fun facts about castles in the middle ages

In the latter case, the mound could be created using earth taken from a ditch dug around the motte, or the whole castle. The purpose of a castle was not only to keep people out, but to aggressively repel them. 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The light was also aproblem. Just looking at all the apparatus and features of a castle gives you a pretty good idea of its purpose: moats, turrets, ramparts, murder holes, gun and arrow loops, etc. To find out more interesting facts email info@ltrcastles.com. The sally port came into its own during enemy sieges against the castle. This prevented them from effectively wielding their swords, as the wall stopped them from freely moving their arms. The bed was easily dismantled sothat the owner could take itwith him when hetraveled somewhere. Prague Castle is around 570m in length and 130m in width on average. Our images of castles consist of vague fairy tale notions, with moats and drawbridges and knights in shining armor. An example of this is Harlech Castles standard garrison, which was comprised of only 36 men. One ofthe ways toconquer acastle was togoupthe drain, hoping the toilet wasnt being used. Nowadays, we have T.V. It covers the time from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Ottoman Empire. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Whether rich or poor, everyone in the Middle Ages learned how to use weapons. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. King Edward III incorporated the archery law in medieval England, demanding every male to practice archery every Sunday for two hours under the local clergy's supervision. Your email address will not be published. The most important people were atthe top ofthe table onapedestal. But if placed on an advantageously steep, high, or secluded hill, the castle could become nearly impregnable through sheer inaccessibility. There were some witch trials in the Middle Ages, and these became more widespread in German-speaking lands in the 15th century, but those doing the prosecuting were almost always civic authorities . Rome was attacked by Alaric, Visogoth king, for three days. Castles played a big role in the social system called Feudalism. Believe it or not, it didnt take that many people to properly defend a castle. Dungeons, being key defensive constructions, were also used as a place to live in: on every floor, there were 1 to 2 rooms that weren't heated or lit well. The medieval period, also called the Middle Ages, lasted from the 5th century CE to the end of the 15th century. Reaching more than a million people every month. creative tips and more, Medieval writers categorized history into periods like the 'Four Empires' or the 'Six Ages.'. The word castle comes from a Latin word meaning "fortress". The Catholic church in the Medieval period was the most powerful and dominant institution in Europe and influenced the monarchs. Up until the Middle Ages, the Great Halls were used not only to entertain and eat, but also as sleeping quarters for the household. The nobles were one ofthe few people that could eat meat all the time. Actually, It Was Grosser Than You Think. The king's court is a term that describes the king's council and household. Largest castle in the world is Prague Castle. Damp and dark, it often housed prisoners, which led to it evolving into the medieval dungeons most are familiar with. You didnt want to risk it becoming common knowledge to those with evil intentions. The exceptions to this was if the window was high enough that it would be extremely difficult or suicidal for an attacker to reach it, or if the windows faced the internal ward or bailey of a castle, because such windows couldnt be directly assaulted by external attackers. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Any Roman temple would get converted to the Christian church, and the city walls were still used. The Chateau de Doue-la-Fontaine in France is said to be the oldest castle thats still standing, but the remaining fortress of the Citadel of Aleppo may be even older - by a few thousand years! However, some are still inhabited by their original owners. For example, inthe thirteenth century, the Harlech castle was defended by36people for ayear. There were four different types The first were Roman forts, reused by the Normans following their 1066 invasion of England. It would take many hits from a trebuchet to destroy a castle wall as they were very, very thick. An approaching army allied to the castle would also have made a lengthy siege impractical, and force the besiegers to be more aggressive, resorting to bombardments and assaults in an attempt to take the castle before the other army arrived. One way they did this was to paint the plastered walls and roofs of their living spaces with colorful patterns and murals, often very garishly to modern standards. In 1408, English forces under the command of the future king Henry Vlaid siege to Harlech Castle and bombarded it withcannons. (Photo Credit: Dave.Dunford / Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain). This entrance would be as big as needed, for carts and wagons, and as small as possible, to bottleneck any attackers trying to get through. In English, the historical use of the word castle has been to refer to fortresses, citadels, manor houses, and palaces even though these structures can be very distinct from one another. Since there were no televisions or movie theaters back then, people would have to develop ways to have fun. They found all three! Essentially, all anyone did was stick around making sure nobody touched their stuff. Castles are beautiful building structures to dream and are wonderful to watch, but too encircled to live in! Most people in the Middle Ages led difficult lives. Every single one of these design elements was meant to keep enemies out and down. The modern use of the word castle refers to any building with medieval style battlements, regardless of whether they are functional or aesthetic. They were incorporated into the overall design of the castle to protect from the impact of catapults, absorbing and distributing the force. Still, if the besieging army could get away with it, they would simply choose to starve the castle out as this was a proven strategy with very little risk. A covered hole in the floor allowed forces to drop boulders and boiling liquids, primarily water and cooking oil, on anyone trying to invade, while protecting them from retaliation. Share the post "10 Interesting Facts about Medieval Castles", This is time for me to share the facts about medieval Read More, The facts about medieval churches tell about the architecture of the Read More, In this article would be talked amazing facts about Medieval Architecture. Which conditions characterized early medieval Europe? A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages. They got to sleep in the same isolated quarters as the castle owners, which, while the rest of the castle may have been cold and dreary, was heated by a personal fireplace and definitely the warmest place in the castle. There was much less freedom during this era than in our current age because people had very strict rules about what they could do in society. 1. When you think of a castle, you usually think of lavish amenities and grand-scale poshness, but who cares how big the barn is, when its still slathered in mud and smells like horse manure. The title 'peasants' given to the working class of medieval England was not even invented until the 15th century in France. Famine accompanied medieval people all the time even the aristocrats. The culture and life in the Roman empire or city changed immensely in the early medieval period with a decrease in population. Heres a stack of fun facts about castles to help you get started. Thered be great feasts full of food and drink (lots of booze), jesters and minstrels. 1429 AD, Joan of Arc: In the 100-year war, Joan wins the Battle of Orleans for the people of France. These paintings and drawings were called 'illuminations,' and you can still see some of them today at various museums worldwide. Source: Media Source 4. The walls facing the inside bailey or ward of a castles layout could afford to be thinner, but in these cases they would rarely be thinner than a meter. It allowed those within the castle to get the element of surprise against invading forces. Called garderobes, the toilets were pretty simplistic, made from a wooden plank supported by stone, with a hole cut into it. Once the exterior was built, the castle then needed to be decorated and furnished. Mostly because advancements in civilization have rendered them obsolete. That's 1000 years! Everyone wanted to know what life was like as a knight and what kinds of adventures they went on. A. Called the sally port, this was a gated entrance watched over by the castles defenses. The Middle East and North Africa came under the rule of the Islamic Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate, after the conquest by the successors of Muhammad. Lauenstein Castle (Photo Credit: Ermell / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0). Seriously, historical castles were a veritable riot of colors. 18 Luxurious Things You Need to Do in Ireland. Tellus why orwhy not inthe comment section below! It was often artificial, even though sometimes it incorporated a pre-existing feature of the landscape. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. 9. Since most people lived in rural areas, their lives were centered around farming. In fact, if the well wasnt protected, or topped up, the rest of the castle would be liable to fall pretty easily. A keep is the great tower and usually the strongest defended point of a castle before the introduction of concentric defence. Here are ten interesting castle facts. Photo Credit: Stanzilla / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. It involved two riders on horses who would try to knock each other off their horse using a lance. This is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable features of the castle, as if the castle werent uncomfortable enough; there were no toilets, but rather little constructions called garderobes, a hole through which users would aim their waste products, which would ultimate go through shoots which wound up in the surrounding moats. The siege ofacastle could take months oreven years and not alot ofwarriors were needed toprotectit. The reason is that most people likely to be attacking up the stairs were right-handed and would therefore be at a disadvantage when charging up them. Fact: Eating Was the Primary Means of Entertainment. The culture of the Middle ages was very religious. Yet even though this military was fragmented by location and commanders, they still needed a secure place to train and maintain themselves and their arms, rest, and resupply. There was no such thing as antibiotics in the Middle Ages, so even the most superficial infection could kill you. Fairy tales depict them as the way in which princes climb the tower to rescue their princesses, but they actually served a more strategic purpose. Most Famous Medieval Castles Historic Castles in England Castles Worksheets Complete List Of Included Worksheets Castles are fortified structures dominantly built in the Middle Ages. 40 Surprising and Interesting Helium Facts, 40 Interesting and Surprising Music Facts, 40 Surprising and Interesting Paraguay Facts, 40 Interesting and Surprising Jamaica Facts. This process could take days to weeks, especially considering that several hits would be deflected due to the round design of castle towers. While the initial upfront cost was immense, the maintenance also required a lot of funds. Ladies also went hunting, and while itwas harder for them, itlooked more impressive because they had tochase animals onhorses with special saddles that they had tosit sidewayson. This period can be broken down into three main eras: Early Middle Ages (500-1000), High Middle Ages (1000-1300), and Late Middle Age/Renaissance (1300-1500). More from us:Life In A Medieval Castle Was Gross. Only when the Gothic style appeared did the windows become bigger. Fact: Castles Used to Be Completely Uncomfortable. Sometimes a motte covered an older castles or hall, whose rooms became underground storage areas and prisons beneath a new keep. While this was a clever way of putting the earth to good use, the walls which enveloped the castle, as well as the castle itself, were made of wood, which could easily be burnt down. The feudal society in the Middle ages worked as their King granted new lands known as fiefs to bishops and noblemen. During the 11th century, the references to castles in texts increased greatly. Bran Castlein Transylvania was the inspiration for Irish author Bram Stoker. It is usually depicted that the medieval folk were filthy, which is not true. Every single one of these design elements was meant to keep enemies out and down. Based on the evidences were found, the form and design varied among regions. They prevent anyone from walking up to the front gates, as a drawbridge was typically required to cross. The weakest part of the castle is gatehouse or the entrance. Thats because there has always been some debate over what a castle actually is. Damned they were though, if they were attacked by an entirely left-handed infantry. A. Against greater numbers, cannons, and even having parts of the castle destroyed, the defenders of Harlech Castle held off the aggressors for nearly a year and only surrendered when they ran out of food. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. The size of the trebuchet and the size of the castle wall mattered. Castles have got to be some of the most fascinating structures from ancient history. In European history, the medieval period or Middle ages was approximately between the fifth century and the late 15th century, like the post-classical period of world history. Dungeons were commonplace in the basement of castles. Medieval Read More, You will get the information about a type of ancient Egyptian Read More, Facts about Mall of America talk about the shopping mall in Read More, Maiden Castle is a famous building dated back during the Iron Read More, The famous place for the pilgrims who visit the Rupandehi District Read More, 10 Interesting Facts about Michael Phelps. They became a symbol of wealth, but before they could be built, permission had to be granted by the reigning monarch. 9. Q. Another gross detail: the garderobe was called such as residents would keep their clothing inside, as the odor would repel insects (and any human with a sense of smell, most likely). Do you know any fun facts about castles? Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Their grandeur and impressive architecture have meant those still standing have become major tourist attractions. Elsewhere in the castle, residents of lower social standing slept in the towers and relied upon body heat and light bed dressings for warmth. 10 Reliable Facts about VoIP Communication, 8 Facts To Consider When Downloading Videos from Different Platforms. Still, some competitions that only imitated real fights sometimes led todeaths because the weapons they used were often real. The image that castle interiors were all stone brick is very inaccurate, and the reason people assume this is because the lime painted whitewashed plaster that covered these walls has worn away over time, leaving bare stone. Castles today are mainly popular tourist attractions, or you can rent a castleas an incredible setting for afamily gathering or party. Invaders could very well poison the water supply, if left unattended, and virtually guarantee defeat. Serfs might get one big meal per week if they were lucky enough. The medieval period is often thought of as a time of kings, castles, knights, and damsels. Later it was renovated with stones and was given a few additions by way of some outer walls and a round tower by a generous Henry II. The growth of medieval towns was due to many factors, one being the increase in population. Castles were being constructed in this period. Just looking at all the apparatus and features of a castle gives you a pretty good idea of its purpose: moats, turrets, ramparts, murder holes, gun and arrow loops, etc. This might seem obvious, but many people dont realizejust how thick proper fortified castle walls were. People thus had much more contact with live pigs than we do today - this could be dangerous, and even deadly. For example, you might wish to rent Forter Castle, a Scottish keep once built for the fifth Lord of Airlie in the 16th Century. Because of that, the majority of warfare was moved to open fields, leaving castles to be used for other purposes (government centers, prisons, temporary barracks, etc.). It occurred between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. Women didn't have as many rights back then as they do today. There are many historical castles that were placed in such commanding positions that they were never taken by direct assault. 1215 AD, Magna Carta signed: this is a document signed by England's King John, declaring that there were no divine rights given to kings. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. They were called garderobes because they also doubled as a persons closet! Oftentimes, enemy forces would target a castles well to force a surrender. Medieval Knight by Unknown The First Knights The first knights of the Middle Ages fought for Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, in the 700s. While more common on French castles, they were used to attack enemies from above. The idea that medieval people went around covered in dirt, wearing clothes muted in browns and grays, couldnt be further from the truth. Castles were built to enable those inside them to effectively repel attackers, and when properly designed they did their job amazingly well. The first Europeans who came to America were explorers looking for gold, spices, or adventure. The large-scale witch-hunts and collective paranoid response to the stereotype of the evil witch is not a medieval, but rather an early modern phenomenon, found mostly in the 16th and 17th centuries. People in cities didn't have access to fresh produce, so they had no choice but to buy their food from those who lived out in the countryside. Of course, this isnt going to change the casual use of the word castle to refer to any castle-like building, but its good to know the proper definitions. Press Esc to cancel. Facts about Medieval Manor 1: Legal Theory of Manor As a stated in the following extract from Perkins's Treatise on the laws of England about manor : "The beginning of a manor was when the king gave a thousand acres of land, or greater or lesser parcel of land, into one of his subjects and his heirs, which tenure is knight service at the least. Motte is an earthen mound with a flat top. At first, castles were built for military and government means. In European history, the medieval period or Middle ages was approximately between the fifth century and the late 15th century, like the post-classical period of world history. Between 1315 and 1317 (with the aftermath lasting over a decade), excessively wet summers caused bad crops and a devastating famine. While its true that the more soldiers the defenders had, the more likely they would be able to repel an assault, additional men werent always necessary and could prove detrimental in the long run. In defining what a castle actually is, English could stand to do a little better. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. The fireplaces werent there from the start. Of course design was important for defense, and castles were most useful in strategically important locations. Later, the owner ofthe castle and his wife would have rooms separate from the others. The first stone castles built were cold, dark, smelly and damp. Yet these features only frame the bare basics of what could have been added to a medieval gatehouse, because many were as heavily fortified as possible. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. These staircases rise in a clockwise direction, meaning . Those who have visited a medieval castle have likely noticed some of the outer walls feature rough areas of protruding stone and wood. Its the biggest castle still standing in the UK, and it remains Europes oldest castle still holding occupants. It was a period when Europe was ruled by kings and queens, who had absolute power over their subjects. They only wish they could be the lapdog of the nobility. Would you like tovisit the castle ofafeudal lord? Today its possible torent a real castle. Winding staircases were built not only tosave space but also for better defense. Once prisoners were placed in these small, dark rooms, odds are theyd never be released. Fact: There Are 1500 Castle Sites in England. What are some truly bizarre castle facts you can share with friends and family who might not be fully up to speed on their medieval trivia? Privacy Policy | TopTenz T-Shirts | Sponsors. Drawbridges often served as the only way for people to access a castle, and even then, theyd still need to get past a heavy gate called a portcullis. Stay in a castle with friends & family. People were expected to work hard every day just like they do now, but it wasn't always easy because there weren't many jobs available at that time either. In order to fight battles across his large empire, Charlemagne began to use soldiers on horseback. Thats where machicolations come in. Before the thirteenth century, castles were terribly cold. Excrement ran straight out into the moat. As for sports, footraces were very common during the Middle Ages. Biographics History, One Life at a Time. Adding to the wretchedness, these bathrooms were often cold and breezy, hardly conducive to progress. Although Christianity influenced most medieval customs, some were from older religions. On the other hand, castle occupants descending the stairs would be given the advantage of a staircase designed with their sword-arms in mind. Biographics History, One Life at a Time. It was created in 950AD. The floors were really dirty: there were food leftovers, drinks, and dog and cat feces. This secrecy meant residents were able to come and go as they pleased, without anyone being the wiser. They were separated bycurtains. The majority of ancient castles that survived tooth of time are either destroyed, turned into monuments or converted for public uses. Like weve mentioned, sieges were slow and considered affairs that could last months or even years, and therefore the more people in a castle meant the more resources they would consume (remember, starving a castle is a lot harder when there are fewer mouths to feed). But in medieval times they were a sign of power, wealth and feudal reign. The are three main types of castles: The motte and bailey castle, the stone keep castle, and the concentric castle. The largest historical trebuchet was called Warwolf, and could throw a 90 kilogram projectile over 300 meters. The Middle Ages refers to a time in European history from 400-1500 AD. When the Normans (who came from Normandy, France) came to England almost a thousand years ago, they built wooden motte-and-bailey-styled castles, which were essentially castles built on a mount, whereby low-level residents and enemies at naturally lower altitudes had to hike up sharp inclines to reach the castle itself. Itwas like watching the news every evening. The larger the gate, the harder it is to defend. Initially, the point was toteach new people the art ofthe fight. This period is marked by the spread of Christianity throughout the continent, the rise of new civilizations in Asia and Africa, and the beginning of the Renaissance era. Castles were always built with a spiraling staircase that turned clockwise. 8. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. There were tiny windows, sosunlight couldnt get through and warm the walls. Motte-and-Bailey is the name given to the architectural type of castle that was constructed during the early middle ages. In the Middle ages, there was no such thing as a democracy. Its completely possible to rent your own castle for the night! For a long time, the majority of castles were made from wood. There weren't any plastic or synthetic materials back then, so everything had to be made from scratch. Spiral staircases are one of the most well-known features of medieval castles. The medieval era ended in 1485 when a man named Henry Tudor became King of England. Films such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ironclad, and Kingdom of Heaven show that defeating a castle or castle-like defenseswas a simple matter of storming the walls, and that trebuchets could destroy castles within a short bombardment. However, the worlds most haunted castle is said to be Leap Castle, which you will find over in the Republic of Ireland. propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('toptenz_sticky_1'); }); 10 Things You Probably Didnt Know About Prehistoric Europe, 10 Most Powerful Jedi Knights in the Star Wars Universe, 10 Utterly Unpredictable Hostage Situations, The Bizarre Basis for 10 Popular Characters, 10 Important Mathematicians from the Renaissance Era. 840 AD, Kingdom divides: the Roman kingdom was divided into three parts, and kingship was later created. 1000 AD, The feudal systems and city-states: many Italian cities, including Rome, became city-states. The people who lived in castles were rich, and they wanted to be seen as rich. A. By the beginning of the 15th century, the number of castles construction in England and Wales into decline. Outdoors, recreational activities included hunting and a whole bunch of combat training. Itwas abad way toget warm and the air was always dirty along with the walls. Thats not the weirdest thing. The most important defenses of Castle are moats, ramparts, high walls, curtain walls, flanking towers, various battlements, machicolations, and gateway defenses. Its been home to royals for almost a millennium. There are still over 1500 castle sites today in England alone, each one with a fascinating history to tell. 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This ensured the walls didnt succumb to damage. A few curious traditions in different regions of medieval Europe were throwing wheat over the heads of the newlyweds and rolling barrels down a hill on the Eve of Midsummer. But this era was far more violent and bizarre than most realize as these 37 facts about the Middle Ages will prove. (Photo Credit: Marc Ryckaert / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0). Castles were built for dual purposes specifically, they were used to help protect the people within them from the threat of invasion however, they were also used as huge displays of wealth and grandeur. An all-out assault, on the other hand, always carried the chance of complete failure and the loss of ones army. 871 AD, England's Alfred the Great's rule: Alfred captured London and then divided England between the Danes of Vikings and himself. The Middle Ages were characterized by a lack of technological advancement and the prevalence of diseases such as smallpox or leprosy. The average time it would have taken to build a castle is 10 years. This would have been impossible if the state, or king, controlled the military. The term 'castle' is usually associated with members of the nobility. A person would address royalty by using their title and a form of the word 'you.'. These people were called serfs. The oldest inhabited castle in Europe, is also one of the most famous castles in the world, our very ownWindsor Castle.

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