Medieval Castles (Greenwood Guides to Historic Events of the Medieval World)

The castle was far more than a walled and turreted fortress; it was an instrument of social control and the symbol of power, authority, and wealth. Acknowledged expert Marilyn Stokstad combines interpretive essays and original documents in English translation in order to examine the role of the castle in society as well as its use in war. Commencing with an overview of the military and social systems operating in the Middle Ages, Stokstad places castles and other fortified places into an appropriate context. Readers are then guided through the development of early motte and bailey castles and the development of masonry towers and walls in the 11th and 12th centuries. Medieval Castles considers the military aspect of castles, including seige warfare and the architectural response to attack and defence, in the 12th and 13th centuries. It explores castles and citadels as local and regional government and economic centers in the 14th and 15th centuries. It also looks at the symbolic role of architecture and at castles as elite residences and settings for public display. A concluding interpretive essay looks at the impact of gunpowder on castles as well as our continuing fascination with the castle as a romantic fantasy of an idealized world. The Castle Was Far More Than A Walled And Turreted Fortress; It Was An Instrument Of Social Control And The Symbol Of Power, Authority, And Wealth. Acknowledged Expert Marilyn Stokstad Combines Interpretive Essays And Original Documents In English Translation In Order To Examine The Role Of The Castle In Society As Well As Its Use In War. Commencing With An Overview Of The Military And Social Systems Operating In The Middle Ages, Stokstad Places Castles And Other Fortified Places Into An Appropriate Context. Readers Are Then Guided Through The Development Of Early Motte And Bailey Castles And The Development Of Masonry Towers And Walls In The 11th And 12th Centuries. The Castle As Fortress Chapter Considers The Military Aspect Of Castles, Including Siege Warfare And The Architectural Response To Attack And Defense, In The 12th And 13th Centuries. The Castle As Headquarters Chapter Explores Castles And Citadels As Local And Regional Government And Economic Centers In The 14th And 15th Centuries. The Castles As Symbol And Palace Chapter Looks At The Symbolic Role Of Architecture And At Castles As Elite Residences And Settings For Public Display. A Concluding Interpretive Essay Looks At The Impact Of Gunpower On Castles As Well As Our Continuing Fascination With The Castle As A Romantic Fantasy Of An Idealized World. Thirty Illustrations Provide Valuable Visual References While Twenty Brief Biographies Of Rulers, Builders, And Chroniclers Allow A Glimpse Into The Lives Of Those Who Lived In And Constructed These Impressive Structures. Seventy Excerpted And Annotated Primary Documents Cover Topics Ranging From The Defense Of Castles To The Banquets Thrown Within Them. A Glossary Of Terms, Annotated Chronology And Index Complete This Useful Work On A Fascinating Subject. Overview: Castles In Context -- The Great Tower: Norman And Early Plantagenet Castles -- The Castle As Fortress: The Castle And Siege Warfare -- The Castle As Headquarters: The Political And Economic Role Of The Castle -- The Castle As Symbol And Palace -- Impact And Consequences: The Afterlife Of The Castle -- Anna Comnena -- The Venerable Bede -- Jean Froissart -- Geoffrey Of Monmouth -- Giraldus Cambrensis (gerald Of Wales) -- Jean, Lord Of Joinville -- Lambert Of Ardre -- Ordericus Vitalis -- Builders -- Blanche Of Castile -- Edward I -- Eleanor Of Aquitaine -- Henry I -- Henry Ii Plantagenet -- James Of St. George -- John Of Gaunt -- Louis Vii -- Louis Ix (st. Louis) -- Philip Ii Augustus -- Philip Iv The Fair -- Richard I The Lion Hearted -- William I The Conqueror -- Primary Documents -- King Arthur's Parents -- The Roman Rampart, Built Of Earth And Timber -- The Mound And Ditch Castles In Ireland Continue The Earth And Timber Building Traditions Of The North --^ The Irish Win Through A Daring Trick; They Enter The Castle And Kill The Lord -- Gerald Describes His Home, The Castle Of Manorbeer -- The Castle Of Ardre, A Huge Timber Castle, Built After Arnold's Return From The First Crusade -- The Masonry Castle At Guines -- Repairs And Improvements-building A Prison, A Chapel, Lists Between The Walls, And A Fish Pond -- The Problems Of A Medieval Baker When The Oven Is Badly Located -- Separate Bedrooms But A Convenient Spiral Staircase In A Thirteenth-century Castle -- A Crusader's Sorrow At Leaving Home -- The Mound Is Built -- The Castle And The Master Builder -- The Crew Needed To Build A Castle, And The Hazards They Faced -- Compulsory Service On Castle Building And Destruction -- The Burden Of Castle Building On The People, 1066 -- The Burden Of Castle Building On The People, 1087 -- The Common People Hated The Castles -- A Demand For Wages In The Fourteenth Century -- The Norman Conquest Of England --^ The Failure Of An Attack On Dover Castle -- The Siege Of Rochester And The Plague Of Flies, 1088 -- The Rapid And Cowardly Departure Of A Castle's Garrison -- The Burning Of A City -- Bohemund's Siege Engines -- The Battering Ram -- Mining Operations -- The Siege Tower -- The Assault -- Difficulties For Those Conducting A Siege -- The Assault On Jerusalem -- The Massacre Of The People Of Jerusalem -- The Water Supply Is Cut At Alencon -- The Countess Surrenders The Castles -- The Siege Of Brevol; Returning Crusaders Bring Experience Back To Europe -- The Surrender Of Rochester Castle, The Trumpets Sound -- The Ice Torture Of Prisoners And The High Cost Of Freedom -- A Successful Defense -- The Siege Tower, Called A Belfry, At The Siege Of Courci -- A Constable Saves His Castle By Pretending To Have Plenty Of Food -- The Escape Of The Bishop Of Durham From The Tower Of London -- The Virtues Of Good Grooming-an Escape --^ The Tables Are Turned; An Inept Castellan And A Clever Governor, The Scots Take A Castle, And Are Trapped -- Matilda Governs Normandy While William Conquers England -- A Militant Countess -- Princess Sibylla Defends Tarragona -- The Changing Fortunes Of Civil War, And The Daring Escape Of Empress Matilda From Oxford In 1140 -- The Heroic Countess Of Montfort Saves Her Castle And Fights For Brittany -- Countess Alberede Builds A Fine Castle And Then Has Her Architect Lanfred Beheaded So That He Cannot Build Another -- Isabel, A Warrior Countess, And Her Rival Stir Up A Civil War -- A Clever Mother, But Was She Wicked Too? -- Juliana, King Henry's Illegitimate Daughter, Tries To Shoot Her Father And Escapes By Way Of The Moat -- The Earl Of Chester And His Brother Capture Lincoln Castle With The Help Of Their Wives -- The Earl Of Pembroke And His Men Find Shelter In A Fortified House -- City Walls -- The Destruction Of Limerick -- The Building Of A Town --^ The Origin Of Oven Dues-the Bear And The Bread -- A City Is Forced To Feed The Army -- A Rare Description Of A Poor Woman's House; The Earl Takes Refuge -- Homes In The Countryside -- The Welsh Character, Hospitality, And Personal Hygiene -- Noble Entertainments -- A Poet Suffers For His Jokes -- A Noble Household Finds Lodging, And The Dangers Of Spanish Wine In The Fourteenth Century -- A Description Of A Livery -- The Lord At Dinner -- A Great Banquet In Thirteenth-century France, The Social And Architectural Arrangements -- A Splendid Royal Banquet And Entertainment, June 20, 1399 -- The Dance Of The Flaming Wildmen: A Wedding Party Ends In Tragedy, January 1392. Marilyn Stokstad. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [177]-187) And Index.