Donjon is an impregnable tower inside a castle. Donjon in a medieval castle, history, internal arrangement

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Ancient castles still amaze not only romantics and dreamers, but also quite pragmatic people. Next to these majestic buildings, you feel the breath of the past and involuntarily marvel at the skill of the architects. After all, even centuries of wars and sieges did not raze their walls to the ground. And the safest place of each castle, its heart, was the donjon - this is the most fortified inner tower.

A bit of history

During the time of William the Conqueror (XI century), one of the most important types of construction was the construction of castles that belonged to the Norman nobility. Perhaps the most famous and ancient donjon was erected by this king - this is the white building of the Tower of London (completion of construction - 1078). It was one of the most impregnable strongholds in Europe, built by the Normans to strengthen their dominion over the Anglo-Saxons. This is where the term donjon came from - this is the master's tower, if translated literally from French. Of course, in other nationalities this type of structure has its ownname, but the essence remains the same.

What is a keep in a medieval castle?

Despite the external diversity, all castles are built according to approximately the same plan. Most often they are encircled by a strong wall with massive square towers at each of the corners. Well, inside the protective belt is a donjon tower.

Initially, they had a quadrangular shape, but over time, polygonal or round structures began to appear in order to increase their stability. Indeed, one of the few ways to take an impregnable fortress was to dig and then undermine the foundation at the corner of the building.

Some towers have a dividing wall in the middle. Access to the various levels and parts of the castle is provided by passages and spiral staircases built into the thick walls. This shape of the stairs is due to the fact that they twist clockwise, which means that it will be convenient for defenders to hold the sword in their right hand, and the movements of the attackers will be constrained.

Ancient architects knew that sooner or later their creation would be attacked by the enemy. Therefore, they deliberately made uncomfortable passages, protruding stones on the stairs, steps of different heights and depths, as well as other "surprises". The defenders of the castle were accustomed to them, and the attacker could stumble, which in the heat of battle would cost his life. An additional level of protection was bars, powerful doors and strong locks. The donjons have been very carefully thought out.

Impregnable giants

Such towers were built of stone. Wooden fortresses could no longer provide adequateprotection from fire, throwing and siege weapons. In addition, the stone structure suited the nobility much better - it became possible to make large and safe rooms that were well protected from the weather. They could make huge fireplaces that would heat cold stone rooms. And the wooden building allowed only a small hearth.

Architects have always taken into account the terrain during construction and chose the most advantageous places for defense for future castles. The donjons, in turn, rose high even above the level of the fortress, which not only improved visibility and gave archers an advantage, but made them practically inaccessible to wooden siege ladders. As a rule, the construction of the fortress began with the main tower, and only then it was overgrown with other structures.

Dungeon interior

There was only one entrance to the tower. It was raised above ground level and arranged with a ladder or even a ditch with a drawbridge so that attackers could not use a ram. The room immediately after the entrance was sometimes used to disarm visitors, because the donjon is the holy of holies of the castle, it was impossible to allow the possibility of an armed enemy penetrating into it. This is where the guards were stationed. An alcove with a small through hole was arranged on the side of the wall, which was used as a toilet. There was a similar device on every floor. Food was stored in the basement of the tower, and it was also one of the safest places to store the treasures of the nobility. However, he had moreprosaic functions - the cells of prisoners and a drain pit were also located here.

On the second floor they arranged a hall for meetings and feasts. Since the areas of the premises were small, the kitchen was most often located outside the donjon. There was also a small chapel here or one floor above. As a rule, each fortress had its own church, but the owners of the castle and their titled guests could pray separately.

On the top floor were the rooms of the lord of the castle and his entourage. That is, they were as far away from the entrance to the tower as possible to provide them with the best protection.

There was a roof directly above the master's bedroom, along the circumference of which there was a gallery for guards, sometimes additional small turrets were attached.

Disadvantages of stone strongholds

But despite their obvious advantages, such fortresses had two huge drawbacks. The first was that the donjon is an extremely expensive structure. Only kings and very we althy nobles could afford to build a castle, and the destruction or loss of a fortress could lead to the financial collapse of a noble house. And even with such costs, castles were built for 5-10 years. Their content was also not cheap.

And the second, no less important drawback - no matter how sophisticated the builders of castles, sooner or later defensive innovations gave way to new weapons or the strategy of an experienced attacker.