4 ms·
It's a definition thing. What you described is a fortress, not a castle. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle : > A
by eesmith 5y ago
It's a definition thing. What you described is a fortress, not a castle.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle :
> A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a palace, which is not fortified; from a fortress, which was not always a residence for royalty or nobility;
- mellavora 5y agoEtimology. Castle is Norman French for Chateau. A special kind of house, typically/historically for a nobleman, i.e. a landowner. Remember much of English is actually Norman French. After the conquest and all.
- mkl 5y agoOkay, but etymology is not meaning. Meanings change quite a bit.
- KineticLensman 5y ago> Castle is Norman French for Chateau According to my Oxford English Dictionary, both 'castle' and 'chateau' are modern variants of the older Latin 'castellum'.
- watwut 5y agoThey have those historical explanations next to them. They used the word "castle" systematically. "The castle was build" or "the castle was destroyed" or "the castle was rebuild" ...
- eesmith 5y agoCould you give an example? The author of essay is in the UK, and the mentioned castles are all homes for royals, nobility, or bishops, or at least meant to be. Arundel Castle, West Sussex - that's where the Earl of Arundel has lived (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundel_Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundel_Castle) Newark Castle (Nottinghamshire) - for the Bishop of Lincoln (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Castle%2C_Nottinghamshire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Castle%2C_Nottinghamshi...) Norwich - "Norwich Castle was designed to be a royal palace rather than a fortification. However, no Norman kings ever lived in it" (https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/norwich-castle/whats-here/history-of-norwich-castle https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/norwich-castle/whats-here...) Tower of London - I can't tell if William the Conqueror lived there, but the Wikipedia entry says that by 1135 "The castle, which had not been used as a royal residence for some time", implying it was a royal residence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London) Caerphilly - given "the castle's luxurious accommodation", I assume Gilbert de Clare lived there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caerphilly_Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caerphilly_Castle Conwy - "best preserved suite of medieval private royal chambers in England and Wales" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conwy_Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conwy_Castle) This is too boring, so I'll let someone else look up Beaumaris, Caernarfon, and Colchester Castle.
- OscarCunningham 5y agoSo do fortresses normally have clockwise staircases?
- twic 5y agoI visited a castle with an Italian friend. She was quite excited about it. After we arrived and had our first look inside, she disappointedly exclaimed "this is not a castello, it is a fortezza!". I thought it was still a pretty cool castle.
- lucas_membrane 5y agoMy recollection is that castles were designed to be defended by multiple layers of defense. A clear space beyond the moat where approaching attacker would be exposed to archers on high, then a moat, then a strong gate, then a space between the outer wall and the next one where attackers could be slaughtered from above. As the designers were aware that any layer might be ineffective against a sufficiently powerful assault, it would be strange to expect them to neglect prudent provisions for continuation of the defense within the interior.