What does castle mean in the Middle Ages?
What does castle mean in the Middle Ages? A medieval castle was the fortified home of an important person, such as a lord or king. The medieval period, also called the Middle Ages, lasted from the 5th century CE to the end of the 15th century. During this time, many castles were built in Europe and the Middle East.
What defines 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 makes a strong castle?
Build thick walls and battlements The castle also has high 'curtain walls' which protect the castle's inner and outer 'wards' or 'baileys'. These are the courtyard areas inside the walls where important buildings like the keep, or perhaps stables and storehouses would have been built.
Why did castles have flags?
Medieval castles flew flags from their highest points for one of two reasons: either the flag was representative of the family who owned it (most often royal standards of heraldry), or to display the country to which they belonged.
What were castles originally called?
The earliest type of castle was essentially a ringed fort called a grod. A grod consisted of wooden and earthen walls (ramparts), a fortified gate or gates and a surrounding moat.
Is A palace a castle?
The word is also sometimes used to describe a lavishly ornate building used for public entertainment or exhibitions such as a movie palace. A palace is normally distinguished from a castle in that the latter clearly is fortified or has the style of a fortification, whereas a palace does not.
How tall is a castle?
Usual height for the motte of a large motte and bailey: 30 feet (9 m). Height of the walls of Framlingham Castle in England: 40 feet (12 m). Height of the keep at Dover Castle in England: 80 feet (24 m). Height of the tallest tower at Warwick Castle in England: 128 feet (39 m).
What were the 3 types of castles?
The three main types of castles are the motte and bailey castle, the stone keep castle, and the concentric castle.
What is the oldest castle still in use?
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is an official residence of Her Majesty The Queen and is still very much a working royal palace today, home to around 150 people.
What were the main features of a castle?
external features - such as towers battlements, thick walls, a moat, a drawbridge, etc. internal features - such as a well, large stores to guard against siege, a hall for everyone to socialise.
What replaced castles?
As a result, true castles went into decline and were replaced by artillery forts with no role in civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible.