what 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 makes 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 pour a full-fledged hill, mixing soil with peat, gravel and limestone. In order to prevent all this land from spreading away from the rains and under the weight of stone buildings, smear the hill with several layers of clay, or even better, cover it with a wooden deck. Even such primitive reinforcement will make the structure much 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 - great way protect the site at the development 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, do not worry: the ditch itself is an extremely difficult obstacle, and it will take the enemy a lot of time to fill it up. In extreme cases, you can poke sharp stakes into it in order to drop presumptuous warriors on them during the assault.

Conclusion

This concludes our story. Next time, we will analyze in detail what structures the castle consists of and how best to design it, based on their terrain features. And remember: the castle is a universal dwelling for all occasions, so its construction should be approached, thinking through every little thing.

• Translation

The Norman Conquest of England led to a boom in castle building, but the process of building a fortress from scratch is far from easy.

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, founded 1385

1) Carefully choose a place to build

Castles were usually built on natural elevations, and were usually equipped with a link to the external environment, such as a ford, bridge or passage.

Historians have rarely been able to find evidence of contemporaries regarding the choice of a site 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, who had successfully led a military campaign against the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, was going to build a new castle in this area to ensure security on the border of his possessions. The English carpenters had been given the task of preparing the timber a month earlier, but the king's advisers had only just 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 the ledge above the valley of the River Severn. 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 the frequent attacks of the Welsh."

Advice: identify places where the topography rises above transport routes: This natural places for locks. Keep in mind that the design of the castle is determined by the place of construction. For example, a castle on a ledge of exposed rocks will have a dry moat.

2) Develop a workable plan

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 the level of specialists in design and construction.

To implement the idea, a master bricklayer was required - an experienced builder, whose hallmark was the ability to draw a plan. With a grasp of practical geometry, he used simple tools such as straightedge, square, and compasses to create architectural plans. Master masons submitted a drawing with a building plan for approval, and during construction supervised its construction.

When Edward II ordered the construction of a tower at Knarsborough, he personally approved the plans and demanded construction reports.

When Edward II in 1307 began building a huge residential tower at Naresborough Castle in Yorkshire for his favorite Piers Gaveston, he not only personally approved the plans drawn up by the London master mason Hugh of Titchmarsh - probably made in the form of a drawing - but also demanded regular reports on the construction . From the middle of the 16th century, a new group of professionals called engineers increasingly began to take on a role in planning and building fortifications. They had technical knowledge of the use and power of cannons, both for defense and for attacking castles.

Advice: Plan slits to provide a wide angle of attack. Shape them according to the weapon you are using: longbow archers need large slopes, crossbowmen need smaller ones.

3) Hire a large group of experienced workers

It took a lot of effort to build the castle. We do not have documentary evidence of the construction of the first castles in England since 1066, but from the scale of many castles of that period it becomes clear why some chronicles claim that the English were under the yoke of building castles for their Norman conquerors. But from the later time of the Middle Ages, some estimates with detailed information have come down to us.

During the invasion of Wales in 1277, King Edward I began building a castle in Flint, northeast Wales. It was erected quickly, thanks to the rich resources of the crown. A month after the start of work, in August, 2300 people were involved in the construction, including 1270 diggers, 320 lumberjacks, 330 carpenters, 200 masons, 12 blacksmiths and 10 charcoal burners. All of them were driven from the surrounding lands under an armed escort who watched so that they did not desert from the construction.

From time to time, foreign specialists could be involved in the construction. For example, millions of bricks for the rebuilding 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 had to travel, it may be necessary to provide accommodation for them at the construction site.

4) Ensure the safety of the construction site

To build a castle in enemy territory, you need to protect the construction site from attacks. For example, you can enclose 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, in the castle of Beaumaris, the construction of which was begun in 1295.

Beaumaris (Wall. Biwmares) is a city on the island of Anglesey, Wales.

Also important is secure communication with the outside world for the delivery of building materials and provisions. In 1277, Edward I dug a canal to the river Kluid directly from the sea and to the location of his new castle in Rydlane. The outer wall, built to protect the construction site, extended to the piers on the banks of the river.

Rudlan Castle

Security problems can also arise with a radical restructuring of an existing castle. When Henry II rebuilt Dover Castle in the 1180s, all work was carefully planned so that the fortifications provided protection for the duration of the renovation. According to 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 the construction of the castle are large and voluminous. If possible, it's best to transport them by water, even if that means building a dock or canal.

5) Prepare the landscape

It is often forgotten that the fortifications of the castle were built not only through architectural techniques, but also through landscape design. Enormous resources were allocated for the movement of land. The scale of land works of the Normans can be recognized as outstanding. For example, according to some estimates, the embankment erected in 1100 around Pleshy Castle in Essex required 24,000 man-days.

Some aspects of landscaping required serious skills, 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 moat. Digging the ditch under his direction cost £4,000, a staggering amount, almost a quarter of the cost of the entire project.

An 18th-century engraving of a 1597 plan for the Tower of London shows how much land had to be moved to build moats and ramparts.

With the rise of cannons in the art of siege, the earth began to play an even more important role as an absorber of cannon shots. Interestingly, experience in moving large amounts of land has led some of the fortification engineers to find work as garden designers.

Advice: Reduce time and cost by digging out masonry for castle walls from the moats around it.

6) Lay the Foundation

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 foundation ditches were dug, work began on the masonry. To save money, the 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 lattice of rods, possibly 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 demolished and a plan for its successor was drawn up on the ground. But the Prince of Stafford, for some reason, was not pleased. The king's master stonemason, Robert of Westerley, was sent to Tutbury, where he held a meeting with two senior masons to develop new tower in a new place. Westerley then left, and over the next eight years a small group of workers, including four junior masons, built the new tower.

Senior masons could be called in to confirm the quality of work, as was the case at Cooling Castle in Kent, when the royal stonemason Heinrich Javel assessed work carried out from 1381 to 1384. He criticized the deviations from the original plan and rounded the estimate down.

Advice: Don't let the master mason fool you. Make him make a plan so that it is easy to make an estimate for it.

7) Fortify your castle

Until the 12th century, the fortifications of most castles consisted of earth and logs. And although subsequently the advantage was given stone buildings, wood remained a very important material in medieval wars and fortifications.

Stone castles prepared for attacks by adding special battle galleries along the walls, as well as shutters that could close the gaps between battlements to protect the defenders of the castle. All this was made of wood. Heavy weapons used to defend the castle, catapults and heavy crossbows, springalds, were also built of 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 of the 15th century

Such experts were not cheap, but could eventually be worth their weight in gold. This, for example, happened in 1266, when Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire resisted Henry III for almost six months with catapults and water defenses.

There are records of camp castles made entirely of wood - they could be transported with you and erected as needed. One such was built for the French invasion of England in 1386, but the Calais garrison captured it along with the ship. It was described as consisting of a wall of logs 20 feet high and 3,000 paces long. There was a 30-foot tower every 12 paces, capable of housing up to 10 soldiers, and the castle also had an unspecified defense for archers.

Advice: Oak wood becomes stronger over the years, and it is easiest to work with it when it is green. The top branches of trees are easy to transport and shape.

8) Provide water and sanitation

The most important aspect for the castle was efficient access to water. These could be wells that supply water to certain buildings, such as a kitchen or a stable. Without a detailed acquaintance with the medieval well shafts, it is difficult to do justice to them. For example, in Beeston Castle in Cheshire there is a well 100 m deep, the upper 60 m of which are lined with hewn stone.

There is some evidence of elaborate plumbing that brought water to the apartments. The tower of Dover Castle has a system of lead pipes that delivers water throughout the rooms. She was fed from a well with a winch, and possibly from a rainwater harvesting system.

Efficient disposal of human waste was another challenge for lock designers. The latrines were assembled in one place in the buildings so that their shafts were emptied in one place. They were located in short corridors that trap unpleasant odors, and were often equipped with wooden seats and removable covers.

Thought Room at Chipchase Castle

Today it is widely believed that latrines used to be called "cloakrooms". In fact, the lexicon for toilets was extensive and colorful. They were called gongs or gangs (from the Anglo-Saxon word for "a place to go"), nooks and crannies and jakes (French version of "john").

Advice: Ask a master mason to plan comfortable and private latrines outside the bedroom, following the example of Henry II and Dover Castle.

9) Decorate as needed

During the war, the castle must be defended - but it also serves luxury home. The noble gentlemen of the Middle Ages expected their dwelling to be both comfortable and richly furnished. In the Middle Ages, these citizens traveled with servants, things and furniture from one residence to another. But home interiors often had fixed decorative features, such as stained-glass windows.

The tastes of Henry III in the setting are recorded very carefully, with interesting and attractive details. In 1235-36, for example, he ordered that his hall at Winchester Castle be decorated with images of a map of the world and a wheel of fortune. Since then, these decorations have not survived, but the well-known round table of King Arthur, possibly created between 1250 and 1280, remains in the interior.

Winchester Castle with King Arthur's Round Table hanging on the wall

The large area of ​​the castles played an important role in the 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 the castle of Kirby Maxloe in Leicestershire says that its owner, Lord Hastings, began laying out gardens at the very beginning of the construction of the castle in 1480.

In the Middle Ages, rooms with beautiful views were also loved. One of the thirteenth-century groups of rooms at the castles of Leeds in Kent, Corfe in Dorset and Chepstow in Monmouthshire has been named

The birth of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic Western Europe type of locks - donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.

With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences. The birth of castle building in Europe dates back to the end of the 10th century and reaches its peak by the 14th century. The castle was originally defined as a fortified dwelling of the feudal lord, containing a complex of all necessary services for defense. Over the decades, the structure of such fortified castles has changed. Around the beginning of the 10th century, in the era of feudalism, the most characteristic type of castles for Western Europe was formed - a donjon (from the Latin domineon - the dwelling of the owner of the estate). The donjon included phased lines of defense. Inside the lower courtyard of the castle there were many religious and household buildings. Higher on the bulk hill there was a residential tower of the feudal lord. The seigneurial and economic parts were connected by a wooden drawbridge, which could be easily removed and, if necessary, turned the feudal lord's dwelling into an independent defensive site. All these buildings of the castle were surrounded by a powerful oak palisade with a drawbridge system. Such a feudal castle was very impregnable and could defend itself for a long time when attacked by enemies. The oldest surviving castle is located in the Loire Valley, France. This keep was built in 950.

With the end of the Middle Ages at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the ideas of the Renaissance gradually cover the whole of Europe. From now on, European monarchs understand that power can be determined not only by the strength of weapons, but also by the development of culture, lifestyle, wealth and grace. Castles are starting to change. Powerful and harsh castles of feudal lords cease to serve only defensive purposes. They rebuild, descend from the hills into the valleys and begin to harmonize with the natural landscape. Now the greatest attention is paid to the palace part of the castle. The interior is filled with new furniture and art. Ascetic feudal dwellings are transformed into luxurious royal residences.

Warwick Castle is a fine living example medieval castle. It is located in the city of the same name on the high bank of the Avon River, which skirts the castle from the east. The castle ranks first in the list of cultural and historical places and monuments of Great Britain. The first Norman castle was built here on the site of the former Anglo-Saxon fortification (burgh), by order of William the Conqueror. In 1088, the castle and the title of 1st Earl of Warwick were granted to Henry de Beaumont. For several centuries, the castle became the main residence of several generations of the Earls of Warwick.

The magnificent Windsor Castle located in the county of Berkshire is the oldest and most active castle in the world. For over 900 years, it has been towering over the surrounding landscape, personifying a symbol of royal power. Today, the castle is one of the three official residences of the Queen, along with Buckingham Palace and Holyrood House.

Dover Castle is one of the most powerful historical fortresses in Western Europe. For many centuries it stands guard over the shortest sea ​​route from England to the Continent. Its location on the banks of the Pas de Calais, known in England as the Straits of Dover, gave Dover Castle a huge strategic importance, as a result of which the castle played an important role in the history of England.

The current buildings of Amboise were built from 1492 on the orders of Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, who was born here on June 30, 1470. Inspired by his expedition to Italy, from where he brought back many treasures, his entire reign was marked by Italian influence. Having arrived together with architects and sculptors, the king decorated the castle. With the help of a gardener, Pacello arranged a decorative garden in a special way.

The Royal Castle of Blois is perhaps one of the most famous castles of the Loire, whose biography is oversaturated with significant events that left a bright mark on the history of not only France, but also Europe. Home to seven kings and ten queens of France, today's Château Blois is a place that provides a visual representation of the life of the royal court during the Renaissance.

Burghausen Castle is a classic fairytale castle. This castle, the longest in Europe (1043 meters) and one of the largest in Germany, rises above the town of Burghausen in Upper Bavaria on the border with Austria. The elongated structure of the castle is subdivided into six separate courtyards. Each of them had its own important functions, and each of them was an independent fortified bastion with its own gate, moat and drawbridge. The towers were the living quarters for all the inhabitants of the castle, from foresters, barn keepers, court employees and ending with the chief treasurer.

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Germany, and one of the most popular tourist places Europe. It is located in the state of Bavaria near the city of Füssen. This monumental piece of architecture was erected by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the "Fairy King".

Today's Reichenstein Castle is a typical example of a castle resurrected from oblivion at the dawn of the Rhenish Romantic craze. The rich collection of the castle museum invariably attracts many tourists traveling along the Rhine. Many interesting and attractive expositions await the guests of the castle.

Trausnitz Castle, built in Landshut, got its present name in the 16th century. Initially, it had the same name as the city, since it was built to protect the city and surrounding lands.

The castle of Aragonese rises above the islet, perched on top of a cliff. A stone bridge 15th century, 220 meters long, links it to the east side of the island of Ischia. The rocky base of the islet on which the castle is located is a bubble of magma, which formed here during the long-term activity of volcanic phenomena.

For over six hundred years, the Vienna Hofburg was the main home of the royal court of the rulers of Austria. Over the centuries it has played many important roles in the course of European history. Since the XIII century, the Habsburgs ruled their possessions from here. First as large feudal landowners, then from 1452 as Holy Roman Emperors, and finally from 1806 to 1918 as Emperors of the Austrian Empire.

The Schönbrunn Imperial Palace can rightfully be considered one of the significant cultural and historical monuments, not only in Austria, but throughout Europe. Since the 1960s it has been an attractive tourist center for visitors to Vienna.

To the north of the mouth of the Vistula, on the right bank of the river Nogat, the Teutonic Order crusaders began the construction of the castle of Marienburg in 1274, and in 1276 they granted city rights to the settlement that formed at the castle. In connection with the transfer in 1309 main residence Grand Masters of the Order from Venice to Marienburg (Malbork), the castle was greatly expanded.

This most famous of Scottish castles long and varied history of construction. Its oldest part, St. Margaret's Chapel, dates back to the 12th century. The Great Hall was founded by James IV around 1510. The Crescent Battery by Regent Morton in the late 16th century, and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War.