Castle - Influence of Castles in British History

A castle (from the Latin castellum, diminutive of castra, a military camp, in turn the plural of castrum or watchpost), is a fort, a camp and the logical development of a fortified enclosure. The term is most often applied to a small self-contained fortress, usually of the Middle Ages, though traditionally in Britain it has also referred to prehistoric earthworks (e.g. Hollingbury Castle, Maiden Castle). "Castle" sometimes denotes citadels (such as the castles of Badajoz and Burgos) or small detached forts d'ar ...

Including:

• Castle - Medieval European castles
• Castle - Influence of Castles in British History
• Castle - Purpose of castles
• Castle - Castle building
• Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia - Castle

The most common held image of a castle is generaly one of the Medieval European castles. Under its twofold aspect of a fortress and a residence, the medieval castle is inseparably connected with the subjects of fortification (see also siegecraft) and domestic architecture. As the size of local communities grew, it became necessary to provide both a larger and stronger fortification, which would provide for a very strong perimeter defense. Castle walls, together with lodgings (keep) suitable for a Lord, as well as lower grade housing within the walls to accommodate some of the ke ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Purpose of Castles, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Medieval European castles

Under its twofold aspect of a fortress and a residence, the medieval castle is inseparably connected with the subjects of fortification (see also siegecraft) and domestic architecture. As the size of local communities grew, it became necessary to provide both a larger and stronger fortification, which would provide for a very strong perimeter defense. Castle walls, together with lodgings (keep) suitable for a Lord, as well as lower grade housing within the walls to accommodate some of the ke ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Purpose of castles, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Medieval European castles

The keep is the strong central tower of the castle. Castle building was a very common task as boundaries were pushed and territory conquered. The walls would most commonly go up first, so nothing could hurt the castle while it was being built. Then came the castle so the Town Lord could govern easily. Then a cathedral would be built. This would often be the longest job, due to the intricate artwork that went into it. Then the villagers would be left to build their houses and shops, often with a separate kitchen building. Fields would be built an ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Purpose of Castles, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Castle building

GT Clark, Medieval Military Architecture in England (2 vols.), includes a few French castles and is the standard work on the subject, but inaccurate and superseded on some points by recent research; Professor Oman's Art of War in the Middle Ages is a wide survey of the subject, but follows Clark in some of his errors; Mackenzie, The Castles of England (1897), valuable for illustrations; Deville, Histoire du Château-Gaillard (1829) and Château d'Argues (1839); Viollet-le-Duc's Essay on the Military Architecture of the Middle Ages ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Purpose of Castles, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Bibliography

The keep is the strong central tower of the castle. Castle building was a very common task as boundaries were pushed and territory conquered. The walls would most commonly go up first, so nothing could hurt the castle while it was being built. Then came the castle so the Town Lord could govern easily. Then a cathedral would be built. This would often be the longest job, due to the intricate artwork that went into it. Then the villagers would be left to build their houses and shops, often with a separate kitchen building. Fields would be built an ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Purpose of castles, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Castle building

Castles were built not only as a defensive measure, and offensive weapon, but also as a home. Castles were made by their owners for specific purposes, or evolved into new purposes over time: First and foremost castles were places of protection from an invading enemy, a place of retreat. This can be seen by many of the typical features of European castles - e.g. portcullises, battlements and drawbridges. Secondly castles were offensive weapons, built in otherwise hostile territories from which to control surrounding land ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Purpose of Castles, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Purpose of Castles

Castles were built not only as a defensive measure from hostile enemies, but as an offensive weapon. This article in general discusses castles as a defensive fortress, while this section examines the role of castles as an offensive weapon during the middle ages. During the Middle Ages, in particular the High Middle Ages (the height of castle building in Europe), lords and kings often built castles for offensive reasons: territorial expansion and control of a region. A castle was a stronghold from which a lord or baron could control su ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Purpose of castles, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Purpose of castles

GT Clark, Medieval Military Architecture in England (2 vols.), includes a few French castles and is the standard work on the subject, but inaccurate and superseded on some points by recent research; Professor Oman's Art of War in the Middle Ages is a wide survey of the subject, but follows Clark in some of his errors; Mackenzie, The Castles of England (1897), valuable for illustrations; Deville, Histoire du Château-Gaillard (1829) and Château d'Argues (1839); Viollet-le-Duc's Essay on the Military Architecture of the Middle Ages ...

See also:

Castle, Castle - Medieval European castles, Castle - Influence of Castles in British History, Castle - Purpose of castles, Castle - Castle building, Castle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Castle: Encyclopedia II - Castle - Bibliography