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Dug In: Castles and Keeps. Dover Castle, England, 1154-89, outer curtain walls early 13 th cen. . Traditional histories on castle architecture start with castles as feats of military engineering and ends with castles as high-status country manors. Is this the whole story ?.
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Dug In: Castles and Keeps Dover Castle, England, 1154-89, outer curtain walls early 13th cen.
Traditional histories on castle architecture start with castles as feats of military engineering and ends with castles as high-status country manors. Is this the whole story? Beaumaris Castle, 1295, Wales (Great Britain) Azay-le-Rideau château, 1515-25, France
First reference to privately owned castle toward the end of the Carolingian period Charles the Bald: "Castles and fortifications and enclosures made without our permission shall be demolished by 1st August" (864) Division of Charlemagne's empire in 843 Invasions of Europe – 9th-10th centuries
Feudalism emerges in Europe after the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire “Here below, some pray, others fight, still others work.” (11th century, Bishop Adalbero of Laon) “From the beginning, mankind has been divided into three parts, among men of prayer, farmers, and men of war.” (11th century, Bishop Gerard of Cambrai)
Normans – identity emerges in 900-950 in Normandy Normans spread feudalism and its architecture in their many conquests William the Conqueror (1024-87)
Normans spread feudalism and its architecture in their many conquests First castles: motte-and-bailey castles Detail of Bayeux Tapestry, ca. 1070-77
Motte-and-bailey castles two-story timber hall great hall and other buildings motte bailey Remains of motte-and-bailey castle at Pleshey, England
Vernacular timber halls of northern Europe great hall and other buildings Halls and Great Hall of the Saxon royal court at Yeavering, England, 7th - 9th cen. Saxon royal hall at Cheddar, England, ca. 1100
two-story timber hall → future masonry keep Keep at Hedingham Castle, 1140 England
II. Exactly what was fortified about the fortified residence? Dover Castle, England, 1154-89, outer curtain walls early 13th cen. keep (tower) inner curtain wall outer curtain wall
Defensive systems: Byzantine innovations on Roman fortified walls in the Byzantine Empire Double circuit of walls of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople inner curtain wall outer curtain wall
Defensive systems: Byzantine innovations on Roman fortified walls in the Byzantine Empire City walls of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople curtain wall defensive towers
Defensive fortifications – devil in the details machicolation- a projection at the top of a wall from which missiles an be dropped down against an invading enemy
Defensive fortifications – devil in the details Crusader Castle, Crac des Chevaliers, Syria, 1142-1213 rampart machicolations box machicolation
Defensive fortifications – devil in the details wood hoardings attack by mobile siege tower Defense from wood hoarding mounted on the curtain wall Wood hoarding mounted on curtain wall with or w/o machicolations Ditch filled by attackers
Defensive fortifications – devil in the details portcullis- a heavy barred gate that moves vertically up and down in a fortress gateway Cairo (al-Qahira) Bab al-Futuh gate
Defensive fortifications – devil in the details arrow slits Cairo (al-Qahira) Bab al-Futuh gate arrow slits
Defensive fortifications – devil in the details murder holes
Growing sophistication in siege machines in the Middle Ages ballista (Greek & Roman) the trebuchet (medieval innovation)
Crac des Chevalier’s open tank on the south side fed by an aqueduct. glacis – sloping wall tank/moat
III. Keeps – residential quarters of the elite laymen in 11th-century Europe Keep (donjon) of LochesCastle Loches, France, 1030s most castles of lay elite keep or donjon or turris in response to growing sophistication of siege engines
Keeps and churches share common decorative vocabulary Engaged shafts, passageways in walls, and ashlar masonry: these already appear at Loches before they become widespread in church architecture Cluny Loches engaged shafts
Possible origins of the keep or donjon Carolinigan “castles” (castellum) and “towers” (turris) = church westworks Corvey Abbey St. Gall St.-Denis Fulda Centula
Possible origins of the keep or donjon Loches Elite domus of a Carolingian abbot Great halls raised on a basement – established in France in the 11th century Bayeux Tapestry, 1066-82
Inside a keep – stacked halls and chambers Plan of the donjon at Loches 4 floor levels inside the donjon at Loches chambers chambers great hall armory
Inside a keep – religious space Inside the donjon at Loches today The chapel (3rd floor)
IV. Bodiam: Last military castle or early castellated manor house? BodiamCastle, in East Sussex, England, 1385, owned by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge
Bodiam: Last military castle or early castellated manor house? Bodiam Castle: as seen from an artillery platform or from viewing terrace?