Castles

Question 1

What was the purpose of castles?

Answer 1

used to consolidate position - served as defensive, economic and administrative for the rulers

Question 2

Phases of castle building

Answer 2

• Between 1099-1114 there were at least 29 castles refortified
• Between 1115-1167 new castles were built in rural areas

Question 3

Examples of castles

Answer 3

• large defensive fortresses built to defend e.g. Krak des Chevaliers built to over look the Homs Valley in Tripoli
• Fulk built 3 castles on southern border of Jerusalem to neutralise threat of Fatimid caliphate e.g. Bethgilbelin 1136, Ibelin 1141, and Blanchegarde 1142

Question 4

What was the problem with castles?

Answer 4

expensive to keep resulting in many nobles forcing to donate their castles to the military orders as they couldn’t afford to man them