English Castles 1200–1300

by Gravett, Christopher; Hook, Adam

• ISBN13: 9781846033742
• ISBN10: 1846033748
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-07-21
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

The simple castles raised after the Norman conquest had been developed throughout 11th and 12th centuries, whilst the introduction of Islamic and Byzantine fortification techniques from the late 12th century led to further developments in castle architecture. These fortifications were to be well tested throughout the course of the 13th century as England was riven by the conflict, characterized by prolonged sieges, between the monarchy and powerful magnates. As well as providing the focus for warfare, castles increasingly became the centres of their communities, providing a more permanent base for the lord, his family and retainers, as well as acting as centres for justice and administration.

Author Biography

Chris Gravett is a former Senior Curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and a recognized authority on the arms, armor and warfare of the medieval world. He has worked as an advisor for numerous TV and film productions, and has written many books for Osprey, including Warrior 1: Norman Knight 950--1204 AD. He currently works as a curator at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 4
Chronology	p. 8
Design and Development	p. 10
Town defences
Building castles
The Principles of Defence	p. 21
The development of the gatehouse
The barbican
The postern or sally port
Tour of a Castle: The Tower of London in the 13th Century	p. 29
The Castle at Peace	p. 35
Chambers
Decoration
Kitchens
Chapels
Workshops and pens
Gardens and parks
Prisons
The Castle at War	p. 45
King John
Henry III
War in Wales
The Barons' War
Edward I
Aftermath	p. 53
Visiting the Castles Today	p. 56
Bibliography	p. 60
Glossary	p. 62
Index	p. 64
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