Medieval castles of feudal lords. Presentation on the topic: "1. The feudal lord's castle. Starting from the 8th century, many castles were built in Europe to protect against attacks by the Normans and Hungarians. Gradually, each gentleman tried.". Download for free and without registration. Lock

Life and customs of the feudal lords

The main occupation of the feudal lords, especially in this early period, was war and its accompanying robbery. Therefore, the entire life and customs of the feudal lords were mainly subordinated to the needs of the war.

In the IX-XI centuries. Europe was covered with feudal castles. The castle - the usual dwelling of the feudal lord - was at the same time a fortress, his refuge from external enemies, and from neighbors-feudal lords, and from rebellious peasants. The castle allowed the feudal lord to dominate the entire surrounding area and keep its entire population in subjection. Especially many castles were built in connection with the raids of the Normans, Arabs and Hungarians. From a distance, the castle resembled a nest of a bird of prey: it was usually built on a wooded hill or a high bank of a river, from where one could have a good view of the surroundings and where it was easier to defend oneself from the enemy. Until the end of the tenth century. castles were built mainly of wood and were most often a two-story wooden tower, on the upper floor of which the feudal lord lived, and on the lower floor - the retinue and servants. Here or in the annexes there were warehouses for weapons, provisions, premises for livestock, etc. The castle was surrounded by a rampart and a moat filled with water. A drawbridge was thrown across the moat. Approximately from the beginning of the XI century. feudal lords began to build stone castles, usually surrounded by two or even three high stone walls with loopholes and watchtowers at the corners. In the center, the main multi-storey tower, the “donjon”, still towered. The dungeons of such towers often served as a prison, where the enemies of the feudal lord languished in chains - his captives, recalcitrant vassals and guilty peasants. With the then state of military equipment, such a stone castle was difficult to take by storm. Usually he surrendered only as a result of a months-long siege.

The castle was surrounded by a deep moat. Around it were erected several rows of thick stone walls topped with round or square towers with narrow loopholes. It was possible to get into the castle through a drawbridge, which was lowered on heavy cast-iron chains. The gate tower had massive oak gates, bound with iron. Behind the perverse tower there was a lifting door in the form of a cast-iron lattice. During the assault, they tried to lower it behind the back of the enemy who had broken through. Behind the first wall there was a utility yard with a mill, a forge, an armory and other workshops. Behind the second row of walls were the main tower of the castle, stables and armories. During the siege, the main castle tower served as the main stronghold of the castle. It contained both the living rooms of the owners, and rooms for guests and servants. Its lower floor was a hall, the entire length of which stretched an oak table. In the days of violent feasts, the carcasses of roasted bulls, rams and deer towered on it. A spiral staircase, hidden in the thickness of the walls, led to the upper living quarters. One floor was isolated from the other. If the enemies broke into the tower, boiling tar and molten lead were poured onto their heads through holes in the ceiling from one floor to another. Then the hatch was tightly covered with a heavy stone slab. Abundant supplies of food and drink were stored at the very top of the castle tower. Thus, the feudal castle was a real fortress that protected the feudal lord from "external" enemies - other feudal lords and from his subjects - serfs, if they rebelled. However, let's look at the castle in terms of amenities. Here is how the French historian and critic Lucien Febvre describes the castle of the Middle Ages on the basis of historical documents: See these luxurious residences simply through the eyes of a tenant viewing a property. All rooms are located in an enfilade, they are huge, monotonous, cut into squares; blank wall in front, blank wall behind, windows in the wall on the right, windows in the wall on the left. And if someone wants to go from one end of the floor to the other, there is no other way but to pass one after another all the halls that communicate with each other ... There is no doubt that in winter there had to shiver from the cold ... one room, where there was a stove, into another similar one ... Away from the fire, people were freezing. And if the fire was blazing, people under the canopy of the fireplace were exhausted from the heat.”

Feudal castles of the XII-XV centuries

The system of relationships in the feudal elite was based on vassal dependence. To celebrate his outstanding combatant for his faithful service, the king gives him a castle or even an entire dominion (feudal estate) along with the population that lived there and makes him his vassal. This not only tied the feudal lord to the king, but also left a certain imprint on his way of life. In most cases, having received a castle or dominion from the king, the feudal lord lived in close proximity to his subordinates. Often he cultivated the land and led his subsistence economy along with the servants. Therefore, the feudal lord built his dwelling-estate in the center of his possessions among the fields. In addition, the right to ownership often had to be proved with weapons in hand from other feudal lords. After all, the era of early feudalism is filled with endless civil strife. From a castle built in close proximity to subordinate peasants, the feudal lord could control all approaches to his property, here he defended himself from enemies, and he himself prepared for attacks on the possessions of neighbors or merchant caravans. So the feudal castle becomes a symbol of the power of the feudal lord over the surrounding lands. Feudal estates built residential and household buildings, as well as dugouts and wooden servants' houses. Until the 12th century, a temple remained a single stone structure on such estates. Most often, such estates had the most elementary fortifications. The strengthening of feudal relations brought a certain revolution in the class consciousness of the feudal elite, which develops its own ideology, peculiar only to it. In the countries of Western Europe in the last quarter of the 12th century, the upper class acquired hereditary rights to own land, reinforced from the outside by the appearance of coats of arms and titles. The consciousness of its dominant position appears in the feudal elite. So the highest nobility, and first of all its honorary representatives, become participants in all the outstanding events of the era - both military and political. A significant turn in the development of feudal culture, including construction, was the Crusades, acquaintance with the Arab world of refined culture, with Byzantium. Frequent relations with foreigners required local feudal nobles to equalize with them not only in the wealth of clothing and weapons, but also in such an important area as the culture of the home. A specific ritual of communication, mutual visits of feudal lords, their participation in tournaments or hunting is developed. In those conditions, the wooden building in which the feudal lord lived with his families and where he received guests no longer corresponded to its purpose. Therefore, it is quite natural that the feudal lords begin to rebuild their dwellings. Stone is replacing wood as a building material. If in the 10th-11th centuries only the king had the right to build castles in the Central European kingdoms and they were built as administrative centers, then with the development of feudal relations, the former members of the king’s retinue are gradually separating, securing for them and their heirs the lands donated for service, and together with this, it becomes necessary to build a feudal castle in the immediate vicinity of subordinate peasants. The feudal lord builds his stone castle most often in a hard-to-reach, strategically important place - on a steep rock, a lonely hill that rises above the flat terrain. So the feudal castle becomes a symbol of the power of the feudal lord over the surrounding lands. Kings continue to build castles, both administrative centers and to protect free (independent of local feudal lords) royal cities, which arise in the 12-13th century on all significant trade routes and places of extraction of various ores and salt. As a rule, the castle was built on a mountain, and the city on the plain at some distance from it. It should be noted that these distances, which have been preserved over the centuries, were caused not only and not so much by the topographic features of the area, rather than by strategic considerations: the need to create space for shelling attackers on the castle and at the same time protect the castle from fires, which were quite frequent. in the cities of that time with their wooden buildings. On the other hand, the inhabitants of the city also wanted to keep their distance from the formidable neighbor, because the relationship between them was far from peaceful. At the end of the 12th century, new structures began to appear on the estates - stone towers - the forerunners of a new type of castles. The model for the first stone castles was provided by the more progressive feudalism of Western Europe. It was also there that the Romanesque architectural style was developed and established, the name of which comes from the Latin name of the city of Rome. In this there is already a hint that the Romanesque architectural style is based on the Roman architectural tradition. But at the same time, he absorbed the elements and traditions of the architecture of Byzantium, and that, in turn, the architecture of the Middle East. So, the experience of the builders of almost the entire Mediterranean was reflected in the Romanesque style. It was brought to Central Europe, including our region, in the 12th century by building artels from Western Europe. In the Romanesque style, peculiar castles are also built. First of all, thick fortress walls are being built that surround the courtyard of the castle. In the middle of the courtyard, on an elevated level, a stone donjon tower is being built, which resembles the watchtowers of ancient Roman fortifications. The tower performed housing and defense functions at the same time. Sometimes there was also a chapel in the donjon. From the beginning of the 13th century, the construction of feudal castles, dominated by a stone tower, gained significant momentum. The impetus for this was the desire of the nobles to further strengthen their power, to oppose themselves to the king, to be compared with him not only in wealth, but also in their way of life. The feudal lord builds his stone castle, most often in a hard-to-reach, strategically important place - on a steep rock, a lonely hill that rises above the flat terrain. These castles performed not only defensive and housing functions, but also representative ones. Castle-towers, as a rule, had several floors, the thickness of their walls reached 3-4 meters, only at the level of the second and third floors the walls were cut through with narrow windows, rarely placed along the entire wall. The feudal lord's dwelling was located on the second floor, which could be reached through one narrow passage through a wooden ladder or steps, which, in case of danger, could be taken away or burned. On the ground floor there were chambers with food supplies in case of a siege, and an arsenal. On the third floor there were rooms for servants and warriors, and watchmen were put up on the upper platform. The donjon tower, of course, also had a dungeon where the prison was located. The defense system of the Romanesque castle was very complex for its time. Its first line consisted of earth ramparts and a deep moat that surrounded the entire territory of the castle. The second is the fortress walls, which in the 12th century were already reinforced with small defensive towers. The entrance to the castle, as a rule, led through an underground bridge. Although the castle tower-dungeon is an integral part of the castle, it is a completely autonomous structure that can be successfully defended on its own. In the 12th century, a house appeared next to the donjon, in which the owner of the castle and his seed lived in peacetime. A family chapel, a kitchen, a stable and other utility rooms are also being built here. The most striking representative of the Romanesque type of castles in our region is Serednyansky, as well as the oldest part of the Mukachevo castle, the so-called "Upper Castle", the main buildings of which were built during the time of Prince Fyodor Koryatovich at the end of the 14th century - at the beginning of the 15th century. The belated construction of the donjon in Mukachevo Castle is explained by its significant remoteness from the political and cultural centers of Europe, which led to delays in the perception of new ideas. Of course, the Romanesque castle with a donjon tower already had a significant defense capability. However, only passive defense could be carried out in these castles. Therefore, when a new construction technique appeared at the end of the 13th century, which made it possible to build a much more complex and more flexible system of castle defense, castle-towers gradually lose their significance. They are replaced by a Gothic castle with a more advanced fortification system. There is no clear chronological boundary between the Romanesque and Gothic styles. Already in the middle of the 12th century, during the heyday of the Romanesque style, elements of the new Gothic style appeared in northern France. Its characteristic features are the verticality of the composition, the lancet arch, a rather complex frame system of supports and the ribbed vault. From France, Gothic already at the end of the 12th century spread to neighboring countries, to England, Germany, the countries of the Danube basin. Over time, Gothic architecture becomes a universal pan-European style, within which a completely original system of forms was created, a new understanding of spatial and volumetric composition was achieved. The name "Gothic" does not reflect the correct essence of this style. During the Renaissance, it was a derisive name coined by Italian architects for all construction north of the Alps, allegedly associated with the barbarian German tribes of the Goths. In its homeland, in France, this style is called "lancet". The architecture of the feudal castle undergoes significant changes in the Gothic era. The development of productive forces allows the feudal lord to appropriate a much larger part of the products of the labor of serfs and at their expense to retain a significant number of artisans, including builders. In Central Europe, including our region, a significant impetus to the construction of strong feudal strongholds in strategically important places was the Tatar-Mongol invasion in the middle of the 13th century, and the constant danger of their re-arrival on the Tisso-Danube lowland. Therefore, the Hungarian kings, unlike the times of the pre-Mongol invasion, directly bind the feudal lords to build castles, using the latest achievements of pan-European fortification. In the last quarter of the 12th century, a new element appears in French castle architecture, which significantly enhances the defenses of castles - a rounded tower with a rib. On the projection from above, the tower has the shape of a triangle, the angle, the top of which is 75-90 degrees. The legs of this triangle - two straight sides - create a sharp edge, which is designed to minimize the effectiveness of a direct hit of enemy shells on the walls of the tower. This not only increased the defense capability of the castle, but also achieved a strong artistic and psychological impression: a dynamic element was created from the neutral, without any direction of the body of the rounded tower, and a monolithic fortification was conceived, which met the enemy with a strong stone blade directed to the opposite side from the entrance castle gate. However, despite all the positive qualities of a new element of the fortification system of French castle architecture, in the first half of the 13th century, a round tower with a rib was not widely used in Europe. In the middle of the 13th century, a rounded tower with a rib appears in France for the second time, moreover, in two versions. In the first version, the rib is reduced and protrudes in the form of a small offshoot, artistically emphasizing the neutrality of the cylindrical shape of the tower, which has remained unchanged. The former function of the rib is thereby annulled and only the artistic meaning remains, dynamizing the roundness of the tower's shape. The second option was created by towers, which were trihedral in plan. Their edge is created due to the convexity of the curved side. Castles grow into a great intricacies of walls, towers, bridges and galleries, the variety of their plans is limitless. Most often, architects and builders of the Gothic era, having certain details and guided by the principles of fortification, built the castle in accordance with the relief of the rock or hill on which the castle was built. At the same time, the plan of the castle acquired irregular shapes. Such colorful contours of the plan gave the castle a creative naturalness. The castle walls and towers seemed to be a continuation of the rock, as if nature itself had given rise to the architectural forms of the castle. And since nature does not like repetition, the architecture of castles, closely associated with it, becomes individual. At the turn of the 13th-14th centuries, there was a certain alignment of the capabilities of siege equipment and fortification systems of castles. This alignment made it possible to pay more attention to the decoration of castles, especially their residential part - the palace. As a result, the masters of the Gothic era created a new type of palace, the core of which was a courtyard surrounded by a one or two-story arcade (Uzhgorod, Mukachevo castles). But the internal arrangement of the halls and rooms of the palace is still ascetic, defense considerations still come to the fore, the main attention is still concentrated on the main defensive tower. Royal castles played a leading role in establishing the Gothic style in castle architecture. The king's castle, along with strategic functions, served as a state residence, which housed the royal court and numerous guards of the king. In this residence, the king also received foreign ambassadors. In an effort to present himself to foreigners from the best side and rise above his subordinates and his surroundings, the king jealously followed all the changes that took place in the castle architecture. Thus, the existing types of castles were constantly enriched with new elements, that is, the artistic rethinking of castle architecture is constantly taking place. In the 14th century, based on the ancient types of castles, two new variants appear, which indicate two different ways of searching for new artistic forms in castle architecture. The first option - emphasized the longitudinal axis of the castle - is an artistic rethinking of the old type of castles. The emphasized longitudinal axis not only visually increased the distance between the tower and the castle palace. The tower itself is constantly moving forward towards a potential enemy, and with it the curve of the castle wall is stretched. With the excessive elongation of the longitudinal axis of the structure, one tower for the defense of the entire castle area is already not enough. Thus, a new element appears in the castle fortification system - a prismatic castle tower. The appearance of new variants of castle types indicates that a simple repetition of old architectural forms no longer meets the requirements of the time. First of all, there is an artistic rethinking of the structure. Variations of the old types of castles, which are celebrated in the 14th century, did not bring strengthening of the fortification system. Two variants of castles that appeared in the 14th century on the basis of castle types from the 12th-13th century show two directions in which the search for new artistic forms in castle architecture took place. The first variant - the emphasized longitudinal axis - is only a certain improvement of the old type of locks, while the second variant shows the search for its own solution, albeit on the old basis. The attention that was previously paid to the castle tower is now completely transferred to the fortress wall. In this case, we are talking not only about the mechanical transfer of emphasis from one element of the castle complex to another. The meaning of this transformation is much deeper. He shows that the inner space and the wall that encloses it already act as autonomous elements. Variations of the old types of castles, noted in the 14th century, proved to be a significant stimulus for the further development of castle architecture. They proved that a large tower, the basis of the fortification system of a Gothic castle and a symbol of medieval nobility, is not so unshakable. A change in the view of the functional basis of the tower caused a change in its cubic shape, which logically emerges from the exclusively defensive function of the tower. The new era puts forward new tasks for the tower, expanding the scope of its effectiveness. Leaving the towers for their defensive functions, at the same time it was necessary to deprive them of their asceticism, it was necessary to create living quarters in their inner part. Experience suggested that for a structure that would simultaneously perform both defense and housing functions, a tetrahedral shape is much more advantageous than a rounded one. By this, the old tradition in the construction of stone castles was violated. The tetrahedral tower, together with other structures, created a single ensemble. The introduction of a residential tower into the castle complex made it possible to modify the existing castle type. Therefore, the Gothic style, especially in its modified form, was preserved in castle architecture until the end of the Middle Ages. However, already during this period, several towers appeared in the ensemble of the royal castle and the castle of the highest nobility, some of which simultaneously performed both defensive and housing functions. Such towers meant not only the enrichment of the existing type of castles with new elements, but also turned out to be a transitional stage on the way to further artistic change in castle architecture. The most clearly expressed features of the Gothic architecture among the Transcarpathian castles in the Nevitsky castle: the Gothic towers of the Mukachevo castle were destroyed in the 16th - early 17th centuries. The housing Gothic palaces in Uzhgorod and Mukachevo castles are well preserved, although they were rebuilt later.

Castles of England

rochester castle

Rochester Castle in Kent. The construction of the castle in Rochester began in the XI century. This is one of the first stone castles in England. It was owned by the church and was the seat of the archbishops. The donjon of the castle has a square shape in plan with a side size of 21 m. The height is 34 m. The towers at its corners rise another 4 meters. The thickness of the walls of the donjon at the base is 4 meters, at the top - 3.3 m. The entrance to the donjon is located in a special extension on the second floor. Access to the first floor is via a spiral staircase from the second floor. The main hall occupied two floors - the third and fourth. On the fifth floor were the private quarters of the archbishop and a chapel. In the 18th century, the castle was nearly demolished.

Leeds Castle

The castle is considered as being the most beautiful and most former castle in England. In the 9th century, it was the site of a small Saxon castle. It was offered to Edward I in 1278. Henry VIII also lived there for many years, as did six kings of England.

Bodiam Castle

In 1385, King Richard II gave permission to Lord Edward Dalingrige to build a castle near the river Rother in order to defend the region against a possible French invasion. Mr. Dalingrigge, who campaigned in France for Edward III during the War of the 100 Years, was no doubt inspired by French castles in order to build Bodiam Castle.

Castles of Spain

Avila Castle

Founded in the 11th century to defend the Spanish territories from the Maures, Avila is the best preserved medieval town. It has a rectangular shape, the perimeter of which is approximately two and a half kilometers and twelve meters high. The walls are reinforced with large massive towers. the mounds have nine doors.

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 of 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 lock

The very definition of "castle" implies an architectural structure that 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 protective structure with a 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 castle-building trend disappears with feudal fragmentation as 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 a better view (the entrance area was the so-called “blind zone”. Not only guards 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

Having passed the control of the guards at the entrance, the visitor entered the courtyard, where one could observe the real life in the castle of the feudal lord. 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.

The internal architecture is interesting: spiral staircases were hidden between the walls, along 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 was owned by a medieval feudal lord, was the 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. There were also special places on the wall near the castle bridge 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 consisted of 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 nice 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.

1. Castle of the feudal lord. Since the 8th century, many castles have been built in Europe to protect against the attacks of the Normans and Hungarians. Gradually, each gentleman tried to build a castle for himself: depending on the possibilities, huge or modest. The castle is the dwelling of the feudal lord and his fortress. Castle fortress.

1. Castle of the feudal lord. At first castles were built of wood, later of stone. Powerful walls with crenellated towers served as a reliable defense. The castle was often erected on a hill or a high rock, surrounded by a wide moat with water. Sometimes it was built on an island in the middle of a river or lake. A drawbridge was thrown over a moat or channel, and at night and during an enemy attack, it was raised on chains. From the tower above the gate, she constantly surveyed the surroundings of the guard and, noticing the enemy in the distance, blew the alarm. Then the soldiers hurried to take their places on the walls and in the towers. gate tower

1. Castle of the feudal lord. To get into the castle, it was necessary to overcome many obstacles. The enemies had to fill up the ditch, overcome the hill in the open space, approach the walls, climb them along the attached assault ladders, or smash the oak, iron-bound gates with a battering ram. On the heads of the enemies, the defenders of the castle threw stones and logs, poured boiling water and hot pitch, threw spears, showered them with arrows. Often the attackers had to storm a second, even higher wall. Castle Defense

1. Castle of the feudal lord. Above all the buildings towered the main tower of the donjon. In it, the feudal lord with his warriors and servants could withstand a long siege if other fortifications were already captured. Inside the tower, halls were located one above the other. In the basement, they made a well and stored food supplies. Nearby, prisoners languished in a damp and dark dungeon. From the basement, they usually dug a secret underground passage that led to a river or forest. donjon

1. Castle of the feudal lord. The only iron door leading to the tower was located high above the ground. If you managed to break it, then you had to fight for each floor. On ladders it was necessary to make their way through hatches, which were closed with heavy stone slabs. In case the tower was captured, a spiral staircase was made in the thickness of the wall; along it, the owner of the castle, together with his family and soldiers, could go down to the saving underground passage. Castle in Spain

2. Equipment of the knight. Warfare became the occupation almost exclusively of the feudal lords, and this was the case for many centuries. The feudal lord often fought all his life. The knight was armed with a great sword and a long spear; often he also used a battle ax and a club, a heavy club with a thickened metal end. With a large shield, a knight could cover himself from head to toe. Knight

2. Equipment of the knight. The body of the knight was protected by a chain mail shirt, woven from iron rings (sometimes in 23 layers) and reaching to the knees. Later, chain mail was replaced by armor made of steel plates. The knight put on a helmet on his head, and in a moment of danger he lowered a metal plate with slits for the eyes onto his face. The knights fought on strong, hardy horses, which were also protected by armor. The knight was accompanied by a squire and several armed warriors, mounted and on foot, a whole “combat unit.” squire Helmet Visor Chain mail Plate Shield Gaiter Knee pad Plate shoes Plate gloves

2. Equipment of the knight. The warhorse, knight's equipment and travelers' equipment were very expensive. Therefore, a landowner could carry out knightly service, who was provided with everything necessary by dependent peasants. The feudal lords prepared for military service from childhood. They constantly practiced fencing, horseback riding, wrestling, swimming and javelin throwing, learned the techniques and tactics of combat. Knight in full armor

3. Entertainment knights. Gentlemen rarely took care of household affairs themselves. To do this, they kept managers on each estate. The feudal lords devoted most of their time to wars and military exercises, hunting and feasts. The knight's favorite pastimes were hunting and tournaments, which were connected with military affairs. Hunting not only served as entertainment, but also helped replenish food supplies. During the hunt, one could show courage and dexterity: fighting an angry wild boar or a wounded bear was just as dangerous as with an enemy warrior, and chasing deer trained in riding. Hunting

3. Entertainment knights. TournamentsTournaments military competitions of knights in strength and dexterity were arranged by kings and noble feudal lords. A lot of spectators gathered there, sometimes from several countries. Noble gentlemen, judges and ladies sat in the stands, and the common people crowded behind a wooden barrier around the arena.

3. Entertainment knights. Special heralds, the heralds, announced the names and mottos of the knights entering the battle. Tournament participants, dressed in combat armor, dispersed to opposite ends of the arena. At the sign of the judge, they raced on horseback towards each other. With a blunt tournament spear, the knight tried to knock the enemy out of the saddle. Sometimes the competition ended in serious injuries or even death of the participants. The winner was rewarded with a horse and armor of the defeated opponent. Occasionally, a battle was played out between two knightly detachments, which lined up in a chain. Royal Heralds Squad Battle

3. Entertainment knights. Usually the tournament ended with a feast. And vice versa, solemn feasts on the occasion of victories, coronations, weddings and other important events for the nobility often included not only feasts and dances, but also tournament competitions. During such celebrations, knightings often took place, honors and awards were distributed. In the evenings, the inhabitants of the castle gathered in the common hall, where a huge fireplace burned, played dice and chess, drank wine and beer, and resolved their family affairs. The monotonous life was broken by the arrivals of guests and holidays. At the feasts in the castles, wine flowed like a river, tables broke under the weight of snacks. Animal carcasses were roasted whole in the hearths, on huge skewers. The inhabitants of the castles and their guests were amused by jesters and dwarfs, invited artists and, of course, poets from among the retinue. Musicians performance

4. “Shame and shame are not terrible for me.” Noble knights considered themselves “noble” people, were proud of the antiquity of their families and the number of famous ancestors. The knight had his own coat of arms - a distinctive sign of the family and a motto - a short saying that usually explained the meaning of the coat of arms. Full coat of arms and examples of coats of arms

4. “Shame and shame are not terrible for me.” The knights did not hesitate to rob the vanquished, their own peasants, and even those passing on the high roads. At the same time, the knight was supposed to despise prudence, frugality, but show generosity. The incomes received from the peasants and military booty were most often spent on gifts, feasts and treats for friends, hunting, expensive clothes, and on the maintenance of servants and soldiers.

4. “Shame and shame are not terrible for me.” Loyalty to the king and lord was considered another important quality of a knight. This was his main duty. And treason imposed a stigma on the whole family of a traitor. “Whoever cheats on his lord, he must rightfully suffer punishment,” it is said in one of the poems. In legends about knights, courage, prowess, contempt for death, nobility were sung.

4. “Shame and shame are not terrible for me.” This developed code (laws) of knightly honor also included other special rules: a knight must seek feats, fight enemies of the Christian faith, protect the honor of ladies, as well as the weak and offended, especially widows and orphans, be fair and gallant. But these rules of knightly honor were applied mainly in relations between feudal lords. All those who were considered "ignoble", the knights despised, behaved with them arrogantly and cruelly. However, in relations between "noble" people, the rules of knightly honor were not always respected. In everyday life, in the family, with vassals and equals, many feudal lords were rude, cruel and unrestrained, greedy and stingy, they could dishonor a woman. Worship of a beautiful lady

Raising a knight Usually, from the age of seven, the boy left his father's castle and served as a page at the court of a noble feudal lord. He performed various assignments for the lord and members of his family. At the age of 15, the young man became a knight's squire. In the castle, he looked after horses and hunting dogs, met guests, carried the armor of a knight on a campaign, and during the battle he was behind him in order to supply spare weapons at any time. Only after a long service or great feats were those who distinguished themselves knighted. During the holiday, the warrior knelt before the most noble of the guests, and he struck a blow with his palm on the back of the head or with a flat sword blade on the back or on the shoulder, the only blow in life that a knight could receive without repaying him. Then the knight put on spurs and girded himself with a sword. The ceremony ended with a display of the knight's dexterity: having jumped on his horse, he tried to pierce the target with a spear at full speed. But often, knighting also took place on the battlefield, for military prowess and loyalty. squire squire back

The instigator's trumpet sends an arrogant challenge, And the knight's trumpet sings in response, The glade echoes them and the firmament. The riders lowered the visor, And the shafts are attached to the shells; Here the horses raced, and, finally, the fighter came close to the fighter. Dryden, "Palamon and Arsita" By the voice one recognized the other. They met in the middle of the field. The one and the other puts spears into action, The enemy is struck in a patterned shield, He is pierced under a thick pommel They rip open the floors on chain mail, But both remain unharmed. The girths of their saddles burst. From their horses, the fighters fell sideways to the ground, But they immediately jumped to their feet deftly, Pulled out their damask swords, To continue the martial arts again, Only death will put an end to it. from the Song of Roland (XII century). Back About jousting

Caesar of Heisterbach. Dialogue about miracles. 13th century A story about one of the German knights. “The name of this knight was Ludolf. It was a real tyrant. One day he was riding along the road in a new purple dress, and he met his peasant, who was riding a wagon. The dirt splashed from under the wheels stained his clothes, and then this prideful knight, beside himself with anger, drew his sword and cut off the peasant's hand. Per. from Latin // Devyataikina N. I. History of the Middle Ages: sources, tasks, games. P. 93 Return

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 the 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 sliding 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 certainly a courtyard with a household inside the castle - 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) 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

The donjon is the tallest building in the 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 at a great height. 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.

At the mention of the castles of the Middle Ages, picturesque walls entwined with ivy, beautiful ladies in high towers and noble knights in shining armor come to mind. But it was not these lofty images that motivated the feudal lords to build impregnable walls with loopholes, but harsh reality.

Who owned castles in the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, Europe experienced many changes. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the processes of migration of peoples began, new kingdoms and states appeared. All this was accompanied by constant conflicts and strife.

feudal nobleman, who had a knighthood, to protect himself from enemies, and even the closest neighbors could become them, was forced to strengthen his home as much as possible and build a castle.

Wikipedia offers to distinguish between a castle and a fortress. Fortress - walled area land with houses and other buildings. The castle is smaller. This is a single structure, which includes walls, towers, bridges and other structures.

The castle was the private fortress of a noble lord and his family. In addition to the direct function of protection, it was an indicator of power and wealth. But not all knights could afford it. The owner could be a whole knightly order - a community of warriors.

How and from what materials were medieval castles built?

Construction of a real castle was a laborious and costly process. All work was carried out by hand and sometimes lasted for decades.

Before construction began, a suitable site had to be selected. The most impregnable castles were erected on the cliffs of steep cliffs. However, more often they chose a hill with an open view and a river nearby. The water artery was necessary to fill the ditches, and was also used as a way to transport goods.

A deep ditch was dug on the ground and a mound was formed. Then, with the help of scaffolding, walls were erected.

The challenge was building a well.. I had to dig deep down or gouge the rock.

The choice of material for construction depended on many factors. Of decisive importance were:

• terrain;
• human resources;
• budget.

If there was a quarry nearby, the structure was built of stone, otherwise wood, sand, limestone or bricks were used. For the outside, we used facing materials, for example, processed stone. The elements of the walls were connected with lime mortar.

Although glass was known in those days, it was not used in castles. Narrow windows were covered with mica, leather or parchment. Inside the living quarters of the owners of the castle, the walls were often covered with frescoes and hung with tapestries. In the rest of the rooms, they limited themselves to a layer of lime or left untouched masonry.

What elements did castles consist of?

Precise lock configuration depended on local traditions, landscape, wealth of the owner. Over time, new engineering solutions appeared. Previously built structures were often completed and rebuilt. Among all Medieval fortifications, several traditional elements can be distinguished.

Moat, bridge and gate

The castle was surrounded by a moat. If there was a river nearby, it was flooded. Wolf pits were arranged at the bottom - depressions with stakes or sharp rods.

It was possible to get inside through the moat only with the help of a bridge. Huge logs served as supports. Part of the bridge rose and closed the passage inside. The mechanism of the drawbridge was designed in such a way that 2 guards could handle it. In some castles, the bridge had a swing mechanism.

The gate was double-leaf and closed transverse beam that slides into the wall. Although they were knocked together from several layers of durable boards and upholstered with iron, the gate remained the most vulnerable part of the structure. They were protected by a gate tower with a guard room. The entrance to the castle turned into a long narrow passage with holes in the ceiling and walls. If the enemy was inside, a stream of boiling water or resin poured on him.

In addition to wooden gates, there was often a lattice, which was closed with a winch and ropes. In an emergency, the ropes were cut off, the barrier fell sharply.

An additional element of the protection of the gate was the barbican - the walls coming from the gate. Opponents had to squeeze in into the passage between them under a hail of arrows.

Walls and towers

The height of the walls of the medieval fortification reached 25 meters. They had a powerful base and withstood the blows of battering rams. The deep foundation was designed to protect against undermining. The thickness of the walls to the top decreased, they became sloping. At the top, behind the battlements, was a platform. Being on it, the defenders fired at the enemies through slot-like holes, threw down stones or poured resin.

Double walls were often built . Overcoming the first hurdle, opponents fell into a narrow space in front of the second wall, where they became easy prey for archers.

At the corners of the perimeter there were watchtowers that protruded forward in relation to the wall. Inside, they were divided into floors, each of which was a separate room. In large castles, the towers had a vertical partition for strengthening.

All the stairs in the towers were spiral and very steep. If the enemy penetrated the inner territory, the defender had an advantage and could throw the aggressor down. Initially, the towers had a rectangular shape. But this interfered with the review during the defense. Replaced by round buildings.

Behind the main gate was a narrow courtyard, which was well shot through.

The rest of the interior space the castle was occupied by buildings. Among them:

In large knightly castles, there was a garden inside, and sometimes a whole garden.

The central and most fortified structure of any castle is the donjon tower. In the lower part there was a storehouse with food supplies and an arsenal with weapons and equipment. Above was the guard room, the kitchen. The upper part was occupied by the dwelling of the owner and his family. A throwing weapon or catapult was installed on the roof. The outer walls of the donjon had small ledges. There were restrooms. Holes opened outward, waste fell down. From the donjon, underground passages could lead to a shelter or neighboring buildings.

Mandatory elements of a castle in the Middle Ages was a church or chapel. It could be located in the central tower or be a separate building.

The castle could not do without a well. In the absence of a source of water, the inhabitants would not have held out for several days during the siege. The well was protected by a separate building.

Living conditions in the castle

The castle provided the need for security. However, other benefits of its inhabitants often had to be neglected.

Little light penetrated inside the premises, since the windows were replaced by narrow loopholes, which were covered with dense materials. Living rooms were heated with fireplaces, but this did not save them from dank dampness and cold. In the harsh winter, the walls froze through through. Using the latrines during the cold season was especially uncomfortable.

Residents often had to neglect hygiene. Most of the water from the well went to maintain life functions and care for animals.

Over time, the structure of castles became more complex, new elements appeared. However, the development of gunpowder guns deprived the castles of the main advantage - impregnability. They were replaced by fortresses with more complex engineering solutions.

Gradually, the castles of the Middle Ages, many of which have survived to this day, turned into architectural monuments and remind of the era of chivalry.