Castles and Warfare in the Middle Ages

Profusely illustrated, detailed descriptions of dungeons, keeps, battlements, and drawbridges, plus artillery, trenches, battering rams, more. "Will enthrall anyone interested in architecture, military, or medieval history." — History in Review.

This profusely illustrated and thoroughly researched book describes in detail the diverse methods used to attack and defend castles during the Middle Ages. In a groundbreaking study — the first to shed light on the purpose, construction techniques, and effectiveness of medieval fortifications, noted nineteenth-century architect and writer Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc discusses such architectural elements as dungeons, keeps, battlements, and drawbridges. In addition to describing a vast number of European structures — among them fortifications at Carcassonne, Paris, Avignon, Vincennes, Lubeck, Milan, and Nuremberg — he examines the use of artillery and trenches, as well as such weapons as battering rams, mines, and the long-bow. A concise, scholarly reference for architectural historians, this absorbing history will appeal as well to medievalists, military buffs, and anyone interested in the evolution and development of the castle.

IntroductionThe Visigoths in the Fifth CenturyThe Barbarians imitated the RomansWooden Ramparts of the CeltsThe Roman TestudoThe Roman CampsWooden Towers on Roman WallsRoman Walls of TownsThe Visigoth FortificationsTowers at CarcassonneTower with OutworksFortifications of TownsRoman TownsVisigoth TownsRoman Fortifications The Tower The RatAttacks of the German TribesThe Battering-ram used in the Tenth CenturyThe Battering-ram used in the Eleventh CenturyImprovements after the First CrusadesDetached Forts introduced in the Twelfth CenturyAdvantages of Detached FortsFrequency of SortiesThe Norman CastlesActivity of Defenders NecessaryThe Engines of WarThe MineSiege of Carcassonne in 1240The Battering-ram in the Thirteenth CenturySiege of Toulouse by Simon de MontfortFortifications of Carcassonne Plan of Carcassonne Bird's-eye View of CarcassonneNecessity for Projections from the WallsThe HoardingThe Hoard, and the CatThe Lines of ApproachEngines for Attack and DefenceAttack by the Drawbridge from the Wooden TowerUse of BastionsDefensive ArrangementsDetails of DefenceMeans of DefenceSpirit of FeudalismThe Feudal CastleParis and the LouvrePlan of Paris, Thirteenth CenturyPlan of Paris, Fourteenth CenturyPlan of CoucyPlans of TownsAnglo-Norman FeudalismFeudal Castles of FranceRichard Coeur-de-Lion, a consummate warrior and an able engineerThe Château-GaillardKeep of the Château-GaillardSiege of the Château-Gaillard by Philip Augustus, defended by Roger de LacyCastle of MontargisThe Donjon or KeepThe Donjon or Keep of EtampesThe Donjon or Keep of ProvinsThe Castle and Keep of CoucyEnguerrand de CoucyThe Feudal CastlesImproved Modes of DefenceArrangement of LoopholesLoopholes and BattlementsRound BastionsThe Curtain-wallThe Pointed Bastion or HornPointed Bastions or BeaksBastions at Aigues-MortesPlans of Bastions at Carcassonne and FalaiseThe Narbonne Gate at CarcassonneMeans of DefenceThe DrawbridgeSiege of AubentonTimber-hoardingBattlements and MachicoulisHoarding and MachicoulisCastle of PierrefondsThe Walls of AvignonPalace of the Pope at AvignonThe Castle of VincennesPlan of VincennesImprovement of DefencesIntroduction of InfantryThe Battle of CrécyChanges in Warfare The Siege of Aiguillon The Siege of CalaisThe Jaquerie or BrigandsSuperior Discipline of the English ArmiesThe Army of Du GuesclinFeudal Traditions long preserved, except in the Good TownsIntroduction of ArtilleryEarly Use of Artillery and TrenchesThe English Expelled from France by Improved ArtilleryFurther Improvements in ArtilleryCannons of the Fifteenth CenturyAn Archer of the Fifteenth CenturyThe Long-bow and the Cross-bowAlterations of Castles to receive CannonThe Castle of BonaguilEmbrasures for CannonModifications of TowersWalls of the Town of LangresAdaptations of Old WorksTower at PerigueuxFortress of SchaffhausenFortifications of SchaffhausenChanges in the Art of DefenceFortifications of Orange under Louis XIFortifications of NuysCastles of the Close of the Fifteenth CenturyModes of Strengthening WallsRe-entering RampartsFortifications of SiennaEffects of ArtilleryUse of Discharging-archesRamparts for ArtilleryRamparts of Earth and TimberRamparts of TimberEmbrasures formed with GabionsThe Trenches with GabionsFortifications of MetzWidening the AreaEnlargement of Barbicans into BoulevardsFortifications of HullFortifications of LubeckFortifications of MilanUse of the CavalierThe Bridge of MarseillesCavalier at VeronaUse of TraversesUse of BastionsFortifications of NurembergFortifications of AugsburgFrankfort-on-the-MaineThe OrillonThe Italian EngineersImproved BastionsBastions attackedA Bastion IsolatedBird's-eye View of a BastionUse of RavelinsPlans of RavelinsImprovements in EmbrasuresEmbrasures at NurembergHoarding at NurembergImproved EmbrasuresCrenelles with ShuttersEmbrasure with LoopholesEmbrasures at BasleComplicated DefencesAdvice of MachiavelliChanges caused by the use of ArtilleryEffects of ArtilleryMines and CounterminesCountermines--GalleriesBastions according to De VilleSystem of VaubanConclusion