How do you attack a square keep castle?

How do you attack a square keep castle?

The main methods of attacking a Medieval Castle were:

1. Fire.
2. Battering Rams.
3. Ladders.
4. Catapults.
5. Mining.
6. Siege.

How are castles defended?

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.

How would you attack a castle?

There are a number of ways of assaulting a castle: over the top of the walls using towers or ladders, under the walls using a mine, or through the walls using a battering ram, pickaxes or other tools.

What was the main aim for an army attacking a castle?

The main aim of an attacking army was to capture and kill the people inside. You may also want to keep the castle for yourselves. However to do this you must first get into the castle.

What is a portcullis in a castle?

Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, securely closing off the castle during time of attack or siege. Every portcullis was mounted in vertical grooves in the walls of the castle and could be raised or lowered quickly by means of chains or ropes attached to an internal winch.

What is the entrance of a castle called?

GateHouse

What are the walls around a castle called?

A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two towers (bastions) of a castle, fortress, or town.

What is the purpose of a keep in a castle?

The Keep was the inner stronghold of the castle. It was usually either square or round. The keep was the center of castle life, often serving as the lord’s residence, and was usually the place of last refuge when defending the castle.

What was the weakest point of a castle?

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.

What is the difference between a keep and a castle?

The keep is the fortified tower usually on a man made hill called a motte and surrounded by walled enclosures called baileys. Originally built from wood it would have been rebuilt in stone usually in the C12th. The castle refers to the whole fortification: keep, motte, baileys, outer walls, towers and moats or ditches.

What are the 3 types of castles?

However, despite the dizzying diversity in medieval castles, there were three primary types of castles: Motte-and-bailey castles, stone keep castles, and concentric castles.

What was the Bailey used for in a castle?

The Bailey A bailey is an enclosed courtyard, typically surrounded by a wooden palisade overlooked by the motte. It was used as a living area by vassals who served the lord of the castle, generally including a blacksmith, a miller and most of the necessary craftsmen of the age.

Why did the Normans build so many castles?

After their victory at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans settled in England. They constructed castles all over the country in order to control their newly-won territory, and to pacify the Anglo-Saxon population. These early castles were mainly of motte and bailey type.

What were the problems with Motte and Bailey castles?

At a glance: disadvantages of Motte and Bailey castles Although the base of the hill may have been large, the bailey at the top was often quite small. This meant that the living quarters for the noble were quite small – and didn’t have much grandeur.

What is a ward in a castle?

A bailey or ward in a fortification is a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a motte-and-bailey.

What are the up and down bits on a castle called?

The raised parts are called cops or merlons, the indentations embrasures or crenelles.

What are parts of a castle called?

There were various medieval castle parts that made up a castle which included moats, ramparts, walls, turrets, towers, look outs, and gatehouse.

• Castle Arrow Slits.
• Castle Barbican.
• Castle Battlements.
• Castle Drawbridge.
• Castle Dungeon.
• Castle Gatehouse.
• Castle Keep.
• Castle Machicolations.

What is the top of a castle turret called?

spires

What are the tops of castle towers called?

A battlement is the upper walled part of a castle or fortress. It’s usually formed out of a low, narrow wall on top of the outermost protective wall of a fortress or castle. The word ”battlement” traces to an old French term that means tower or turret, and the original use of battlements was for protection.

What was the most important room in any castle?

The most important room in a castle was the Great Hall. This is where all the members of the household sat down to eat at tables set up for every meal. It was where feasts were held for special days, or when there were guests. King Arthur’s Pentecost Feast takes place in such a Hall.

What rooms should a castle have?

Below are the main rooms found in medieval castles and large manor houses.

• The Great Hall.
• Bed Chambers.
• Solars.
• Bathrooms, Lavatories and Garderobes.
• Kitchens, Pantries, Larders & Butteries.
• Gatehouses and Guardrooms.
• Chapels & Oratories.
• Cabinets and Boudoirs.

What is a living room called in a castle?

The solar was a room in many English and French medieval manor houses, great houses and castles, mostly on an upper storey, designed as the family’s private living and sleeping quarters. Within castles they are often called the “Lords’ and Ladies’ Chamber”, or the “Great Chamber”.

How often did peasants bathe?

Typically speaking, people bathed once a week during the Middle Ages. Private baths were extremely rare – basically nobody had them – but public bathhouses were actually quite common. People who didn’t have that or who couldn’t afford to use one, still lived near a river. It depended on when you’re talking about.