Castles were extremely important during 1066 – 1500 and they changed overtime to get more protection. A castle is a fortification that was used in the middle ages to protect territory against an invasion.
How many castles did the Normans build in England?
Even before the battle, William the Conqueror built a castle at Hastings, near his landing place. Over the next 150 years, the Normans covered the country with them, and built around 1,000 in England and Wales. Castles were something quite new in England.
What is the history of castles in England?
The castle as we know it today was introduced into England in 1066 during the Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror. After their victory at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans settled in England. They constructed castles all over the country in order to control their newly-won territory, and to pacify the Anglo-Saxon population.
What castles did William the Conqueror build in England?
William, the Conqueror during the Norman invasion, built the following castles: Pevensey, Dover, Tower of London, Windsor, Warwick, Chepstow, Old Sarum, Durham, York, Norwich, Colchester, Warwick, Lincoln, Nottingham, Corfe and many other castles that haven’t survived until this day.
What are the different types of castles in history?
The Medieval Castle: Four Different Types. Within an Existing Roman Fortress. The earliest medieval castles built by the Normans were either constructed within an existing Roman Fort or were ... Motte and Bailey Castles. Stone Keep Castle. Concentric Castles.
What were castles like in 1066?
What were the first Norman castles like? The Normans built motte and bailey castles to begin with. These castle were quick to build using just earth and timber. Later, once William the Conqueror, the leader of the Normans, had firmly established his rule in England, the Normans built huge stone keep castles.
What was the main purpose of castles?
The main purpose of castles was to protect the people who lived there from invasions. They were also a status symbol to show other people how important a family was. Many ancient castles still stand in Europe today, and some of them have been home to the same family for many generations.
Why did the Normans built castles after 1066?
Norman castles were designed for a different purpose, they were not defensive structures like the burhs , they were designed to intimidate the conquered Anglo-Saxons and remind them of Norman power. Norman castles were often built in locations that were considered of strategic value.
What were castles made of in 1066?
The first of England's Norman castles were built from wood. Later, they were rebuilt in stone and the more flammable materials such as thatch or timber roof tiles were replaced with stone slates.
What were the 4 main reasons that castles were built?
Medieval castles were built from the 11th century CE for rulers to demonstrate their wealth and power to the local populace, to provide a place of defence and safe retreat in the case of attack, defend strategically important sites like river crossings, passages through hills, mountains and frontiers, and as a place of ...
When did castles stop being used?
Until the 12th century, stone-built and earth and timber castles were contemporary, but by the late 12th century the number of castles being built went into decline.
Why were castles important to the Normans?
Castles were a sign of Norman power and might. They could be easily seen and as such acted as a deterrent. The castles warned the English that Norman soldiers lived in these castles and that any attempts to rise up against them would be met with force. The castles also gave the Norman soldiers a safe place to live.
Who built castles and why?
The Normans introduced the first proper castles, starting with the wooden Motte and Bailey castles, to England following their victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. They needed to protect their new kingdom, so as a result the early years of Norman occupation saw a frenzy of castle building.
How did William use castles?
Wooden motte and bailey castles helped William to quickly control the English BUT they burned easily and they rotted. Later castles were built from stone. These stone castles were impressive and showed everyone the baron was in charge and it was also a safe place from which to rule the local area.
Why did William build his castles?
William built a significant number of motte and bailey castles to help maintain peace. In northern England and elsewhere, William seized land from rebellious Saxon nobles and reassigned it to Norman nobles and knights. In return, they had to build a motte and bailey to protect William's interests in the local area.
Who lived in castles?
During the late Middle Ages, from the 10th to the 16th centuries, kings and lords lived in castles. As well as the lord, the lady (his wife), and their family there were lots of staff. Some were important officials, such as the constable who took care of the castle when the lord was away.
How were castles attacked?
Fire - Early castles were made of wood, so they were easy to attack by setting fire to them. Battering ram - A large log that was hit against the castle walls to weaken them. Catapult - Catapults, or trebuchets, threw large stones and burning objects at the castle.
What is the most important part of a castle?
The drawbridge is one of the most important parts of a castle and one you've probably heard of before! A drawbridge was a type of bridge between the gatehouse and the opposite side of the moat. During raids, the drawbridge would be raised to keep invaders out.
What was the primary purpose of a castle in Japan?
Castles in Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such as ports, river crossings, or crossroads, and almost always incorporated the landscape into their defenses.
What makes a castle a castle?
And now the Oxford English Dictionary defines a castle as 'a large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and often a moat'. So here's our first answer: a castle can be defined as being architecturally prepared for battle.
What was the function of a castle quizlet?
Live in them and defend and administer their land; they were also used as courts and prisons and major festivals and banquets were held in them. What were the first castles made of? Why were castles often built on hills?
Why did the Normans build castles?
They constructed castles all over the country in order to control their newly-won territory, and to pacify the Anglo-Saxon population. These early castles were mainly of motte and bailey type.
What was the purpose of castles?
In their infancy, castles were primarily military fortifications used to defend conquered territories from attack. The strategic location of the castle was paramount. However, once the Normans began to consolidate their control over England, castles began to take on a variety of different roles.
Which castle is the first to be OCR?
Framlingham Castle is the first named site for OCR in 2018, followed by Kenilworth Castle in 2019. For AQA, GCSE History, modules Historical Environment of Norman England (1066-1100) and Medieval England (1272-1307), Stokesay Castle is the specified site for 2018 followed by Pevensey Castle and Caernarfon Castles as the specified sites for 2019.
Why did King William order that castles be built in stone?
They were very vulnerable to attacks using fire and the wood would eventually start to rot. Due to these disadvantages, King William ordered that castles should be built in stone. Many of the original timber castles were replaced with stone castles.
Who granted the majority of castles to the King?
In fact, the majority of castles were granted by the king to his loyal lords and nobles along with large areas of land. In return for these grants, the king expected his nobles to control and administer these lands on his behalf.
What was the difference between the Bailey and the Motte?
The ‘motte’ was made up of a large mound of earth with a wooden tower on top, while the ‘bailey’ was a large ditch and bank enclosure which surrounded the motte. These timber castles were quite cheap and very quick to build. However, the timber castles did have disadvantages.
What castles were built to protect the people from the Vikings?
But from the late 9th century King Alfred and his successors constructed a series of 'burhs' to defend their people from the Vikings. Examples of these 'fortresses of the folk' include Lydford Saxon Town and Daws Castle. Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire, one of the best preserved of all English medieval castles.
What were the most powerful castles in medieval times?
Moats or even artificial lakes (as at Kenilworth Castle) made it impossible for besiegers to undermine the walls. The most powerful type of medieval stronghold was the 'concentric' castle, which featured two rings of mutually supporting towered walls, one inside the other. Attackers had to take them section by section and tower by tower, and even then had a second set of defences to overcome. Dover Castle, as developed in the 13th century, is the earliest and foremost English example of a concentric fortress.
What were hillforts used for?
They were places to protect grain, cattle and treasure. They provided spaces for people to live, trade and celebrate. It’s also likely that they were used as refuges in times of conflict, and there is evidence that life in a hillfort wasn’t wholly peaceful - hoards of sling-stones have been found at Blackbury Camp, and 20,000 pebbles were found near one of the entrances to Maiden Castle. Formidable ramparts, ditches, wooden palisades and well-guarded entrances would have made them difficult to attack. Sited in dominant positions, hillforts also proclaimed the prestige of the prehistoric people who raised them. Their strategic sites were sometimes re-used for fortresses of later periods, as at Beeston Castle and Old Sarum. Most hillforts had been abandoned by 100BC. Around that time larger defended settlements called oppida were being created in lowland areas, including Lexden Earthworks (Colchester) and Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications in North Yorkshire. These were demarcated by ditches and ramparts, and there’s evidence that they were centres of government, industry and craft specialisation.
What happened to castles in England during the Civil War?
During the English Civil War, long abandoned castles in England and Wales were readied for war.
Why were fortresses important?
But fortresses still had an important role to play in the defence of the nation. The prospect of Dutch raids in the 1660s prompted the development of the Royal Citadel, Plymouth and impressive Tilbury Fort, and the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745-6 (when Carlisle Castle was the last English stronghold ever to be besieged) provoked the reinforcement of many northern fortresses. Many castles slipped into decline as their owners moved into country houses, but others like Kenilworth continued to be updated where a magnificent garden was added next to the great tower. During the English Civil War, long abandoned castles in England and Wales were readied for war. Even against cannon which they were never designed to defend against many survived long sieges. However, many were demolished (slighted) during the conflict, like Kenilworth, Scarborough, and Helmsley, leaving them as ruined shells. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Romanticism appreciated the ruins for their history and beauty.
How many hillforts are there in England?
Prehistoric Hillforts. In many parts of the country, hillforts are among the most enduring features of our landscape. There are over 1200 hillforts in England, and English Heritage cares for six of them. The earliest forts were probably built around 900BC, with many constructed between 800 and 700BC.
What were Roman forts defended by?
Earlier forts were defended by turf and timber ramparts, ditches and wooden towers, although from the 2nd century AD many were rebuilt in stone. The Roman garrisons would have assailed attackers with arrows and javelins, or even mechanical catapults and stone-throwing 'engines'.
What were the first castles built by the Normans?
The earliest medieval castles built by the Normans were either constructed within an existing Roman Fort or were Motte and Bailey castles. These were soon replaced by Stone Keep castles as they offered better protection from attack. Concentric castles developed during the 12th and 13th Centuries and were virtually impossible to conquer.
What is the space between the walls of the castle called?
The space between the two walls was known as the ‘death hole ’ for being trapped within the walls would almost certainly result in death for the attacker. The entire castle was then often surrounded with a moat and entry would be across a drawbridge.
Why were the Motte and Bailey surrounded by a ditch?
To give added protection to the castle, both the Motte and Bailey would be surrounded by a ditch, sometimes filled with water. A drawbridge was used for access to the castle.
What is the main feature of a concentric medieval castle?
The main feature of the concentric medieval castle is its walls. An inner wall built of thick stone with turrets positioned at intervals is then surrounded by an equally thick but lower stone wall. The walls are built at different levels so that archers on the inner walls can fire over the archers on the outer walls.
How was the Bailey separated from the Motte?
The Bailey was separated from the Motte by a wooden bridge that could be removed if the Bailey was occupied by enemies . The Bailey was the part of the castle where people lived and animals were kept. A large castle might have more than one Bailey.
What was the castle of Bodiam?
Medieval castle of Bodiam; East Sussex England UK, by WyrdLight.com. The medieval castle was the foundation of military defense for nearly a millennium. Kingdoms were caught up in an arms race to build wood and stone structures that were most effective in halting armies on campaign.
What was the first keep?
The first keeps were rectangular in shape but later ones were often circular. The Stone Keep would be surrounded by a thick stone wall containing turrets for lookouts. The Bailey was now the area outside the keep but within the outer walls and shelter for animals or craft workshops might be built against the walls.
What castles did William the Conqueror build?
William, the Conqueror during the Norman invasion, built the following castles: Pevensey, Dover, Tower of London, Windsor, Warwick, Chepstow, Old Sarum, Durham, York, Norwich, Colchester, Warwick, Lincoln, Nottingham, Corfe and many other castles that haven’t survived until this day. Bellow, you can find out more about how William’s castles were ...
Why did William the Conqueror build the castles?
William the Conqueror built the castles as part of a new military tactic to strengthen his positions in England. He made them relatively close to each other to resist any local rebellion until the support arrives.
Why was Dover Castle called the Kew to England?
He saw Dover castle’s importance, later called “The Kew to England” in guarding England against enemies from the continent. Today Dover is one of the largest and well-preserved castles in England, a famous tourist destination.
What is William's Tower made of?
Being besieged a couple of times, it has a strong defence made out of two concentric curtain walls and a moat, which made it one of most impregnable castles. Today William’s Tower is a major tourist attraction in England’s Capital with almost 1000 years of history behind its walls.
What is Norman's most famous example of military architecture?
He embarked upon building what later will be called one of Norman military architecture’s most outstanding examples, the White Tower today’s “The Tower of London”.
What castle was built out of clay?
Dover Castle. Picture by jason price on Flickr.com. After the Hastings victory, William marched his army to London, but he took a roundabout through Dover. The Duke burned Dover castle completely and built a new building entirely out of clay.
How long did the English army fight the Normans?
However, the English army fought the Normans for nine long hours in one of the bloodiest English history battles. Despite that English fought bravely and unwilling to give up, William defeated Harold only a few miles north from Hastings castle.
What type of castle was used in medieval Europe?
as secure bases from which raids could be launched on the territory of rival nobles. The earliest type of castle in medieval Europe is the motte-and-bailey castle.
What is the history of medieval castles?
The Fascinating History of Medieval Castles: From Emergence to Obsoletion. Medieval castles are one of the most iconic buildings of the Middle Ages , especially in Western Europe. During this period, the castle served generally as the residence of a king, or the lord of the territory in which it was built. Therefore, the castle was the center of ...
How did the Normans conquer England?
The Normans had conquered England following their victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Nevertheless, in the early days of Norman rule, there were still pockets of resistance around the country, which caused the Normans to send their troops around the country. They brought the motte-and-bailey castle from their homeland to England, and these, which were built of timber, could be erected in a matter of weeks, thus allowing them to quickly assert control over the land. It is estimated that the Normans constructed over 1000 wooden motte-and-bailey castles throughout England.
How big is Krak des Chevaliers?
The stone inner wall, for instance, is over 3 m (9.8 ft) thick, and is studded with seven towers, each having a diameter of 10 m (32.8 ft). The castle could accommodate a garrison of up to 2000 men, and had a stable for up to 1000 horses.
Why was Beaumaris Castle never completed?
The castle was never completed due to the lack of funds, and troubles brewing in Scotland. Still, it is a sight to behold, both for its scale and ambition. One of the most remarkable aspects of the unfinished castle is its regular, almost square layout. Unlike Krak des Chevaliers, Beaumaris Castle was constructed on a plain, and therefore required walls and towers facing in all directions, hence its layout.
Why are castles considered tourist attractions?
Castles, including their ruins, have also become tourist attractions, thanks to public fascination with castles, and the Middle Ages in general. Furthermore, the cultural and historical significance of many medieval castles have been recognized, resulting in their inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Why were castles built?
Incidentally, the cathedral may be considered to be the castle’s spiritual counterpart. In order to adequately protect the secular rulers living in them, castles were built as defensive structures. Over the course of the medieval period, castles had to make adaptations that allowed them to deal more effectively with changes in siege warfare. True castles became obsolete during the 15 th century, when artillery became powerful enough to breach the stone walls of castles.
