Upload
derick-thornton
View
219
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Castles of Medieval Europe
Unit: Europe to 1500
Castles! Castles! Castles!
What comes to mind when I say castles?
Castles: A Quick Overview
They were not new in the Middle Ages- but built by lords consolidating power and having fortresses to protect their land’s people
Some were cold while others were opulent
Used for protection, landmark and pride
Primary military resources of many countries in medieval Europe.
Ended with the advent of artillery during the 1500s.
English Castles
Brought to England by William (Duke of Normandy) in 1066. He used castles (made of wood) to become King of England. Later he used stone.
Built castles on hills as basis for the stronghold. Castles became symbols of protection and
power for peasants. Lords were granted Castles through sworn
allegiance to the King.
English Castle-Dover
Sits on the famous “white cliffs” of Dover
Strategic because it is the closest point in England to continental Europe. First line of defense.
Has concentric stone circles and secret tunnels.
Dover Castle
Scottish Castles
Came to Scotland after the Norman invasion of 1066.
Built on hills near cliffs and along water and trade routes.
Used heavily in the 13th and 14th centuries during the independence wars from England
Mainly towered houses and featured stone walls
Scottish Castle- Bothwell
Built in Strathclyde Thick walls made of red sandstone Has a large round keep that is
separated from the courtyard by a large ditch
Famous from William Wallace laying siege to it in order to take back the castle from the English for 14 months
Bothwell Castle
Irish Castles
Most were made out of stone and date from the Norman Invasion
Mainly occupied by invading lords as strongholds
Irish Castle- Blarney
Said that Munster men were awarded stone to build this castle after aiding Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.
Contains the Blarney Stone and gives people the “gift of gab.”
Phrase said by Elizabeth I because of Lord Blarney’s penchant for debate
Blarney Castle
Italian Castles
Originated from quarreling aristocrats and feuding families
Entire cities could be walled in, and wealthy families would build towers for themselves
Excellent examples were built by merchant princes in cities like Florence
Architecture based on Norman, Islamic and Asian designs
Italian Castle-Castelvecchio
Built in Verona Known for its fortified bridge across
the River Adige. It divided the castle Made out of red brick and lighter
materials to highlights the design
Castelvecchio
French Castles
Started off as simple towers called donjons that were rectangular
Contained all of the rooms for the lords in the stronghold. Only trusted vassals could enter the donjons
William the Conqueror had a major influence on castles throughout Europe.
Went from basic stone strongholds to elegant chateaus.
Allies of the King claimed these fortresses and made palaces of them.
French Castle- Mont-Saint- Michel
Built in Normandy City onto itself; stronghold Tides create a natural barrier Duke of Normandy founded
Benedictine abbey there Centuries brought many changes:
Carolingian church then gothic structures seen today
Castel- Mont-Saint-Michel
German Castles
Reflect the diversity of Germany: North- circular citadels surrounded by water in lowlands. South- lack of symmetry with spires on high ground
Diversity based on contact with other cultures surrounding Germany, and where German lords and knights went to fight
Began to flourish during the development of feudal Germany
Some strongholds were very colorful
German Castle- Falkenstein
Built in Hettstedt in the Harz mountains
Made to withstand heavy attacks- and an invading army had to pass six doors in order to reach the main castle
Eike von Repkow wrote the Sachsenspiegel book of law here
Used as a hunting lodge
Falkenstein Castle
Spanish Castles
Spain’s location as a peninsula separated from Europe by the Pyrenees Mt. was a major factor in castle building
Castillo (basis for English word Castle) strongholds were built to battle the Islamic forces invading Spain after 711 C.E.
Symmetrical and colorful in design with rounded towers and masonry based on Islamic design
The flat landscape gave towers excellent vantage points to see invading armies
Distinct from their use of torre del hominaje- a keep with machicolations at and in-between corners
Spanish Castles- Castel de Monte
Built in Apulia Octagonal layout on the interior and
outside of the main Castle Classic example of Islamic and
Western European styles coming together
Castel de Monte
Eastern European Castles History known for battles against different
ethnicities and a great diversity in culture, politics and geography
Castles brought by Germans building stone fortifications
In Balkans where Ottoman Empire would rule, castle fell into ruin as Christian nobility fled
Known for fortified monasteries-to protect the villagers from raids where they would seek refuge in churches
Slavs also built castles-Western in style
Eastern European Castle- Ciechanow
Built in Poland by Duke of Masovia as a stronghold in the 1400s.
Boasts great towers and symmetrically laid out on boulders for better defenses
Residential wings were not added until 100 years later
Ciechanow Castle
Eastern European Castle- Harman
Built in Transylvania, Romania in the 1200s.
Is a fortified church that is encircled by a wall and protected by a water filled moat.
Many people laid siege to the fortress, but none succeeded.
Harman Castle
Side Note- Japanese Castles
Sprang up from feuding Warlords Very similar to European Castles-
Used for protection and contained large walls, moats, slit windows and used terrain for defense.
Assignment
Create Your Own Castle!!! Sign up for a country and then “build” a
castle based on that country. More details will be given to you