fun facts about castles in the middle agesfun facts about castles in the middle ages

A castle is type of fortified structure mostly built in Europe and the Middle East in the middle ages. They were created that way to make combat more difficult for right-handed invaders who had to ascent on those stairs and use their weapons. These places were, of course, the castles and fortified cities of the time (which often had castles within them called citadels), and they served as the medieval soldiers military base. He never actually visited the castle, but based his fictional version on images and descriptions of the place. A gatehouse would usually have overhanging battlements or flanking towers at its front, and a portcullis (a large wooden grate that could be raised and lowered when needed) over the entrance. Very often, there were only huge rooms and several secret passages. The history, development, architecture and building of these great fortresses changed as time progressed, influenced by important historical events such as the crusades and the technology of siege warfare. The are three main types of castles: The motte and bailey castle, the stone keep castle, and the concentric castle. An example of this is Harlech Castles standard garrison, which was comprised of only 36 men. Which invention was named after a medieval king? The castle has been lovingly restored and is equipped with all the mod cons including luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms. Such rooms had bigger windows, sothere was more sunlight. LUXURY TRAVEL WHERE TO STAY Mansions/Country Houses Castles Stately Homes Boutique Hotels Chateaux & Villas Some people did manage to live relatively long lives in the Middle ages, like King Henry VIII, who lived until he was 58 years old! The Chateau de Doue-la-Fontaine in France is said to be the oldest castle thats still standing, but the remaining fortress of the Citadel of Aleppo may be even older - by a few thousand years! Castles played a big role in the social system called Feudalism. Built by William I, the Queens home is over 900 years. This was a time of castles and peasants, guilds and monasteries, cathedrals and crusades. The Medieval Period, or Middle Ages, is a period in European history which lasted from the 5th to the 15th centuries. It translates to forgotten in French, an apt definition, considering it was essentially the medieval version of solitary confinement. If an army could get their siege engines close enough to get men over the wall, they might be able to do significant damage and open the gates to let the rest of their men in! Films such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ironclad, and Kingdom of Heaven show that defeating a castle or castle-like defenseswas a simple matter of storming the walls, and that trebuchets could destroy castles within a short bombardment. While the initial upfront cost was immense, the maintenance also required a lot of funds. The Middle East and North Africa came under the rule of the Islamic Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate, after the conquest by the successors of Muhammad. Dungeons, being key defensive constructions, were also used asaplace tolivein: onevery floor, there were 1to2rooms that werent heated orlit well. Q. Rome was attacked by Alaric, Visogoth king, for three days. While this was a clever way of putting the earth to good use, the walls which enveloped the castle, as well as the castle itself, were made of wood, which could easily be burnt down. The knights in shining armor were a popular topic during this era, and there were even songs written about them. Here are ten interesting castle facts. It was named after the King of England at the time, James I. Windsor Castle remains a record-holder in many ways. This made demolishing such walls with siege engines like trebuchets a difficult and lengthy endeavor. The increased cost was due to the price of stone, the mining involved in producing it, transportation, and building crews. While more common on French castles, they were used to attack enemies from above. People ate far less sugar than wedonow. Called garderobes, the toilets were pretty simplistic, made from a wooden plank supported by stone, with a hole cut into it. Press Esc to cancel. There are still over 1500 castle sites today in England alone, each one with a fascinating history to tell. Based on the evidences were found, the form and design varied among regions. Castles were built for dual purposes - specifically, they were used to help protect the people within them from the threat of invasion - however, they were also used as huge displays of wealth and grandeur. Once the skirmish was complete, they could retreat back to a very secure location that couldnt be attacked in return with such ease. There were also many rules and regulations that people had to follow - like not being able to eat meat on Fridays because it was a day reserved for fasting. The Middle Ages are often thought ofasdark times but thats not entirely fair. Motte and Bailey Castle - Lords and Ladies Several times in history, infiltrators or spies opened the postern to the enemy, such as what happened at the final siege of Corfe Castle in 1645. There are many historical castles that were placed in such commanding positions that they were never taken by direct assault. In this article, we will be discussing interesting facts about Middle Ages. But there was a time when castles were a practical real estate choice, as both a sign and means to protect wealth. The big rooms were often separated with hanging carpets that were removed when necessary. Castles had to be captured by siege. In English, the historical use of the word castle has been to refer to fortresses, citadels, manor houses, and palaces even though these structures can be very distinct from one another. Medieval castle bathrooms were tiny rooms jutting out of the first floor, often on the cold, breezy northern side (no one said going to the bathroom had to be an enjoyable experience). An increase in trade, new technologies, and improved farming techniques led to better food production methods. The majority of ancient castles that survived tooth of time are either destroyed, turned into monuments or converted for public uses. This period came to an end with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance. Dark and gloomy, the keeps were considered an ideal prison and so became dungeons. Every kid always wanted to live in a castle. 1. They found all three! The personal servants in the Middle Ages were treated like the family dog and thats not a bad thing. A. Pope Leo III crowns the King as the 'Emperor of Romans.' 8. Known as bossed stones, these protrusions date back to before the ancient Roman Empire. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. The medieval period, also called the Middle Ages, lasted from the 5th century CE to the end of the 15th century. Life In A Medieval Castle Was Gross. A keep is the great tower and usually the strongest defended point of a castle before the introduction of concentric defence. About Medieval Times. 3. Those in the castles werent going anywhere, and if there was no sign of immediate reinforcements the attackers could take their time in building barricades, sometimes fully encircling the defending castle with a wooden wall. Middle Ages Facts & Worksheets - KidsKonnect In term, palace is not fortified, and from a fortress, it was not always a residence for nobility. The feudal system had no state run military. 871 AD, England's Alfred the Great's rule: Alfred captured London and then divided England between the Danes of Vikings and himself. Why did they build Castles? Once prisoners were placed in these small, dark rooms, odds are theyd never be released. Siege weapons . Inthe tenth and eleventh centuries, castles were more like fortified camps. Medieval people loved color, and the more color you could display in dress and in your home especially those colors that were hard to fabricate through dyes the greater wealth implied. Most Famous Medieval Castles Historic Castles in England Castles Worksheets Complete List Of Included Worksheets Castles are fortified structures dominantly built in the Middle Ages. The medieval period is often thought of as a time of kings, castles, knights, and damsels. Invaders could very well poison the water supply, if left unattended, and virtually guarantee defeat. Against greater numbers, cannons, and even having parts of the castle destroyed, the defenders of Harlech Castle held off the aggressors for nearly a year and only surrendered when they ran out of food. And weatBright Side wanted totake alook athow people lived within these fortress walls. While initially cheap and easy to build, as they were made from earth and wood, the price skyrocketed when it was realized stone and mortar would provide better protection from attacks. Essentially, all anyone did was stick around making sure nobody touched their stuff. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This page was last modified on December 29, 2021. What did they eat? To find out more interesting facts email info@ltrcastles.com. There was also afeast room and akitchen. Dungeons, coming from the French word donjon meaning fortified tower, were originally built as a central keep and a last refuge for castle inhabitants under attack. The medieval era began in 800 AD and lasted until 1485. In European history, the medieval period or Middle ages was approximately between the fifth century and the late 15th century, like the post-classical period of world history. Castles are beautiful building structures to dream and are wonderful to watch, but too encircled to live in! Adding to the wretchedness, these bathrooms were often cold and breezy, hardly conducive to progress. It was often artificial, even though sometimes it incorporated a pre-existing feature of the landscape. Thanks tomovies, wewere certain that the inside walls ofcastles were grey and dark. The attacking army could ransack the surrounding land but that didnt deal with the defending army, which would be striking at their flanks as much as possible. Castles, initially, were built in the 9th and 10th centuries, which is after the fall of the Carolingian Empire resulted in its territory being devided among individual lords and princes. 9. This period is marked by the spread of Christianity throughout the continent, the rise of new civilizations in Asia and Africa, and the beginning of the Renaissance era. The emergence of castle is debatable. And you dont need to be of high social standing to enjoy those (and you usually arent). Middle Ages was a time that is often misunderstood. Middle Ages for Kids: Kings and Court - Ducksters Since most people couldn't read or write, they relied on pictures to tell stories. The Middle Ages Facts for Kids include interesting information about famous people and important Medieval events: Fact 1: The Medieval Daily life in the Middle ages was dictated by wealth, power and status and the feudal system. Because those keeps were dark, cold, and often housed prisoners, the word dungeon was born. The rest ofthe construction consisted ofwarehouses for inventory and aforge with astable. Other foods like meat, cheese, and eggs were usually saved for special occasions. Thered be great feasts full of food and drink (lots of booze), jesters and minstrels. Castle builders really did think of everything! In fact, there are said to be more than 1,500 of them across the country. Here are some interesting Castle Facts that hopefully make you want to visit one. Lindos Castle. Required fields are marked *. The Middle Ages refers to a time in European history from 400-1500 AD. It would take many hits from a trebuchet to destroy a castle wall as they were very, very thick. The first stone castles built were cold, dark, smelly and damp. Elsewhere in the castle, residents of lower social standing slept in the towers and relied upon body heat and light bed dressings for warmth. They ranged from simple wooden enclosures to vast stone palaces. Actually, It Was Grosser Than You Think. The oldest one is. Count Draculas castle really does exist. In reality, taking a castle was far from a simple matter. Believe it or not, the first castles in history were made from wood, not stone. To handle this, the gate was developed. The same castle was defended for 7years bythe Lancasters until they were forced togive upin1468. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. This iswhy, during feasts, theyd often eat somuch theyd have tovomit. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Castles today are mainly popular tourist attractions, or you can rent a castleas an incredible setting for afamily gathering or party. An approaching army allied to the castle would also have made a lengthy siege impractical, and force the besiegers to be more aggressive, resorting to bombardments and assaults in an attempt to take the castle before the other army arrived. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. At first, castles were built for military and government means. The exceptions to this was if the window was high enough that it would be extremely difficult or suicidal for an attacker to reach it, or if the windows faced the internal ward or bailey of a castle, because such windows couldnt be directly assaulted by external attackers. By the 14thcentury when stone was used, the price rose to 100,000. We dont know about you, but thats a pretty ingenious use of oil! One very famous castle,Alnwick Castlein Northumberland, is not only one of Englands finest castles, but is also a famous filming location. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! But, they could still be a castles downfall. One way they did this was to paint the plastered walls and roofs of their living spaces with colorful patterns and murals, often very garishly to modern standards. The lord of an estate made all decisions regarding how his land would be used. 2. 14 Cool Facts about Castles - Fact City Castles weren't always used as defenses. 1347 AD, The black death: Plagues started spreading across Italy. Up until the Middle Ages, the Great Halls were used not only to entertain and eat, but also as sleeping quarters for the household. Most other walls were two meters thick. Its been home to royals for almost a millennium. The word castle comes from a Latin word meaning "fortress". Photo Credit: Richard Croft / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. If you go by the traditional definition, there are still impressive numbers of them countrywide. Castles were being constructed in this period. One notable change was how people dressed; they wore long dresses made out of silk, while men were expected to wear woolen suits with matching top hats when going outside. Castles Characteristics, Historical Backgrounds, Facts for Kids It was used as the outdoor setting for Hogwarts in theHarry Potterfilms, and also starred as Brancaster Castle in the two Christmas specials ofDownton Abbey. The bed was easily dismantled sothat the owner could take itwith him when hetraveled somewhere. But in reality, that doesnt really come close to encapsulating what castles actually were, not to mention how far a typical Disney castle is from the real thing in terms of aesthetics. Oh, and maybe a dragon or two. In this article, we will be discussing interesting facts about Middle Ages. Q. One ofthe most popular forms ofentertainment inthe Middle Ages was hunting. These staircases rise in a clockwise direction, meaning anyone running up them would have their right arms facing the wall. Many medieval people believed that 'cleanliness is next to godliness' and took every opportunity to stay hygienic. Inthe central room, there would beafire and the smoke would get out through ahole inthe roof. Lets go back in time to when castles were in and technology was out. Castles were initially built for military and government purposes. These paintings and drawings were called 'illuminations,' and you can still see some of them today at various museums worldwide. Originating in the Middle East, their design and use were brought to Europe during the Crusades and became an integral part of a fortresss design. People in the Middle ages usually didn't have much money because many taxes were imposed by kings and queens alike. During this time, many castles were built in Europe and the Middle East. Discover how the legend of King Arthur inspired Richard of Cornwall to swap three manors for a rocky outcrop. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Thats what a moat is for disgustingly enough! Their grandeur and impressive architecture have meant those still standing have become major tourist attractions. The feudal system had no state run military. Many English and European Medieval Knights had travelled to the Holy Land on Crusades during the Middle Ages. The gate rebuilt in stone even though they were the earth or timber castles. It is usually thought of as being barbaric and uncivilized. Here's a stack of fun facts about castles to help you get started. Seriously, historical castles were a veritable riot of colors. Prague Castle is around 570m in length and 130m in width on average. In the Middle ages, there was no such thing as a democracy. However, the worlds most haunted castle is said to be Leap Castle, which you will find over in the Republic of Ireland. Learn about the very first motte and bailey castles built during the Norman invasion, and how they developed in the Middle Ages. Spiral staircases are one of the most well-known features of medieval castles. If you want to find out more about these magnificent historical buildings, then here are 11 facts aboutcastlesyou might not know. There were four different types The first were Roman forts, reused by the Normans following their 1066 invasion of England. 6. That's 1000 years! Those defending the castle, therefore, had the advantage, as they would be facing in the opposite direction. Photo Credit: HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. The well was like that one weak spot on the Death Star; it was an ultimate source of vulnerability. Castles generally divide into three types - concentric, stone keep, and motte and bailey. Thats because they are fantastically imposing! 1. For more information on ourstunning range of castlesavailable for rent,get in touch today. However, they were pushed by the Frank King, Charles Martel. It allowed those within the castle to get the element of surprise against invading forces. People believed that the bad smell scared away moths and fleas. Some castles, like Lewes Castle and Lincoln Castle, have two mottes. Inthe beginning, the rooms were heated with open fire. The king would seek advice from the wise (hopefully) men of his court which would include relatives, barons, lords, and members of the church such as bishops. The king's court is a term that describes the king's council and household. (Photo Credit: Dave.Dunford / Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain). The light was also aproblem. During the 11th century, the references to castles in texts increased greatly. They consumed drinks offermented grain. Privacy Policy | TopTenz T-Shirts | Sponsors. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. The name "court" comes from the fact that most kings held . There were multiple accounts of pigs eating children. Photo Credit: Richard Croft / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Great leaders such as Joan of Arc and Charlemagne . dinners and six-packs. Fact: Eating Was the Primary Means of Entertainment. Here are some interesting Castle Facts that hopefully make you want to visit one. Fairy tales depict them as the way in which princes climb the tower to rescue their princesses, but they actually served a more strategic purpose. Considering that castle would get besieged by armies numbering in the hundreds, to thousands, a garrison of 36 is a big contrast. 11. The plague wasn't the only cause of mass death and suffering in medieval Europe. This does not influence our choices. 840 AD, Kingdom divides: the Roman kingdom was divided into three parts, and kingship was later created. Inmedieval castles, very interesting events took place, like intrigues, tournaments, and huge feasts. 10 Facts About Medieval Castles | History Hit Some were kept in functional state for 4 or 5 centuries! Spiral staircases are one of the most well-known features of medieval castles. During the Middle Ages much of Europe was divided up between lords and princes. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. The worlds biggest castle can be found in Prague. Based on the academicians acquisent, castle is a private fortified residence. The postern could be hidden, but it wasnt a big problem if an enemy knew where it was. Animal court (Image credit: All About History magazine) Life in medieval times could be tough, and this didn't just apply to humans. Facts About The Middle Ages In Europe And Around The World - Factinate However, the oldest standing castle is Chteau de Dou-la-Fontaine in France, built in 950 AD. Serfs grew food and tended livestock who fed them or animals that fed other people. The guest placement atafeast was decided according tostatus. The word dungeon was derived from the word "donjon which described central keep of the castle. Did Vikings Use Crystals To Navigate The High Seas? This entrance would be as big as needed, for carts and wagons, and as small as possible, to bottleneck any attackers trying to get through. The title 'peasants' given to the working class of medieval England was not even invented until the 15th century in France. The smell was intolerable, especially insummer. These people were called serfs. All other castle-like structures that dont conform to this medieval standard are not real medieval castles, and should have a prefix in their description, such as converted-castle, Japanese-castle, house-castle, fantasy-castle, or fake-castle. It was created in 950AD. A. As centuries went on, hostilities subsided, and wealth started to flow during Renaissance, nobility and royalty started to create vanity castles that were used to be summer houses, hunting houses and royal houses. They were called garderobes because clothes were kept there to repel insects and moths. While its true that the more soldiers the defenders had, the more likely they would be able to repel an assault, additional men werent always necessary and could prove detrimental in the long run. Photo Credit: Michael Coppins / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. Medieval Castles | Castle Facts For Kids | DK Find Out But in medieval times they were a sign of power, wealth and feudal reign. This is especially true in respect to things like siege towers and trebuchets, as they simply couldnt be used if they couldnt get close enough. The oldest inhabited castle in Europe, is also one of the most famous castles in the world, our very ownWindsor Castle. 10. Interesting Facts about Castles The postern would usually sit at the base of a castle wall and was therefore protected by the battlements above. 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Originally castles were built of wood and earth but stone was later used as it provided more protection from invaders. Q. These imposing castles were built as a form of defense against attackers while providing accommodation for lords, ladies and their households. Damned they were though, if they were attacked by an entirely left-handed infantry. Medieval Knights Facts for Kids - History for Kids Your email address will not be published. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. creative tips and more, Medieval writers categorized history into periods like the 'Four Empires' or the 'Six Ages.'. This prevented them from effectively wielding their swords, as the wall stopped them from freely moving their arms. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. 3. The telescope was invented in 1608 by a man named Hans Lippershey. Any hole on the outside of a castle that was large enough for a man to fit through would be a very big problem. One popular sport during medieval times was called 'jousting.' Every single one of these design elements was meant to keep enemies out and down. Between 1315 and 1317 (with the aftermath lasting over a decade), excessively wet summers caused bad crops and a devastating famine. It occupies area of 70 000 m. What are some truly bizarre castle facts you can share with friends and family who might not be fully up to speed on their medieval trivia? It seemed foolish in any context to even approach a castle without a written invitation. People in Middle Ages were called serfs. 40 Interesting Castle Facts - Serious Facts