What were some of the defenses of medieval castles?
The top of the castle walls were the battlements, a protective, tooth shaped parapet often with a wall walk behind it for the soldiers to stand on. The defenders could fire missiles through gaps (crenels). The raised sections between, called merlons, helped to shelter the defenders during an enemy attack.
What was the easiest way to defeat a castle?
Fire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle.
What defensive feature was a ditch or lake filled with water around the castle?
moat, a depression surrounding a castle, city wall, or other fortification, usually but not always filled with water. The existence of a moat was a natural result of early methods of fortification by earthworks, for the ditch produced by the removal of earth to form a rampart made a valuable part of the defense system.
What area of a medieval castle was the most defended?
The enceinte was the castle’s main defensive enclosure, and the terms “bailey” and “enceinte” are linked. A castle could have several baileys but only one enceinte.
What are some castle Defences?
How to defend a castle
- Building up high. Building a castle up high made it difficult for enemies to get to the castle.
- Tall towers. Strong towers were added to curtain walls to watch out for enemies.
- Battlements. Battlements were walls on the roof of a castle.
- Arrow slits.
- Moat.
- Drawbridge.
- Portcullis.
- Dungeons.
What are the blocks on top of a castle called?
In architecture, a battlement is a structure on top of castle or fortress walls that protects from attack. Historically, battlements were usually narrow walls at the top of the outermost walls of a castle.
How do you defend against a trebuchet in medieval times?
Trebuchets will destroy everything if left to their own devices. They’re the trickiest attackers to deal with as they will sit back from the other raiders and slowly chunk away at your base. The only real way to deal with Trebuchets is to charge them with your settlers.
How did they build moats?
The Normans built these castles by erecting a keep on a high mound of earth. A ditch then ran to the bottom of this hill-like structure. This eventually evolved into a proper moat which was essentially a long, wide and deep ditch running all around the periphery of castle walls.
How thick is a castle wall?
The height of walls varied widely by castle, but were often 2.5–6 m (8.2–19.7 ft) thick. They were usually topped with crenellation or parapets that offered protection to defenders.
How did Knights protect the castle?
They wore armour and rode on horseback. Knights were important people in medieval England. They had to be rich to afford the expensive armour and strong horses needed for battle. Together, the knights who protected the castle were called a garrison.
What’s the top of a castle called?
battlement
In architecture, a battlement is a structure on top of castle or fortress walls that protects from attack. Historically, battlements were usually narrow walls at the top of the outermost walls of a castle. Battlements have several important parts. The short, topmost part of the wall was called the parapet.
What kind of defenses did medieval castles have?
Early stone castles often incorporated temporary wooden defences known as hoarding. This was a covered structure placed on the edge of walls or towers to allow the defenders to have a better arc of fire at attackers, especially enemies who might approach the base of the fortification.
Can you imagine a medieval castle under siege?
It’s easy to imagine a Medieval castle under siege – it’s scene that’s been used in tens of thousands of films and TV programmes. We all visualise images of knights upon horses, charging at mighty grey stone castles.
What makes a medieval castle a fantasy castle?
Medieval Castles In Fantasy Fantasy is full of dramatic moments involving castles, keeps, and fortified cities. David Gemmell’s Legend tells the story of the siege of a city with the greatest defensive fortifications by the most powerful army in the land.
What was the first layer of medieval defence?
At Beaumaris Castle in Anglesey, the first layer of defence was the moat, followed by an outer ward and then an inner ward, with the outer wall overlooked by the inner wall. Therefore, if attackers stormed the outer defences they would be confronted by the defenders, who could rain down missiles onto them.