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 How castles changed with the invention of gunpowder
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n_guillou Member |
posted 05-14-2000 01:47 PM
  
I need info on How castles changed with the invention of gunpowder, i.e how their structure was changed, positions etc. help would be much appreciated! If at all possible i would like this to be concerned with british castles.  |
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wurdsmiff unregistered |
posted 05-16-2000 04:30 AM
Briefly, several features are common in Scottish catles which reflect the introduction of gunpowder. Not many people in Scotland were able to afford the works involved for defense from and with cannon, and so the major changes are noted in some of the larger sites. At Tantallon, a series of great ditches were dug to keep cannon at such a distance to be out of range, with thickening of the great outer wall, in order that any damage done would have a less detrimental effect on the defense. In some the parapet and walls were widened in order that cannon could defend from the parapet, and the great batteries of guns at Stirling and Edinburgh, although of later date , reflect this. Castles such as Craignethan and Cadzow were early examples of strong castles built for defense against and with artillery, again ditches keeping the artillery at a safe distance, whilst thick protective walls protected the interior. The massive wall at Craignethan was built to support it's own defensive batteries, though only foudations remain. Outside this, the deep and wide ditch was traversed by a roofed shelter (a caponier) from which musketeers could strafe the base of the ditch preventing infantry from crossing to the wall base. The change to gunpwder is also reflected in the change from arrow loops to gunloops, ie the slots through which arrows could be fired were replaced by smaller graduated gaps through which a musket or handgun could be fired. In the tower houses most common in Scotland, it would have been impractical in the majority to defend against artillery, because of cost. The sheer numbers of tower houses which would have had to be invested by an invading army provided it's own security, though individually they were best defended against raiding parties, often from aggressive neighbours. Remember that artillery was a very slow moving section of an army in a time when roads were poor and the cannon being hauled over rough terrain by oxen or the like, and it was vulnerable whilst on the move. The smaller houses defended themselves with gunloops and improved geometry, such as the development of L-plan, E-plan and T-plan houses, which meant that covering fire could be given from adjacent walls to protect the entrance. Improved domestic planning was another important reason for the development of these buildings. ------------------ Gordon. |
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Philip Davis unregistered |
posted 05-16-2000 04:36 AM
The introduction of gunpowder is not a simple event. It took several hundred years for gunpowder technology to reach it's peak developement and initially gunpowder was very ineffective and had little effect on castle design. In many ways the castle, as a military residence, fell out of fashion in England before gunpowder had much effect at all on design. Those fortifications designed to defend against artillery which were built new were not meant to be baronial residences and, therefore, are, strictly speaking, not castles, although many are called castles. However, I'll try and give a brief outline of some of the aspects of this very complex question. You can find floorplans of some the castles I've mentioned at my web site. ------------------ |
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Levan Moderator |
posted 05-16-2000 12:30 PM
Threave Castle, Kircudbrightshire (pronounced kir-coo-bree-shur), Scotland, had an artillery battery added to it. This structure rose in places to around six meters; it had four towers and a gatehouse; unfortunately, little remains today. In 1455 James II laid the new defences of Threave to siege (reputedly using Mons Meg – the famous cannon now stationed at Edinburgh Castle). Later, in 1640 Threave Castle also suffered from a massive thirteen-week artillery bombardment. Even after this catastrophic attack, the castle remained strong enough to act as a prison during the Napoleonic war. Further information about Threave Castle: Levan |
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Merlin Senior Member |
posted 05-17-2000 04:32 AM
Although you asked especially for the situation in england, I also want to give a short overview for central europe: Big and/or military important medieval castles that where still used in 15./16. century very often got an additional artillery battery to defend the entrance area (or the side that was most exposed to any attack). There are a lot of examples where the buildings of the 'old' castle are still intact today, but surrounded by such batteries, with huge round towers, thicker walls etc. A good example for an additional round tower is Porrentruy: http://www.swisscastles.ch/Jura/porrentruy.html An even more typical example is the castle of Vaduz, famous residence of the family von Liechtenstein: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/Phd/Benjamin.Watson/links/liechtenstein.html You can find such castles all over France, Germany, Switzerland, etc. Merlin |
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Levan Moderator |
posted 06-14-2000 07:36 AM
Have found an excellent book that addresses the effect of technological developments upon the design and construction of castles; the effect of the widespread adoption of gunpowder is particularly well covered: The Castle Story: Illustrated guide to the development of English castles by Sheila Sancha. ASIN: 0722655959 This book also gives an overview of effect of the changing political situation in England and Wales too. Levan |
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Lioness Member |
posted 01-22-2003 08:50 PM
The invention of gunpowder was one of the factors as to why the feudal system was distroyed. Just an interesting fact for all to see. |
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thedamned Member |
posted 01-23-2003 06:59 PM
Well, the end of the feudal europe was because of gunpowder... I forgot who was the army... erm.. I think it was the Germans... hold on let me look in my history book. Here's the paragraph out from my book. "Why did feudalism die in Europe? For one thing, growing towns offered alternatives to people who did not want to function within the feudal system. Also, military technology changed in 1300s. Large armies with new weapons - the longbow in the 1300s and guns in the 1400s - made mounted knights less effective in battle" |
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ryanmac Member |
posted 12-17-2003 08:26 PM
I just got my username and i was just testing it out here. sorry for the inconvienience. otherwise this is very good information for my school project, National History Day. I am making a website and need as much things in my bibliograhpy as i can. if anyone can offer any sourcews they quoted above, i woyuld greatly appreciate it!! ------------------ |
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Levan Moderator |
posted 12-23-2003 05:24 AM
Take a look at the "Book Nook" - there are lots of book listings. A wee tip - if you're going to use the books in your bibliography, you really ought to have used them in your studies. I guess another option is to list some of the books as 'books recommended by others' although please note that not all of the books listed in the Book Nook are being recommended - some just included in the listings because they exist - in some instances anything is better than nothing! Levan |
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ryanmac Member |
posted 01-20-2004 11:41 AM
Thankx again. But i actuallycan use the book if have read or used a quote from them. Levan, what you said would usually be right, but i need 60 sources and am panicking and read the 30-page rulebook. very much thankx. |
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Rocky1516 Member |
posted 07-05-2004 04:49 PM
I agree with Ryan this has been very helpfull in my search for things that changed the course of history. Im writing a end of year history paper on that subject. thanks |
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kitzy Member |
posted 08-02-2004 04:31 AM
hi anybody here i neeed help |
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Merlin Senior Member |
posted 08-02-2004 05:51 AM
@kitzy: What kind of help? Please post your questions and I'll try to help. |
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