Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

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Castle

Although castles had been used as defensive positions from pre-historic times, and while burhs had been created as large settlement defences in Anglo-Saxon days, the Normans used castles differently. Their structures were relatively small, suitable for a nobleman or military leader and his retinue, and were intended to dominate the people in the immediate vicinity. The simplest were of the motte and bailey type, a steep-sided mound and a palisaded enclosure. The mound might even lack a permanent stockade, a portable timber wall being erected when the castle was in use. As the Norman grip on England grew firmer, the castle became more sophisticated and stone towers or donjons like the White Tower in the Tower of London were built. The motte and the tower were satisfactory only as long as serious opposition was lacking. Either the occupants held out until the attackers went away or until they were scattered or slaughtered by a relief force. Indeed, if the domination objective was being fulfilled, no one dared attack at all. As soon as stronger opposition was encountered, perhaps a rival baron, a motte or a tower became a trap in which the defenders might starve, burn or die of disease. It then became vital to be able to get out, to sally forth in counter-attack. This led to the next stage of design, the curtain wall with towers at intervals and a number of gateways around the perimeter.

See also: Anglo-Saxon; bailey; burh; donjon; motte; Norman

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Castles and fortifications: 1 Mirville 11th Century; 2 Abinger, late 11th century; 3 Hedingham, 12th century. (© Osprey Publishing Limited, from Elite 9 The Normans , by David Nicolle, artwork by Angus McBride)