The Insane Design of Medieval Castles

About this video

• Video Title: The Insane Design of Medieval Castles
• Channel: Deconstructed
• Speakers: Lion
• Duration: 21:55

Overview

This video explores the intricate and layered defensive design of medieval castles, from their feudal origins to the advanced concentric fortresses. It breaks down the purpose and engineering of various defensive features, including barbicans, moats, drawbridges, gatehouses, curtain walls, and keeps, illustrating how these elements combined to make castles formidable strongholds.

Key takeaways

• Feudal Origins: Medieval castles emerged from the collapse of centralized authority in the 9th century, serving as localized power centers for nobles to protect and govern their lands within the feudal system.
• Layered Defenses: Castles were designed with multiple lines of defense, starting with the barbican and drawbridge, followed by gatehouses, curtain walls with towers, and finally the keep as the last refuge.
• Barbican and Moat: The barbican was a fortified gateway before the main entrance, and the moat, often filled with water, served to block siege engines and prevent undermining.
• Gatehouse Complexity: Gatehouses featured heavy gates, drawbars, portcullises, murder holes, and arrow slits, designed to trap and bombard attackers.
• Curtain Walls and Towers: These formed the main defensive perimeter, with wall walks for defenders, battlements for cover, and towers providing flanking fire and strategic advantages. Round towers were more resistant to projectiles and undermining than square ones.
• The Keep: The ultimate stronghold, the keep was a large, multi-story tower with thick walls and limited windows, serving as both the lord's residence and a final refuge.
• Evolution of Warfare: The advent of gunpowder artillery in the 15th century rendered medieval castles militarily obsolete, leading to the development of new artillery forts and a shift towards more comfortable chateaus for nobility.