How did castles help William the Conqueror?

How did castles help William the Conqueror? William built castles to protect his barons from attacks from unhappy Englishmen. The first castles were called motte and bailey castles. Each castle took 7-14 days to build and by 1086, William's barons had built over 100 castles!

Who lives in Edinburgh Castle now?

No-one lives in Edinburgh Castle now. From the 17th century onwards it was used as a military base. Parts are still run by the army, but it is now predominantly a tourist attraction.

How did motte and bailey castles help William the Conqueror?

Wooden motte and bailey castles helped William to quickly control the English BUT they burned easily and they rotted. Later castles were built from stone. These stone castles were impressive and showed everyone the baron was in charge and it was also a safe place from which to rule the local area.

Do motte and bailey castles still exist?

Between 350 and 450 motte-and-bailey castles are believed to remain today, although the identification of these earthwork remains can be contentious. A small number of motte-and-bailey castles were built outside of northern Europe.

Why were stone keep castles better than motte and bailey?

The Stone Keep Castle also had positive points, which made it better than the Motte and Bailey castle. Firstly they were not made from wood, so they could not easily be burnt down. Also, because they were made of stone, they could not rot.

How did castles help William in the Battle of Hastings?

The castles provided his troops with strong defensive structures to guard against any upstart Saxons bold enough to try to thwart William's ambitions. They also served as central points of supply and succour for the marauding bands of Norman soldiers that sallied out to terrorize and subdue the native population.

What was the strongest part of the castle?

keep, English term corresponding to the French donjon for the strongest portion of the fortification of a castle, the place of last resort in case of siege or attack. The keep was either a single tower or a larger fortified enclosure.

What were the advantages of the castles?

Motte and Bailey castles were: made of wood, easy to put up and repair, large enough for soldiers to safely live there, a great height since it was built on a motte, provision for the Normans to see the English during the day, a man-made hill which could shelter animals as they were built up high, and easily seen by ...

What was the safest place in a motte-and-bailey castle?

The keep was the building where the owners of the castle would live. It was the safest place in the castle. The bailey was open, flat ground surrounded by a tall, wooden fence, often topped with spikes.

What is the weakest part of any castle?

The Gate. The entrance was often the weakest part in a castle. To overcome this, the gatehouse was developed, allowing those inside the castle to control the flow of traffic. Gatehouses were inside the wall and connected with the bridge over the moat, but they were more than just doorways.

What is the biggest surviving castle?

1. Malbork Castle is officially the biggest by area. Malbrook Castle is the world's biggest castle. Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (known as Zamek w Malborku in Polish and Ordensburg Marienburg in German) is a medieval fortress in Malbork, Poland.

Where did servants sleep in castles?

Most domestic servants would have slept in shared chambers in either the cellars or attics of the castle buildings. There might also be simple buildings outside the castle for herdsmen, mill workers, wood-cutters, and craftspeople such as rope-makers, candle-makers, potters, basket-weavers, and spinners.

What castle was never conquered?

Castle of Zafra, Campillo de Duenas This partly restored castle in Spain was built in the late 12th century or early 13th century. It holds the distinction of never being conquered.

How did they heat castles in the Middle Ages?

Castles weren't always cold and dark places to live. But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace.

What is the most famous castle never built?

Beaumaris on the island of Anglesey is famous as the greatest castle never built. It was the last of the royal strongholds created by Edward I in Wales – and perhaps his masterpiece.

What is the oldest castle still in use?

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is an official residence of Her Majesty The Queen and is still very much a working royal palace today, home to around 150 people.

Which was the safest part of a castle?

What other rooms were there in a Medieval castle? At the time of Chr tien de Troyes, the rooms where the lord of a castle, his family and his knights lived and ate and slept were in the Keep (called the Donjon), the rectangular tower inside the walls of a castle. This was meant to be the strongest and safest place.

Which castle has been attacked the most?

Over the centuries around 23 different siege attempts were made on Edinburgh Castle – making it the most besieged place in Europe.

What is the most valuable castle in the world?

Château Louis XIV in Louveciennes is officially the most expensive estate in the world.