--- title: Medieval Castle author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval_Castle/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2024-02-07 --- # Medieval Castle _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Medieval castles were built from the 11th century CE for rulers to demonstrate their wealth and power to the local populace, to provide a place of defence and safe retreat in the case of attack, defend strategically important sites like river crossings, passages through hills, mountains, and frontiers, and as a place of residence. Whether a permanent home for a local lord or a temporary one for a ruler embarking on a tour of their kingdom, medieval castles were converted from wood into stone and became ever more impressive structures with more and more defensive features such as round towers and fortified gates. ### The Evolution of the Castle A good location for a castle was on a natural rise, near a cliff, on the bend of a river, or where older fortifications such as [Roman walls](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/942/roman-walls/) could be usefully reused. Castles needed their own water and food supplies and usually a permanent defensive force, additional factors to be considered when choosing a location. Castles were an expensive undertaking which could take years to finish. A master mason, who was, in effect also the architect, led a team of hundreds of skilled workers ranging from carpenters to blacksmiths and dyke specialists to common labourers. The transportation of materials was the highest cost of all so the proximity of a local quarry was a big plus. The earliest form of castle was a simple wooden palisade, perhaps with earthworks, surrounding a camp, sometimes with a permanent wooden tower in the centre. This then evolved into the [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) - a [wall](https://www.worldhistory.org/wall/) encircling an open space or courtyard (bailey) and a natural or artificial hill (motte) which had a wooden tower built on top of it. These were especially popular with the Normans from the 11th century CE. In the next stage of development, an outer wall was built of stone on top of the motte and then known as a shell keep. Finally, in the 12th century CE, the outer wall and main central tower also came to be built of stone, but not usually on the motte itself as that was not stable enough to use as a foundation for such a heavy structure. Indeed, entirely new locations might be preferred or required, and the foundation of choice was bedrock which prevented any undermining by an attacking force. The keep became a staple feature of castles, although they were called a donjon (from the French word meaning 'lord') prior to the 16th century CE. Usually with three or more stories (tower keeps); some were lower and are called hall keeps. The keep was the heart of the medieval castle and the last point of refuge in case of attack or siege. Before they got to the keep, though, attackers had to negotiate a long list of defensive features. ### Features of a Medieval Castle The typical features of a medieval castle were: - **Moat** - a perimeter ditch with or without water - **Barbican** - a fortification to protect a gate - **Curtain Walls & Towers** - the perimeter defensive wall - **Fortified Gatehouse** - the main castle entrance - **Keep** (aka Donjon or Great Tower) - the largest tower and best stronghold of the castle - **Bailey** or **Inner Ward** (courtyard) - the area within a curtain wall. ### Moat An artificial ditch or moat was dug to surround the entire castle complex and could be filled with water permanently or temporarily during attack in some cases. As creating a moat was a huge undertaking, the presence of natural rises and depressions were important factors in choosing where to build the castle in the first place. The earth or stone excavated while preparing the moat could be used to build up the mound on which the castle would be subsequently built. The moat was made deep enough to impede attackers on horse, foot or equipped with siege towers. The sides were steep and could be riveted with wooden stakes to increase their slipperiness. Stakes might also be placed in the bottom to further impede crossing. If filled with water, only a half-metre depth was required to obstruct the enemy and make them more vulnerable to missiles fired from the walls above. [ ![Caerphilly Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/8754.jpg?v=1774573652) Caerphilly Castle Nathan Reading (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8754/caerphilly-castle/ "Caerphilly Castle")### Barbican The barbican was a defensive fortification built to protect potential weak spots like a gate. Typically consisting of a short stretch of fortified wall, perhaps forming an echelon form, it allowed the defenders to ward off a direct attack on the wall or gate proper. The barbican could be protected by covering fire from the towers behind it and was sometimes surrounded by its own wall and/or ditch (with accompanying drawbridge or swing bridge) when it was known as a courtyard barbican. A second type was the passageway barbican which was similar to a fortified corridor leading from a gateway outwards. By the mid-13th century CE, barbicans were set more distant from the outer wall, at an angle from a gate and incorporating a 90-degree turn within them (between the entrance and exit bridges) to further impede access to the castle proper. ### Curtain Walls & Towers Walls surrounding the castle proper presented a formidable challenge to attackers. If the foundations were not of rock then they had to be specially prepared to bear the tremendous weight. The most common method was to dig a trench wider than the width of the wall and fill it with rammed stone rubble. Alternatively, oak piles could be driven into the soil to make it more stable. Walls varied in thickness, but an average seems to have been around 2.5 metres. Some were thick enough to contain passageways or murals. Most walls were made of two layers of dressed stones covering a rubble and mortar core. To prevent undermining and make their scaling more difficult both walls and towers could be built on a sloped plinth or a sloped protective curtain (spur) was later added. This slope could also prove useful if projectiles were thrown down on the enemy as they tended to bounce off at unpredictable angles. With a parapet of crenellations (aka battlements) along the top of the walls, defenders could hide behind the raised parts of the wall (merlons) if necessary and then fire their arrows and crossbows through the lower part (crenels), minimising their exposure to enemy missiles. Crenels might also be protected by hinged wooden shutters which could be lowered when an archer wanted to fire an arrow. Walls had raised internal platforms for defenders to walk along while the internal side of the wall was usually left open in case they were breached and were used to launch further attacks on the inner fortifications. Towers were added to walls so that the defenders could fire down onto the enemy from multiple angles. Towers evolved from square to D-shaped (1180s CE onwards) and then circular in form, which gave a greater range of fire and eliminated the corner blind spots. Projecting towers gave additional firing possibilities on the enemy as they tried to either scale or undermine the walls. Circular towers were also more structurally stable and better resisted attempts to collapse them either by undermining or picking out stones with tools (corners being a favourite target for sappers). Curved towers had an additional advantage of better deflecting artillery missiles such as heavy stones. If the enemy did manage to climb one section of the wall, then the towers provided a refuge for the defenders from where they could continue to fire their arrows. Archers were able to fire through narrow vertical slits in the stonework which widened on the inside to give a better field of fire. Later, a small horizontal slit was added to further increase the firing range. [ ![Plan of Harlech Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/11522.jpg?v=1704288849-1689624085) Plan of Harlech Castle Cadw (Open Government License) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11522/plan-of-harlech-castle/ "Plan of Harlech Castle")As castle design evolved, another, interior circuit of walls became a common feature - the concentric walled castle. Now attackers had to breach two walls, and if they did get through the outer wall, they were extremely vulnerable to fire from the even higher inner wall when crossing the space (ward) between the two lines of defence. Underground tunnels were sometimes excavated to link the two sets of wall and provide an escape route to outside the castle or a sally port which defenders could use to turn the tables and attack the attackers from behind. From the 15th century CE, when battles were largely fought in the open and castle [warfare](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) declined, castles continued to incorporate their traditional defensive features, but these were now largely symbolic and for show only. Imposing towers and crenellations became easily recognisable symbols of power and so were added to large country houses and even to such peaceful institutional buildings as churches and universities. ### Fortified Gatehouse The main gate of a castle was potentially one of its weakest points, and for this reason, gates gained more and more protective features over time. Twin towers were built from the end of the 12th century CE with the gate tucked between them and recessed. The gate itself was protected by a heavy wooden door and a portcullis (or even two) - a [metal](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/metal/) and wooden grid which could be lowered to block access. There might be a drawbridge, too, which could be raised by chains or, in the quicker version, swung 90 degrees, which meant the enemy had to negotiate a ditch or water-filled moat before they got to the actual doorway. Additional defensive measures included 'murder holes' (machicolations) - holes in projecting battlements above the entrance gate through which missiles or burning liquid could be thrown. Similarly, a water chute allowed the defenders to douse any fires the attackers set against the vulnerable wooden gate door. [ ![Gatehouse, Chepstow Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/8753.jpg?v=1716583623) Gatehouse, Chepstow Castle Damian Entwistle (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8753/gatehouse-chepstow-castle/ "Gatehouse, Chepstow Castle")Over time, as gatehouses became remarkable strong points, rather than weak points, they were even used as residences, particularly by the castle's constable - he who was in charge of its daily management. Some gatehouses also had dungeons under them and rooms in the upper floors for more honoured prisoners who were being kept for ransom. A chapel, too, might be incorporated into the gatehouse. Larger castles might have a second fortified gate (typically on the opposite side of the circuit wall from the main gate) and one or more very small gates or posterns for single-person access in emergencies. ### Keep The tower keep or donjon was a multi-storied tower building with especially thick walls and a well-defended entrance, which made it the safest place in the castle when under attack. They began to appear in most castles from the early 12th century CE. A keep could be square or rectangular and often had its own small towers or turrets on top; alternatively, some were round and had wooden hoardings around their tops to act as covered firing platforms. Reaching up to a height of 40 metres in some cases (although around 20 metres is more common), these imposing structures were useful indicators of a local lord or sovereign's power besides a hypothetical place of retreat. Expensive to build, towering keeps were steadily being replaced by the 13th century CE with larger round towers in the circuit wall than had been seen previously. [ ![Pembroke Castle Keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/8736.jpg?v=1765759451) Pembroke Castle Keep Mario Sánchez Prada (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8736/pembroke-castle-keep/ "Pembroke Castle Keep")As with any building, the weak spot of a [castle keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) was the entrance and so this was often accessed by a staircase going directly to the first floor (i.e. above the ground floor). This staircase could be removed if necessary in early castles, and later it was permanent but protected by its own passageway and towers added on to the side of the keep (a forebuilding). The forebuilding was sometimes separated from the keep by a drawbridge, portcullis, and ditch. A huge barred door was the last but still formidable obstacle to attackers who managed to get that far. Even if soldiers got inside the keep, they had to fight their way up the narrow spiral staircases to each succeeding floor, sometimes having to cross an entire floor to reach the next level's staircase. Roofs were usually of wood and steeply angled. The outer roof surface was protected by shingles, tiles, slates, thatch or lead sheeting. Wood or lead-lined drainage channels, drainpipes, and projecting stone spouts ensured rainwater did not accumulate or damage the stonework of the building. Typically, the basement of the keep was used for the storage of foodstuffs, arms and equipment. There was usually a deep well to provide drinking water, which could be supplemented by rainfall captured and directed into a cistern. On the ground floor were the kitchens and sometimes stables. The first floor typically contained a great hall for banquets and audiences. This was a room designed to impress and so often had a beautiful wooden beam ceiling or impressive stone vaults, large windows (opening onto the safe interior side of the castle), and a grand fireplace. On this floor too, and perhaps also the floor above as well, were private chambers and usually a chapel. The top floor, sometimes called the solar or 'sun room' because it was safe enough to have bigger windows, was for an uncertain purpose. Heating was provided by fireplaces and portable braziers while windows would have had wooden shutters to keep in the heat when required. ### Bailey In the inner bailey or courtyard, besides the keep, there could be several other buildings such as granaries, workshops (for blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers and potters), a buttery (for wine and [beer](https://www.worldhistory.org/Beer/) storage), stables, secondary accommodation, and perhaps a space for hunting dogs and birds if in a bigger castle. These structures were built using stone or more simply with wattle and daub walls and thatch roofs. To ensure a greater self-sufficiency in times of siege, there were gardens and space for poultry and livestock within the protection of the bailey. Larger castles also had a secondary chapel here, too. Finally, a note on toilets. The latrines of a castle were typically built using a protruding shaft of masonry down a portion of the exterior wall and the waste fell directly into the ditch or moat outside. Toilets had a simple wooden bench with a hole in it, but some were private with their own door while others were merely set in a recess. Triangular urinals were built into some tower walls so that defenders did not have to leave their post for very long. It seems that even such basic human activities were considered by architects to provide the best possible defence of the castle against all comers in all situations. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Creighton, O.H. *Castles and Landscapes.* Equinox Publishing, 2004.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1904768679/) - [Gies, J. *Life in a Medieval Castle.* Harper Perennial, 2015.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0062414798/) - [Gravett, C. *Norman Stone Castles.* Osprey Publishing, 2018.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01FGLO3MI/) - [Phillips, C. *The Medieval Castle Manual.* Haynes Publishing UK, 2018.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1785211471/) - [Pounds, N.J.G. *The Medieval Castle in England and Wales.* Cambridge University Press, 1993.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0521458285/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **967 CE**: The castle of Baños de la Encina, Jaén, Spain is built by the Moors. - **c. 1000 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is built at Ivry-la-Bataille Castle, Normandy, France. - **c. 1000 CE**: The castle and [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) of Langeais, central France, are built. - **c. 1020 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) of Loches Castle, central France, is built. - **1066 CE**: [William the Conqueror](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_the_Conqueror/) begins construction of [Dover Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dover_Castle/) in southern [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **Oct 1066 CE**: The Normans introduce [motte and bailey castles](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) to [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/). - **c. 1067 CE**: Earl William FitzOsbern begins the construction of [Chepstow Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chepstow_Castle/) in Wales. - **1067 CE - 1090 CE**: The first [Great Hall](https://www.worldhistory.org/Great_Hall/) of [Chepstow Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chepstow_Castle/) is built. - **1068 CE**: Exeter Castle, Devon, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **1068 CE**: A [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) is built at York, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1068 CE**: A [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) is built at Warwick, Warwickshire, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1069 CE**: A second [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) is built at York, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1070 CE**: The Normans build the motte and bailey Pickering Castle, Yorkshire, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1070 CE**: [William the Conqueror](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_the_Conqueror/) builds a [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) at Windsor. - **c. 1072 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) of [Chepstow Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chepstow_Castle/), Wales is built. - **c. 1074 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is begun at Colchester Castle, Essex, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1078 CE - c. 1100 CE**: The White Tower of the [Tower of London](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tower_of_London/) is built, a project begun by [William the Conqueror](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_the_Conqueror/). - **1080 CE**: A [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) is built at Launceston, Cornwall, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1080 CE**: A [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) is built at Totnes, Devon, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1087 CE - 1089 CE**: Construction of the first stone version of [Rochester Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rochester_Castle/) in [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1093 CE**: A [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/) is built at Caernarfon in Wales by the Normans. - **1095 CE - 1115 CE**: The hall keep is added to Norwich Castle, Norfolk, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1100 CE**: The motte and bailey Restormel Castle, Cornwall, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **c. 1105 CE**: Corfe Castle, Dorset, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **1122 CE**: Carlisle Castle, Cumbria, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **c. 1125 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) of Arques Castle, Normandy, France is built by [Henry I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Henry_I_of_England/). - **1127 CE**: Construction begins of Scarborough Castle, Yorkshire, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) - **1127 CE - 1136 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is built at [Rochester Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rochester_Castle/), [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1130 CE**: Etampes Castle is built, near [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/), France. The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is circular on the outside and square inside. - **1131 CE**: The castle of Bari, southern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) is built by Count Roger I. - **1136 CE**: The [Knights Hospitaller](https://www.worldhistory.org/Knights_Hospitaller/) are given the castle of Beth Gibelin, [Jerusalem](https://www.worldhistory.org/jerusalem/). - **c. 1138 CE**: Castle Rising Castle, Norfolk, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **c. 1138 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) of Farnham Castle, Surrey, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **c. 1142 CE**: A [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is added to Hedingham Castle, Essex, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1144 CE**: The [Knights Hospitaller](https://www.worldhistory.org/Knights_Hospitaller/) acquire the castle of [Krak des Chevaliers](https://www.worldhistory.org/Krak_Des_Chevaliers/) in [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/). - **c. 1150 CE**: A stone shell keep is built at Cardiff Castle, Wales . - **1150 CE - 1175 CE**: The [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/)'s Tower [castle keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) at Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **1157 CE**: The castle of Eltz, Germany is built by the counts of Eltz. - **1157 CE - 1169 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) of Scarborough Castle, Yorkshire, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **1165 CE - 1173 CE**: Orford Castle, Suffolk, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built and has a circular [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) with attached rectangular turrets. - **1168 CE - 1178 CE**: A [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is added to Newcastle Castle, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1170 CE**: Henry II builds the Round Tower of [Windsor Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Windsor_Castle/), [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1170 CE - 1189 CE**: Henry II extends [Dover Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dover_Castle/) in southern [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/), adding outer walls and a keep. - **1174 CE**: The castle of Munzenberg, Hesse, Germany is built. - **1180 CE**: The Castle of the Counts of Flanders, Ghent, Belgium is built. - **1180 CE - 1190 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is built at Conisbrough Castle, Doncaster, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1180 CE - 1205 CE**: Carrickfergus castle, Northern [Ireland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ireland/) is built. - **1186 CE**: The [Knights Hospitaller](https://www.worldhistory.org/Knights_Hospitaller/) gain control of Marqab (Margat) castle in [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/). - **c. 1190 CE**: [Sir William Marshal](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sir_William_Marshal/) begins rebuilding [Chepstow Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chepstow_Castle/) in Wales. - **c. 1190 CE - 1200 CE**: The castle of Trim, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in [Ireland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ireland/) is built. - **1198 CE**: Chateau Gaillard in Normandy, France is built by [Richard I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Richard_I_of_England/). - **1199 CE - 1219 CE**: [Sir William Marshal](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sir_William_Marshal/) adds a circular [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) to Pembroke Castle, Wales. - **c. 1200 CE**: The [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) of Barnard Castle, County Durham, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **1202 CE**: An [earthquake](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/earthquake/) damages the castle of [Krak des Chevaliers](https://www.worldhistory.org/Krak_Des_Chevaliers/) in [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/) which is then rebuilt and enlarged by the [Knights Hospitaller](https://www.worldhistory.org/Knights_Hospitaller/). - **1205 CE**: [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) of France adds a [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) to Chinon Castle, France. - **1206 CE**: A round [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is built into the curtain walls of Gisors, Normandy, France. - **c. 1207 CE - c. 1214 CE**: [King John](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/King_John/) adds towers to the walls of [Dover Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dover_Castle/) in southern [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1216 CE**: The castle of Calatrava la Nueva, Castile is built by the Order of Calatrava. - **1218 CE**: The Château Pèlerin ("Pilgrim Castle") is built in [Israel](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Israel/) by the [Knights Templar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Knights_Templar/). - **1222 CE - 1235 CE**: The [Great Hall](https://www.worldhistory.org/Great_Hall/) of Winchester Castle is built. - **1223 CE**: Work is begun on Montgomery Castle, Wales by Hubert de Burgh. - **c. 1225 CE**: A circular [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) is built at Chateau de Coucy, northern France - **1230 CE - 1240 CE**: The curtain walls and round towers of Angers Castle, central France, are built by Louis IX. - **1233 CE**: Holy [Roman Emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Emperor/) [Frederick II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Frederick_II/) rebuilds the castle of Bari, southern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). - **1240 CE**: Dirleton Castle, East Lothian, [Scotland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Scotland/) is built with a massive circular [tower keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/). - **1245 CE**: Clifford's Tower shell keep is built at York, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) on the site of a former [motte and bailey castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Motte_and_Bailey_Castle/). - **1250 CE - 1260 CE**: The castle of Najac in southern France is built. - **1250 CE - 1265 CE**: A double-towered gatehouse is added to Tonbridge Castle, Kent, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) by Richard de Clare. - **1268 CE**: Construction of [Caerphilly Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Caerphilly_Castle/) in Wales is begun by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. - **1282 CE**: The Castel Nuovo of Naples, southern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) is built by the Angevins. - **1282 CE - 1289 CE**: [Harlech Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Harlech_Castle/) in Wales is built by [Edward I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edward_I_of_England/). - **1283 CE - 1292 CE**: [Conwy Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Conwy_Castle/) in Wales is built by [Edward I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edward_I_of_England/). - **1283 CE - 1330 CE**: [Caernarfon Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Caernarfon_Castle/) in Wales is built, a project begun by [Edward I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edward_I_of_England/). - **1283 CE - 1330 CE**: [Harlech Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Harlech_Castle/) in Wales is built by [Edward I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edward_I_of_England/). - **1285 CE**: A new [Great Hall](https://www.worldhistory.org/Great_Hall/) is completed at [Chepstow Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chepstow_Castle/). - **c. 1287 CE - 1293 CE**: The Marten's Tower is added to [Chepstow Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chepstow_Castle/), Wales. - **1290 CE**: The castle of Falkenberg, Bavaria, Germany is built. - **1295 CE**: [Beaumaris Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Beaumaris_Castle/) in Wales is built by [Edward I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edward_I_of_England/). - **1322 CE**: The Castle of Sarzanello, Pisa, [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) is built by Castruccio Castracane. - **1341 CE**: The [Great Hall](https://www.worldhistory.org/Great_Hall/) is built at Penshurst Castle, Kent, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **c. 1350 CE**: The [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/)'s Tower is built at Warwick Castle, Warwickshire, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/). - **1354 CE**: Scalliger Castle, [Verona](https://www.worldhistory.org/Verona/), [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) is built by Can Grande II della Scala. - **1380 CE**: The Castello della Rocca of Cesena, [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) is built. - **1385 CE**: The Castello d'Este, Ferrara, [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) is built. - **1385 CE**: Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built. - **1390 CE - 1400 CE**: The castle of Pierrefonds, northern France is built by Louis D'Orleans. - **1412 CE**: The Castello Sforzesco, Milan - the largest castle in [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) - is built by Francesco Sforza. - **1450 CE**: The castle of Peñafiel, northern Spain is built. ## Questions & Answers ### What are the 4 types of medieval castles? There were four types of medieval castle. In order of appearance, these types were: the motte and bailey, wooden tower keep, stone tower keep, and stone concentric walled castle. ### What was a medieval castle? A medieval castle was a wooden or stone building used by rulers to demonstrate their wealth and power and to provide a place of defence in times of war. A medieval castle usually defended a strategically important site like a frontier, river crossing, or valley pass. Many castles had a permanent garrison of soldiers. ### Do any medieval castles still exist? Many medieval castles still exist today in one form or another. Some of the best-preserved medieval castles include the Tower of London, Dover Castle, and Carcassonne Castle. ## External Links - [Tower of London](https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/) - [Guédelon](https://www.guedelon.fr/en/) - [The Design of Roman and Medieval Castles](https://ed.ted.com/on/O4bMBy8l) - [Inside Burg Eltz Castle, Germany's Iconic Medieval Stronghold](https://allthatsinteresting.com/eltz-castle) ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2018, May 17). Medieval Castle. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval\_Castle/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval_Castle/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Medieval Castle." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 17, 2018. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval\_Castle/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval_Castle/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Medieval Castle." *World History Encyclopedia*, 17 May 2018, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval\_Castle/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval_Castle/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 17 May 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.