As the name suggests, gatehouses acted as the primary entrance to a medieval castle. Usually, a relatively large building set into the curtain wall circuit of a castle, the gatehouse would protect the gate, which was the weakest point of the castle perimeter. As it was often the target of enemy attacks, the gatehouse was … Read more
Shell keep castles are an interesting development in the medieval castle, as they are relatively rare, and varied quite considerably in form and function. At a most basic level, shell keep castles were made up of a (usually round) curtain wall, often built on top of a motte or similar earthwork. In most cases, the … Read more
The Normans were originally Viking raiders, primarily from Denmark, who gained land in northern France at the beginning of the 10th century. Scandinavian warbands had been using the French river system to travel inland in the late 9th century, even attacking Paris in 885 and 886. It was the defeat of the Viking leader Rollo … Read more
Castles began to emerge in Europe as early as the 9th century, but the first structures that we can truly call ‘castles’ were motte-and-bailey fortifications. These were the earliest iterations of the castle in the Medieval period, a building that would later develop the imposing stone towers and thick walls which we are so familiar … Read more
Gothic architecture, a style of design which developed from Romanesque architecture, emerged across Europe during the mid to late middle ages. Characterised by high arches and vaulted ceilings, the gothic style can primarily be seen on church buildings, such as grand cathedrals and chapels, as well as on luxurious palaces. However, many later medieval castles … Read more
The crusades were a series of religious conflicts lasting from 1095 until 1291, conducted with the backing of the Catholic church, that aimed to recapture the Holy Land from Islamic control. During these two centuries of conflict, several large-scale crusades were launched, which featured hundreds of bloody battles and sieges – as a result, the … Read more
The manor house was primarily the residence of a lord of the manor during the medieval period. The feudal system of government and societal organisation which flourished during the middle ages was based around land ownership and service – specifically the obligatory service that a vassal owed to his lord in return for land. Kings … Read more
Concentric castles represented a high point for medieval military architecture, and they were arguably the most formidable castles to be built during the period. The basic idea behind the design was simple – concentric castles were a castle within a castle. This greatly increased the defensive capability of the fortification, as attackers would have to … Read more