Castle - Revision history

Paul Matisz at 13:50, 2 May 2006

2006-05-02T13:50:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:50, 3 May 2006
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	A '''castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by [[nobility]] (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).		A '''castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by [[nobility]] (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]). While no castle was completely impregnable, with the resources of the day most could only be reduced by a long and costly [[siege]].

	The design and function of castles adapted as the [[weapon]]s of the [[period]] changed. For instance, with the development of [[cannon]]s, the walls and [[tower]]s had to be adapted to mount such [[artillery]], and they had to be thickened in order to weather being struck.		The design and function of castles adapted as the [[weapon]]s of the [[period]] changed. For instance, with the development of [[cannon]]s, the walls and [[tower]]s had to be adapted to mount such [[artillery]], and they had to be thickened in order to weather being struck.

Cian: format, links, added stub on design, categorise

2005-04-20T03:33:47Z

format, links, added stub on design, categorise

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:33, 20 April 2005
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	A '''~~Castle~~''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by [[nobility]] (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).		A '''castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by [[nobility]] (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).

			The design and function of castles adapted as the [[weapon]]s of the [[period]] changed. For instance, with the development of [[cannon]]s, the walls and [[tower]]s had to be adapted to mount such [[artillery]], and they had to be thickened in order to weather being struck.

	==== ~~Glossary~~ of ~~related terms =~~===		=== Famous castles ===
			* [[Rhine castles]]
⚫	* motte (as in ''motte-and bailey'') -- an artificial (''very'' occasionally a natural) mound upon which early [[Norman]] ~~'''~~keep~~'''~~s were set. A means to gain height without requring a ~~bvroad~~ base or a serious risk of structural instability.
			* [[Welsh castles]]
⚫	* bailey (as in ''motte-and bailey'') -- the bit below the motte, usually flat(tish), wehere the rest of the castle's buildings went; usually surrounded by a wall. Later on it became used for open portions within a castle, and then often came in 'inner', 'middle' and 'outer' flavours as appropriate. Also known on occasions as a '''ward'''.
			* [[Crusader castles]]
⚫	* keep -- ~~'''~~big~~'''~~ tower, usually the principal tower in the castle. In a simple castle, this would be where the main rooms would be. Later the comfortable bits moved into tailor-made structures, and the keep became something like the conning-tower of the castle.

⚫	* gatehouse -- a defensive structure over and round a gateway into and out of the walled area. In some castles the major defensive work, which subsumed into itself the function of the keep.
			=== Glossary of related terms ===
⚫	* portcullis -- think "''Robin Hood''" movies: this is the waffle-pattern thingie that drops down from above to block a gateway. The idea is that, in a siege, since the attacker needs to get in, but the defender doesn't need to come out, this blocks the attackers' progress, while still letting the defender fire ~~arrows~~ and the like through the holes.
		⚫	* [[motte]] (as in ''motte-and bailey'') -- an artificial (''very'' occasionally a natural) mound upon which early [[Norman]] [[keep]]s were set. A means to gain height without requring a broad base or a serious risk of structural instability.
⚫	* ~~towers~~ -- ''hands up those who need explanation here''
		⚫	* [[bailey]] (as in ''motte-and bailey'') -- the bit below the motte, usually flat(tish), wehere the rest of the castle's buildings went; usually surrounded by a wall. Later on it became used for open portions within a castle, and then often came in 'inner', 'middle' and 'outer' flavours as appropriate. Also known on occasions as a ''ward''.
⚫	* turret -- a small tower, sometimes one perched at the top of the wall that doesn't reach the ground (think Dsny). Nothing to do with being unable to control your speech pattern.
		⚫	* [[keep]] -- big tower, usually the principal tower in the castle. In a simple castle, this would be where the main rooms would be. Later the comfortable bits moved into tailor-made structures, and the keep became something like the conning-tower of the castle.
⚫	* barbican -- a defensive work built out from the main castle. Often an advance gateway, with its own gatehouse, and walls, restricting the width of access to the main gate.
		⚫	* [[gatehouse]] -- a defensive structure over and round a gateway into and out of the walled area. In some castles the major defensive work, which subsumed into itself the function of the keep.
⚫	* moat -- large ditch, sometimes filled with water, surrounding a castle. In some cases this connects to a nearby river or to the sea, providing an access and escape route. Otherwise its main feature is that it stops it being so easy to get to the walls, or to dig under them. A dry moat can also be called a '''foss'''.
		⚫	* [[portcullis]] -- think "[[Robin Hood]]" movies: this is the waffle-pattern thingie that drops down from above to block a gateway. The idea is that, in a [[siege]], since the attacker needs to get in, but the defender doesn't need to come out, this blocks the attackers' progress, while still letting the defender fire [[arrow]]s and the like through the holes.
⚫	* drawbridge -- To get over a moat or foss you need a bridge: a drawbridge is hinged at the castle side, and can be raised or lowered from inside, thus completing the moat's circuit without boxing everybody in; but letting the inhabitants box everyone ''else'' out.
		⚫	* [[tower]]s -- ''hands up those who need explanation here''
⚫	* battlement -- the up and down bits on top of a wall -- the ups are '''merlons''', the holes between '''crenels''' (hence the alternate term ''crenellation'')
		⚫	* [[turret]] -- a small tower, sometimes one perched at the top of the wall that doesn't reach the ground (think Dsny). Nothing to do with being unable to control your speech pattern.
⚫	* postern -- a small gateway, often used by the defenders to rush out at attackers to surprise them. Hence it is also known as a ''sally port'': a ''port'' or gate from which you make a ''sally''.
		⚫	* [[barbican]] -- a defensive work built out from the main castle. Often an advance gateway, with its own [[gatehouse]], and walls, restricting the width of access to the main gate.
		⚫	* [[moat]] -- large ditch, sometimes filled with water, surrounding a castle. In some cases this connects to a nearby river or to the sea, providing an access and escape route. Otherwise its main feature is that it stops it being so easy to get to the walls, or to dig under them. A dry moat can also be called a ''foss''.
		⚫	* [[drawbridge]] -- To get over a [[moat]] or foss you need a [[bridge]]: a drawbridge is hinged at the castle side, and can be raised or lowered from inside, thus completing the moat's circuit without boxing everybody in; but letting the inhabitants box everyone ''else'' out.
		⚫	* [[battlement]] -- the up and down bits on top of a wall -- the ups are ''merlons'', the holes between ''crenels'' (hence the alternate term ''crenellation'')
		⚫	* [[postern]] -- a small gateway, often used by the defenders to rush out at attackers to surprise them. Hence it is also known as a ''sally port'': a ''port'' or gate from which you make a ''sally''.

			[[category:architecture]]

Simoncursitor: Added portcullis

2004-10-27T06:14:00Z

Added portcullis

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:14, 27 October 2004
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	* keep -- '''big''' tower, usually the principal tower in the castle. In a simple castle, this would be where the main rooms would be. Later the comfortable bits moved into tailor-made structures, and the keep became something like the conning-tower of the castle.		* keep -- '''big''' tower, usually the principal tower in the castle. In a simple castle, this would be where the main rooms would be. Later the comfortable bits moved into tailor-made structures, and the keep became something like the conning-tower of the castle.
	* gatehouse -- a defensive structure over and round a gateway into and out of the walled area. In some castles the major defensive work, which subsumed into itself the function of the keep.		* gatehouse -- a defensive structure over and round a gateway into and out of the walled area. In some castles the major defensive work, which subsumed into itself the function of the keep.
			* portcullis -- think "''Robin Hood''" movies: this is the waffle-pattern thingie that drops down from above to block a gateway. The idea is that, in a siege, since the attacker needs to get in, but the defender doesn't need to come out, this blocks the attackers' progress, while still letting the defender fire arrows and the like through the holes.
	* towers -- ''hands up those who need explanation here''		* towers -- ''hands up those who need explanation here''
	* turret -- a small tower, sometimes one perched at the top of the wall that doesn't reach the ground (think Dsny). Nothing to do with being unable to control your speech pattern.		* turret -- a small tower, sometimes one perched at the top of the wall that doesn't reach the ground (think Dsny). Nothing to do with being unable to control your speech pattern.

Simoncursitor: Added glossary

2004-10-26T07:15:04Z

Added glossary

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:15, 26 October 2004
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	A '''Castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by [[nobility]] (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).		A '''Castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by [[nobility]] (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).


			==== Glossary of related terms ====
			* motte (as in ''motte-and bailey'') -- an artificial (''very'' occasionally a natural) mound upon which early [[Norman]] '''keep'''s were set. A means to gain height without requring a bvroad base or a serious risk of structural instability.
			* bailey (as in ''motte-and bailey'') -- the bit below the motte, usually flat(tish), wehere the rest of the castle's buildings went; usually surrounded by a wall. Later on it became used for open portions within a castle, and then often came in 'inner', 'middle' and 'outer' flavours as appropriate. Also known on occasions as a '''ward'''.
			* keep -- '''big''' tower, usually the principal tower in the castle. In a simple castle, this would be where the main rooms would be. Later the comfortable bits moved into tailor-made structures, and the keep became something like the conning-tower of the castle.
			* gatehouse -- a defensive structure over and round a gateway into and out of the walled area. In some castles the major defensive work, which subsumed into itself the function of the keep.
			* towers -- ''hands up those who need explanation here''
			* turret -- a small tower, sometimes one perched at the top of the wall that doesn't reach the ground (think Dsny). Nothing to do with being unable to control your speech pattern.
			* barbican -- a defensive work built out from the main castle. Often an advance gateway, with its own gatehouse, and walls, restricting the width of access to the main gate.
			* moat -- large ditch, sometimes filled with water, surrounding a castle. In some cases this connects to a nearby river or to the sea, providing an access and escape route. Otherwise its main feature is that it stops it being so easy to get to the walls, or to dig under them. A dry moat can also be called a '''foss'''.
			* drawbridge -- To get over a moat or foss you need a bridge: a drawbridge is hinged at the castle side, and can be raised or lowered from inside, thus completing the moat's circuit without boxing everybody in; but letting the inhabitants box everyone ''else'' out.
			* battlement -- the up and down bits on top of a wall -- the ups are '''merlons''', the holes between '''crenels''' (hence the alternate term ''crenellation'')
			* postern -- a small gateway, often used by the defenders to rush out at attackers to surprise them. Hence it is also known as a ''sally port'': a ''port'' or gate from which you make a ''sally''.

130.194.13.102: +links

2004-03-31T04:00:10Z

+links

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 31 March 2004
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	A '''Castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by nobility (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).		A '''Castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by [[nobility]] (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).

Tobin at 09:46, 23 August 2003

2003-08-23T09:46:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:46, 23 August 2003
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	A large stone building used as a fortified base.		A '''Castle''' can be either a large stone building used as a fortified base or an elaborate building occupied by nobility (though the latter is most often called a [[palace]]).

Morgant: new content - previous from dictionary.com

2003-08-11T14:01:17Z

new content - previous from dictionary.com

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:01, 12 August 2003
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			A large stone building used as a fortified base.
	A large [[fortified]] building or group of buildings with thick walls, usually dominating the surrounding country.

211.28.191.111: inital doc

2003-08-06T22:12:08Z

inital doc

New page

A large [[fortified]] building or group of buildings with thick walls, usually dominating the surrounding country.