In the world there are few things more interesting than medieval knights' castles: the majestic fortress breathing evidence of distant epochs from the epic battle, they saw the most perfect and noble, and the most dastardly betrayal.Not only historians and experts in military affairs are trying to unravel the secrets of the ancient fortifications.Knights Castle is interesting to all - the writer and the man in the street, first-class service and a simple housewife.It is, so to speak, a massive artistic image.
How did the idea
very turbulent times - Middle Ages: in addition to the great wars, feudal lords were constantly showdown with each other.According to a neighbor that was not boring.Aristocrats strengthen their homes against invasion: first only dig the ditch in front of a wooden palisade and deliver.As you gain experience in strengthening the siege became more powerful - to withstand a battering ram and rock cores were not afraid.The ancient Romans as the army surrounded the stockade on vacation.Stone buildings began to build the Normans, and only appeared in the 12th century classical European castles of medieval jousting.
transformation of the fortress
Gradually the castle was converted into a fortress, it was surrounded by a stone wall, which were built tall towers.The main purpose - to make a knight's castle inaccessible to attackers.At the same time be able to monitor the entire district.The castle must have its own source of drinking water - all of a sudden to be a long siege.
Towers were constructed in such a way that as long as possible to keep any number of enemies, even single-handedly.For example, spiral staircases - narrow and so steep that a warrior coming second to help the first could do nothing - neither sword nor spear.And climb it needed counterclockwise to hide behind the shield is not.
Try entering!
Imagine a hillside, where the knight's castle erected.Photos attached.Such structures have always been built on high, and if there was no suitable natural landscape, made artificial mound.
Knight's castle in the Middle Ages - is not only knights and lords.Around and around the castle has always been a small settlement with various artisans and, of course, the soldiers guarding the perimeter.
walking on the road is always pointing to the right side of the fortress, so that can not be covered with a shield.Vegetation high no - do not hide.The first obstacle - moat.It may be around the castle or across a wall between the castle and the plateau, even crescent if the terrain allows.
separation trenches are even within the castle: if suddenly the enemy was able to break through, the movement will be severely hampered.If rocks rocky soil - and do not need a pit, a tunnel under the wall is not possible.The earth wall in front of the moat was often a palisade.
bridge to the outer wall is made so that the defense knight's castle in the Middle Ages could last for years.He is lifting.Either all or a segment of it extreme.In the raised position - vertically - this is an additional protection for the gate.If the rise of the bridge, the other is automatically lowered into the ditch, where equip "Wolf Creek" - a surprise for the most hurried forwards.Knight's castle in the Middle Ages was not hospitable to everyone.
Gates nadvorotnaya
tower knight's castle of the Middle Ages are the most vulnerable were just near the gate.Latecomers can enter the castle through a side gate for opening and closing the ladder if the bridge had been raised.Sami gates often are not built into the wall, and arranged in nadvorotnyh towers.Usually folding of several layers of boards trimmed with iron to protect against arson.
Locks, bolts and crossbars, pushes across to the opposite wall - all this helped to hold under siege for a long time.Outside the gate also typically fell iron or wooden powerful grill.So equipped knightly castles of the Middle Ages!
Nadvorotnaya tower has been arranged so that the guards guarding her guests could learn the purpose of the visit and, if necessary, treat the boom from the vertical slits.For this siege there were built and holes for boiling tar.
defense knight's castle in the Middle Ages
outer wall - an important defensive element.It should be high, thick and better if plinth obliquely.The foundation beneath deep as possible - in case of digging.
Sometimes there is a double wall.Near the first high - inside a small but unassailable without tools (ladders and poles that were left outside).The space between the walls - the so-called Zwinger - sweep.
outer wall at the top is equipped for the defenders, sometimes sheltered from the weather.The teeth on it are not there just for show - it was convenient for them to hide his full height, to recharge, for example, the crossbow.
loopholes in the wall and adapted by archers, crossbowmen and under: long and narrow - for the bow, with the expansion - for a crossbow.Ball loopholes - is fixed, but turning the ball with a slot for the shooting.Balconies were built mainly decorative, but if the wall is narrow, that they were used by retreating and letting the rest go.
Medieval jousting tower is almost always built with prominent towers at the corners.They were out to fire along the walls on both sides.The inner side was open to the enemy, penetrated the walls, not entrenched inside the tower.
What's inside?
Zwinger addition, the gate uninvited guests could expect other surprises.For example, a small private patio with loopholes in the walls.Sometimes castles built of several autonomous sections with powerful interior walls.
sure was inside the castle courtyard with the economy - well, a bakery, a bath, kitchen and dungeon - the central tower.From the location of the well depended a lot, not only health but also the life of the besieged.Sometimes that improvement of the well (remember that when the lock is not just on the hill, then on the rocks) was worth more than all the other buildings of the castle.Thuringian Castle Kuffhoyser, for example, has well over one hundred and forty meters deep.The rock!
central tower
Donjon - the tallest building of the castle.There were monitored surroundings.And that is the central tower - the last refuge of the besieged.The most reliable!The walls are very thick.Sign extremely narrow and located at a high altitude.Stairs leading to the door, it was possible to draw into a ruin.Then the knight's castle is still quite a long time can keep the siege.
At the base of the keep was the basement, kitchen, pantry.Then came floors with stone or wooden beams.Stairs were made of wood, with stone slabs that they can be burned to stop the enemy on the way.
main hall located on the whole floor.Heated fireplace.Usually located above the family room of the owner of the castle.There was a small oven, decorated with tiles.
At the top of the tower, often outdoors, playground for the catapult, and most importantly - the banner!Medieval knights' castles were distinguished not only chivalry.There were times when the knight and his family are not used for dungeon housing building near her stone palace (Palace).Then dungeon served as a warehouse, even prison.
And, of course, each knight's castle certainly had a temple.Required inhabitant of the castle - the chaplain.Often he is - and the clerk and the teacher, in addition to the basic work.In rich castles churches there were two-story, that the Lord did not pray next to the black.Within the church and equip tribal tomb owner.
