Norman Medieval Castles

 

Norman Medieval Castles

 

Medieval Crusaders

Medieval Crusaders

Step back into history get Medieval facts and information about the History, Development and Architecture of Medieval Castles

Norman Medieval Castles

  • Read books from a history book club or watch the History Channel DVDs on Medieval Times
  • Medieval Times Castles and Knights
  • History, Development and Architecture of Medieval Castles
  • Norman Medieval Castles
  • When were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
  • Why were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
  • Where were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
  • The Development of Norman Medieval Castles
  • 1066 and the first Norman Medieval Castles

 

 

Norman Medieval Castles

Facts and interesting information about the History, Development and Architecture of Medieval Castles

Norman Medieval Castles
The Medieval Times encompass one of the most violent periods in the History of England are are epitomised by the castles of the Middle Ages. The Norman Invasion heralded the Medieval period, or the Middle Ages. The Normans introduced the wooden Motte and Bailey Norman castles which were immediately followed by the construction of the famous medieval Norman stone castles such as the Tower of London. The development, architecture and building of these great fortresses changed as time progressed, influenced by important historical events such as the crusades and the technology of siege warfare. This page provides interesting and important information about Norman Medieval Castles.

When were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
When were the Norman castles built? A few English timber Motte and Bailey style Norman castles had been constructed by Normans who had been invited to England by King Edward the Confessor, prior to the Norman invasion in 1066. However, the vast number of Norman castles were built following the Battle of Hastings and the Norman conquest. The Normans were great builders of castles and fully appreciated the great advantages that a castle would give to a fighting force. Stone Castles took too long to build so Duke William laid plans to build Norman Timber Castles when he mounted his invasion.

Pre-built Norman castles were loaded on to the Norman invasion fleet. The first pre-built Norman Wooden Castle was erected at Pevensey Bay in 1066. The temporary wooden Motte and Bailey castles were quickly replaced by the permanent stone Norman castles which were dominated by their tower Keeps. The Tower of London is strongly associated with William the Conqueror who invaded England in 1066. William the Conqueror initially built a wooden Motte and Bailey castle and the famous, fortified, stone White Tower, which replaced the original Motte and Bailey castle, was completed in 1097.

Why were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
The objectives for building the Norman Medieval Castles were as follows:

  • The Norman Castles provide a base where men, provisions and horses could be housed
  • The Norman Castles were built to overawe and frighten the indigenous population
  • The Norman Castles provided a site from which the Normans could govern the surrounding district
  • The Norman Castles acted as a fortified post to house cavalry

Where were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
The Normans aimed was to build as many of these small castles as possible. A Motte and Bailey castle could be erected quickly - some only took a couple of weeks. It is believed that as many as 1000 Motte and Bailey castles were built in England by the Normans in Medieval Times. Norman Nobles and Officials covered England to find strategic sites to build the first wooden Motte and Bailey Castles. The sites of the castles would be established by following the following criteria:

  • Norman Medieval Castles were built on the highest ground in the area
  • Norman Medieval Castles often adjoined Rivers
  • Norman Medieval Castles often overlooked Towns and harbours
  • Norman Medieval Castles made use of existing sites of Roman or Saxon forts and Burhs

The Development of Norman Medieval Castles
The Development of Norman Medieval Castles went through a highly logical process:

  • Pre-built Norman Castles were built in timber and transported to England with the Normans invasion fleet - these offered speed and efficiency
  • The style of the Norman castles was a Motte and Bailey design
  • Norman Medieval Castles were then erected in the conventional fashion utilising local materials and English labour
  • The timber Norman Medieval Castles were then converted to stone castles
  • Norman Stone castles were then erected - strong and built to last
  • The Norman shell castle keep was then developed. The motte (mound) on which the castle was to be built could not bear the weight of a solid stone tower, so a light shell tower was constructed

1066 and the first Norman Medieval Castles
Until 1066 there were no castles. William the conqueror (King William I of England) introduced Norman castles to England when he defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. These Norman castles gave the Normans of 1066 power bases from which they could subjugate the English population. The building of Norman castles was an important part of the conquest strategy. William's success at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 was partly due to bringing pre-built castles with his invasion fleet when attacking England. These wooden Motte and Bailey castles were fast to erect and afforded an immediate power base and shelter for his soldiers, horses and livestock. Had the English and King Harold built a Castle system based on the Norman model or maintained the Alfred the Great Burhs then the outcome of the Battle of Hastings in 1066 might have been very different - Duke William of Normandy would have been forced to enter into Siege warfare costing time, money and heavy casualties. His army would have disintegrated and would inevitably been forced to return to Normandy. The strategy of building Norman castles in 1066 changed English history and changed the face of England forever.

Norman Medieval Castles
The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about these great fortresses and castles of Medieval times including this section on Norman Medieval Castles. The Medieval Times Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts about the fascinating subject of the lives of the people who lived during the historical period of the Middle Ages. The content of this article on Medieval life and times provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework.

 

 

Medieval Times - Norman Medieval Castles

  • Read books from a history book club or watch the History Channel DVDs on Medieval Times
  • Medieval Times Castles and Knights
  • History, Development and Architecture of Medieval Castles
  • Norman Medieval Castles
  • When were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
  • Why were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
  • Where were the Norman Medieval Castles built?
  • The Development of Norman Medieval Castles
  • 1066 and the first Norman Medieval Castles

Helpful information for history courses and history coursework - Read History Books - Medieval Society - Realms - Medival - Lives - Medival Era and Period - Norman Medieval Castles - History - Information - Facts - Info - Medieval Period - Medieval - Middle Ages History - Dark Ages - Information about Norman Medieval Castles - Norman Medieval Castles Facts - Norman Medieval Castles Info - Medieval Times - Norman Medieval Castles - Medival Era and Period - History Channel DVDs - Written By Linda Alchin