Uses of castles

Uses of castles

During feudal times in Europe, monarchs and nobles depended on castles to provide safety and defense for themselves, their families, and their lands. Strong castles were very difficult to capture. The huge walls and the well-protected entrance withstood most first attacks. A siege might be more successful. In a siege, enemy forces repeatedly attacked a castle while cutting off all food, water, and help from outside. But it could take months to starve out a castle's defenders, and few attackers could mount and maintain a long siege.

Castles also helped feudal lords maintain their rule over the lands around the castle. A monarch or noble could control a river crossing, mountain pass, or sea harbor by building a castle there. When a king wished to spread his power to new lands, he often built castles there to help control the new territory.

The castle served as a center for local government. Peasants who farmed the land around the castle became tenants of the noble who lived in the castle. The peasants paid rents and performed services that helped support the castle. The noble protected the peasants during wartime. The lord of a castle held a court of law to settle disputes among the peasants.

A castle was also a social center for the nobility. Lords and ladies gathered for great feasts at which they danced and listened to minstrels (wandering singers). On special occasions, the lord held a tournament in a field outside the castle, with jousting (armed fights on horseback) and feasting.

Excerpt adapted from the "Castle" article in The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999