Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland. Image Source: http://www.hdwallpapersinn.com/bamburgh-castle-pictures.html
Origins and Evolution
Castles originated on the continent of Europe in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, specifically in Germany and France. Early castles and strongholds played an important role in feudalism as feudal lords used the fortifications against outside threats.[1]
However, many of the features of the medieval castle can be seen much earlier in the designs of Roman forts. Permanent Roman fortifications displayed a number of the characteristics that would distinguish the medieval castle almost one thousand years later. Roman towns were enclosed with walls, built of thick masonry stone. The top of Roman walls featured crenels and merlons, just as medieval castles would. The strength of these walls was reinforced by strategically placed towers, put in place as an added safety measure. And, just like the medieval drawbridge limited access to the castle to one point, these Roman walls had few town gates. Where town gates existed, they were flanked by two towers and a gatehouse, which would later be imitated in European castles.[2]
With the collapse of the Roman Empire, many of these permanent fortifications and technologies were cast aside in favour of more mobile warfare. However, just like the Roman Empire, the mobile Carolingian Empire was not to last. The Carolingian ruling structure was replaced by he feudal system, which filled a void in guidance and leadership among the continent's people. It spread throughout what is now continental Europe and soon reached the United Kingdom. Authority was transferred to the masses, and was available to anyone who could keep people safe. With this, local leaders sought to fortify their land and residences. Those who were not in power, the serfs, could seek protection from the powerful in return for their service. In this sense, castles would also have been a symbol of power over the serfs in the lord’s control.[3] To this day castles remain a potent symbol of power and are portrayed as such in Hollywood movies and popular literature.
Building on societal changes, the Norman motte-and-bailey design gradually became the dominant defensive structure in Europe. Initially built of timber, building materials were gradually replaced with stonework. As stonework became more popularly used, motte-and-bailey designs began to be replaced by towers, gates, and walls with no mottes (mottes are large mounds of earth) and castles as we recognize them today began take shape.[4]
Motte-and-bailey castles will be further defined in the following section. While there were early instances of castles and similar fortifications in Europe, the castle as we know it was not seen until some time between 1250 and 1350 AD. At this point, we begin to see towers flanking the walls, gatehouses for the protection of the castle's interior, and concentric defense walls. One set of castles that presents all of these features, for example, is Edward I’s Welsh castles.[5] To further explore the development of castles through the motte-and-bailey era, please click the button below.
[1] M.W. Thompson, The Rise of the Castle (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991), viii.
[2] Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage, Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe: An Illustrated History (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc), 5, http://do.rulitru.ru/docs/16/15655/conv_1/file1.pdf.
[3] Thompson, The Rise of the Castle, 21; Lepage, Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe, 21-23.
[4] Abigail Wheatley, The Idea of the Castle in Medieval England (Woodbridge: York Medieval Press, 2004), 7-8.
[5] Wheatley, The Idea of the Castle, 8.
However, many of the features of the medieval castle can be seen much earlier in the designs of Roman forts. Permanent Roman fortifications displayed a number of the characteristics that would distinguish the medieval castle almost one thousand years later. Roman towns were enclosed with walls, built of thick masonry stone. The top of Roman walls featured crenels and merlons, just as medieval castles would. The strength of these walls was reinforced by strategically placed towers, put in place as an added safety measure. And, just like the medieval drawbridge limited access to the castle to one point, these Roman walls had few town gates. Where town gates existed, they were flanked by two towers and a gatehouse, which would later be imitated in European castles.[2]
With the collapse of the Roman Empire, many of these permanent fortifications and technologies were cast aside in favour of more mobile warfare. However, just like the Roman Empire, the mobile Carolingian Empire was not to last. The Carolingian ruling structure was replaced by he feudal system, which filled a void in guidance and leadership among the continent's people. It spread throughout what is now continental Europe and soon reached the United Kingdom. Authority was transferred to the masses, and was available to anyone who could keep people safe. With this, local leaders sought to fortify their land and residences. Those who were not in power, the serfs, could seek protection from the powerful in return for their service. In this sense, castles would also have been a symbol of power over the serfs in the lord’s control.[3] To this day castles remain a potent symbol of power and are portrayed as such in Hollywood movies and popular literature.
Building on societal changes, the Norman motte-and-bailey design gradually became the dominant defensive structure in Europe. Initially built of timber, building materials were gradually replaced with stonework. As stonework became more popularly used, motte-and-bailey designs began to be replaced by towers, gates, and walls with no mottes (mottes are large mounds of earth) and castles as we recognize them today began take shape.[4]
Motte-and-bailey castles will be further defined in the following section. While there were early instances of castles and similar fortifications in Europe, the castle as we know it was not seen until some time between 1250 and 1350 AD. At this point, we begin to see towers flanking the walls, gatehouses for the protection of the castle's interior, and concentric defense walls. One set of castles that presents all of these features, for example, is Edward I’s Welsh castles.[5] To further explore the development of castles through the motte-and-bailey era, please click the button below.
[1] M.W. Thompson, The Rise of the Castle (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991), viii.
[2] Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage, Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe: An Illustrated History (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc), 5, http://do.rulitru.ru/docs/16/15655/conv_1/file1.pdf.
[3] Thompson, The Rise of the Castle, 21; Lepage, Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe, 21-23.
[4] Abigail Wheatley, The Idea of the Castle in Medieval England (Woodbridge: York Medieval Press, 2004), 7-8.
[5] Wheatley, The Idea of the Castle, 8.