There are few things in the world more interesting than Knight's castles. And not only historians and experts of military affairs are trying to solve the secrets of ancient fortifications. The knightly castle is interesting to all - the writer and the man in the man, the avid tourist and a simple housewife. This, so let's say a massive artistic image.
How the idea was born
A very troubled time is in addition to big wars, the feudals constantly led disassembly with each other. In the neighborhood, it was not boring. The aristocrats strengthened their dwellings from the invasion: initially only ditch before the entrance and the wooden frequency will be supplied. As the siege experience gained, the strengthening became becoming more powerful - so that the ram was withstanding and the stone nuclei were not afraid. In antiquity, the Romans were surrounded by a trap-troops on vacation. Stone structures began to build Normans, and only in the 12th century the classic European knightly castles of the Middle Ages appeared.
Transformation into a fortress
Gradually, the castle turned into the fortress, he was surrounded by a stone wall, in which high towers were built. The main goal is to make a knightly castle inaccessible to attackers. At the same time be able to observe the entire district. In the castle, there must be their own source of drinking water - suddenly a long siege will have to.
The towers were built in such a way that any number of enemies can even hold as long as possible. For example, - narrow and so cool that the warrior, going to the second, can help the first nothing can be a sword or a spear. And it was necessary to climb them against a clockwise, so that the shield is not covered.
Try to enter!
Imagine a mountain slope on which the knightly castle is erected. Photo attached. Such structures were always built at height, and if there was no natural suitable landscape, made a bulk hill.
Knight's castle in the Middle Ages is not only knights and feudalists. Around and around the castle there were always small settlements, where all sorts of artisans settled and, of course, warriors guarding the perimeter.
Running along the road is always facing the right side to the fortress, the one that cannot be covered with a shield. There is no high vegetation - not to hide. The first obstacle - ditch. It can be around the castle either across the castle wall and plateau, even sickle, if the terrain allows.
The separation rsive are even within the castle: if suddenly the enemy managed to break through, the movement would be very difficult. If the rocks of the soil rock - ditch and do not need, the sub-wall is impossible under the wall. Earthy shaft right in front of the moat was often with a frequency.
The bridge to the outer wall is made so that the defense of the Knight Castle in the Middle Ages could last for years. It is lifted. Either the whole or extreme segment. In the raised position - vertically - this is an additional protection for the gate. If part of the bridge rose, the other was automatically lowered in the ditch, where the "Wolf pit" was placed - surprise for the most metering strikers. Knight's castle in the Middle Ages was not a hospital for all in a row.
Gate and Shuttle Tower
The Knight's castles of the Middle Ages are most vulnerable to the gateway. You were prompted to enter the lock in the side wicket along the lifting datrop, if the bridge is already raised. The gate themselves were most often not built into the wall, but were arranged in the short-lived towers. Usually bivalve, from several layers of boards, were trimmed with iron to protect against arson.
Castles, drowsy, transverse beams, across back in the opposite wall - all this helped to hold out in the siege for quite a long time. Behind the gate, also the iron or wooden powerful grid was usually descended. That was so equipped with knightly castles of the Middle Ages!
The short-term tower was arranged so that the guarding of her guards could learn from the guests of the visit and, if necessary, treat the arrow from the vertical loophole. For a real siege there were built-in and holes for boiling resin.
Defense of the knightly castle in the Middle Ages
The most important defensive element. It should be high, thick and better if on the base under the tilt. The foundation under it as deep as possible - in case of the subpople.
Sometimes there is a double wall. Next to the first high is an inner small, but impregnable without fixtures (stairs and sixteen, which remained outside). The space between the walls is the so-called Zwinger - is shot.
The outer wall at the top is equipped for the defenders of the fortress, sometimes even with a canopy of bad weather. The teeth on it existed not only for beauty - for them it was convenient to hide in full growth to recharge, for example, crossbow.
Bolds in the wall adapted and under the archers, and under the crossbars: narrow and long - for onions, with an extension - for crossbow. Bowls - pinned, but turning ball with a slot for shooting. Balconies were built mostly decorative, but if the wall is narrow, they used them, retreating and giving passing the rest.
Medieval knightly towers were almost always built with convex towers in the corners. They performed out for shooting along the walls in both directions. The inner side was open to the enemy, penetrating on the walls, did not fix inside the tower.
What's inside?
In addition to Zwingers, other surprises could be expected at the gate of the unwanted guests. For example, a small closed courtyard with braces in the walls. Sometimes the locks were built from several autonomous sections with powerful inner walls.
It was necessarily inside the castle yard with the farm - a well, bakery, a bath, a kitchen and donjon - the central tower. Much depended on the location of the well: not only health, but also the life of the deposited. It happened that (remember that the castle if not just on the elevation, then on the rocks) it was more expensive than all the other castle buildings. The Turing Castle of the Cuffhoiser, for example, has a well for more than one hundred forty meters deep. On rocky breed!
Central Tower
DONZHON - the highest construment of the castle. From there, observing the surroundings. And it is the central tower that is the last refuge of the besieged. The most reliable! Walls are very thick. The entrance is extremely narrow and located at high altitude. The staircase leading to the door could be drawn inside or destroy. Then the knightly castle can still hold a siege for a long time.
At the base of the donzhon was a basement, kitchen, pantry. Next, there were floors with stone or wooden floors. The stairs were wooden, with stone overlaps they could be burned to stop the enemy on the approach.
The main hall was posted on the whole floor. Heated fireplace. Above usually located family rooms of the castle owner. There were small stoves decorated with tiles.
At the very top of the tower, most often open, the platform for the catapult and the most important thing - the banner! Medieval knight locks differed not only by knighthood. There were cases when the knight and his family donzhon did not use for housing, building a stone palace near her (Palace) near her. Then the Donjon served as a warehouse, even a prison.
And, of course, every knightly castle necessarily had a temple. Mandatory inhabitant of the castle - Capellan. Often he is - and the clerk, and the teacher, in addition to the main work. In the rich castles of the temples were two-story so that the Lords do not pray next to the mobile. Within the temple, the generic tomb of the owner was equipped.
The position of the defenders of the precipitated castle was far from hopeless. There was a lot of ways that they could discard the attackers. The majority of locks were located in hard-to-reach places and was designed to withstand a long siege. They were built on the top of the steep hill or surrounding the moat or trench. In the castle there were always impressive stocks of weapons, water and food, and the guard knew how to lead defense. However, in order to survive the siege, it was necessary to have a born leader, knowledgeable in interstitial art, defensive tactics and ingenious tricks.
The dental parapet of the guard continuously observed over the surroundings due to the gear pape, followed by a path of the castle on top of the castle walls. Defense means If the defenders learned in advance about the pleasure of the attackers, they were preparing to defend themselves, stroking the provisions and predicting shelter to the surrounding residents. The villages and the fields were often burned to be precipitated anything. The castles were written in the highest technical mill-darts of those times. Wooden locks lightly light up, so they began to build from Kam. Stone walls withstood the shells of siege guns, and the Rips prevented the enemy's attempts to break through the tunnel into the fortress. On the top on the walls did wooden tracks - the defenders were thrown by attacking stones. Later, they were replaced by stone brine parapets. The spread of guns has made radical changes in the design of the deposits and methods of warfare. Boy citizens Defenders could shoot on the enemy from boysnitis without fear of the enemy and because of the toothed pa-pet on the walls of the castle. For the convenience of archers and musketeers of the loopholes expanded in-inside. It also made it possible to increase the sec-tree shelling. But the enemy was difficult to get into a narrow booming, although there were a taller arrows who were preparing specials for this purpose.
The loopholes existed different types of boys: straight, in the form of a cross and even the key. All for the defense of 1 weak point of all the castle was the gate. At first, the enemy had to go through the recovery bridge, and then the gate and the hydraulic grid. But here in reserve the defenders had several surprises. 2 holes in the wooden floor allowed the defenders to throw stones down, on the heads of monstering, pour hot sand on them and pour haired lime, boiling water or oil. 3 Defenders were digging a defensive tunnel. 4 arrows and other shells were better bouncing from rounded walls. 5 gear paws. 6 strikers often wounded stones from walls. 7 on the enemy was shot from boysnitis. 8 soldiers protecting the castle, repelled the stairs to the forwards of long jeres. 9 Defenders tried to neutralize a trumpet wane, descending on the ropes of the mattress or trying to catch the end of a taran with a hook and pull it up. 10 Fire extinguishing in the castle walls.
At the end of the IX century. In Europe, the construction of feudal locks begins. They were taken not only rich seniors, but also feudal of the middle hand. The mass facility of the castles was predetermined by the constant invasions of enemies.
Usually the castle was built on a hill or on a high shore, from where the approaches to it were well visible. At first it was a very simple facility: a de-revant two-story tower, which was called donzhon . On the top floor there he lived his feudal family with his family. Downstairs lived a military squad and servants, as well as dismissed shopping premises, a kitchen, a barn with products and a weapon warehouse. In the case of siege, the wooden tower was cut from outside the leisure of animals, whatever it would save it from the fire.
A shaft was poured around the castle, strengthened it with a palico with wooden towers. Before the shaft was deep ditch filled with water. Through the ditch on chains, a bridge was moved, which led to one of the frequency towers with severe oak gates, hinge. In the event of a threat, the bridge was raised, and it was almost impossible to get into the castle. A few steps from the gateway inland yard There were lifting lattices. If even someone managed to slip over the gate, the lattice was lowered, and people turned out to be trapped.
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| The fortress of the new hail in the Czech Republic. XIII century Modern photo |
In the XI century The locks began to build from stone and strengthen more. Two or even three rows of high and powerful walls with angular towers were erected around the castle. In the walls did loopholes - narrow holes for archery. Wooden donjon replaced stone. Its dark, cold and wet dungeons will use it not only for business needs, but also as a prison for criminals, prisoners and convicted. In the courtyard of the castle there were also stables for worse horses and stalls for livestock. The water was taken from the well, dug in the same place. Under the walls of the castle, the opposite people sat down in order to find asylum from the enemy if necessary.
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| Siege of the castle. Miniature. XIV Art. |
Well-strengthened castle, having enough at-passes and drinking water, could easily withstand a long siege. For the assault locks, siege mechanisms were applied - Tarana and mobile towers. Often in the dungeon donzhon lay a secret move that led beyond the castle. So feudal could send a messenger to help, or escape himself, if he was taken by an attack.
However, the castle was not only a military fortification. He was also the residence of Señora, the place of his staying accommodation. Therefore, over the centuries, the locks became increasingly comfortable, cozy. They turned into a complex of buildings: the hall for the receptions, a married bedroom of the feudal, the rooms of different s-values, kitchens, basements and storage facilities for products, chapel, etc. But the Donjon has always been an object of particular concerns. He rummaged against the background of buildings and landscape, demonstrating the strength and power of the senor. He was portrayed on herbs, crops of the castle or chapel, on flags and seals of feudal.
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| Siege mechanism - Petrairia. 1240 |
In the castle, besides the Señora family, a lot of servants and subordinates lived: the heirs of vassals, who studied military arts, knights, economics, security. Material from site.
When there was no war, and the feudal was at home, he could have been in his possessions, to catch fish, fencing, fighting on a spear, play chess, watch the performances of juggler or bears, take guests, communicate with the ladies, arrange solemn meetings Vassalov et al. However, it did not always hold the feudal houses at home. With the first opportunity, they went to the court of the king or in distant wanderings. But they did not forget his land and proudly added the name of the castle to their name.
X. III century Chronist Lamber D'Aard about the construction and arrangement of stone donjone
Boduen, Graf Gines, built in Ginesh on a hill round house from a dazon stone. He was so high as if he was resting in the sky. Boduñean provided that the upper part would be like a flat terrace with roofing on rafters ... In this house he had rooms for solemn techniques, living rooms, solitude rooms, corridors that did a house like a Labyrinth of Grandfather. Further outside the house, he built a chapel with stone walls and wooden rafters. Also built a stone wall along the external defense castle belt. At the entrance, he built a tower with throwing devices to beat the attack.
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Poverty locks still attract admiring glances. It is difficult to believe that in these sometimes fabulous structures leaked life: people organized life, brought up children, cared for subjects. Many castles of the Middle Ages are protected by states in which there are, they are unique arrangement and architecture. However, all these structures have a number of common features, because their functions were the same and proceeded from the lifestyle and state essence of feudal.
Feudals: who they are
Before talking about how the feudal castle looked, consider that it was for a class in the medieval society. European states were then monarchies, but the king, standing at the top of the authorities, solved little. The government focused in the hands of the so-called seniors - they were feudal. Moreover, inside this system also existed a hierarchy, the so-called knights stood on the lower yarus. Fejoodals located on the step above were called vassals, and the relationship of Vassal - the señor was preserved exclusively for nearby levels of the stairs.
Each señora had its own territory, on which there was a castle of feudal, the description of which we will definitely give below. Also lived subordinates (vassals) and peasants. Thus, it was a kind of state in the state. That is why there was a situation called feudal fragmentation, which was very weakened by the country.
Relations between feudalities were not always kind of good neighborly, there were cases of hostility between them, attempts to conquer territories. The ownership of feudal should have been well fortified and protected from the attack. The actual function will consider it in the next part.
The main functions of the castle
The definition of the "Castle" itself implies an architectural structure that combines an economic and defensive task.
Based on this, the feudal lock B performed the following functions:
1. Military. The construction did not just need to defend the inhabitants (the host itself and his family), but also servants, colleagues, vassals. In addition, it was here that the headquarters of military operations was stationed.
2. Administrative. The castles of the feudalists were peculiar centers, from where the lands were carried out.
3. Political. State issues were also solved in the possessions of Señora, from here was given instructions to locations.
4. Cultural. The atmosphere reigning in the castle, allowed the subject to make an idea of \u200b\u200bthe latest fashion trends - whether clothes, directions in art or music. In this issue, Vassala was always focused on their senory.
5. Economic. The castle was a center for peasants and artisans. It concerned and administrative issues, and trade.
It will be wrong to compare the castle of feudal, the description of which we give in this article, and the fortress. There are between them fundamental differences. The fortresses were called not to defend not only the owner of the territory, but also without exception, while the castle was a fortification construction exclusively for the feudal, living in it, his family and the most neighboring vassals.
The fortress is the strengthening of some plot of land, and the castle is a protective structure with a developed infrastructure, where each element performs a specific function.
Prototypes of feudal castles
The first buildings of this kind appeared in Assyria, then this tradition took over the ancient Rome. Well, after the feudal of Europe - mostly Great Britain, France and Spain - begin the construction of their castles. Often it was possible to see such buildings in Palestine, because then, in the XII century, there were crusades, respectively, the dyed lands had to hold and defend themselves through the construction of special structures.
Trend of closets disappears together with feudal fragmentation when european states become centralized. Indeed, now it was possible not to be afraid of the attacks of a neighbor, concerned about someone else's.
Special, protective, functionality is gradually inferior to the place of aesthetic component.
External description
Before you disassemble the structural elements, imagine how the feudal castle looked in the first thing, which rushed into the eyes, it was a moat, encircling the entire territory on which a monumental structure was stood. Next was the wall with small turrets to reflect the enemy.
In the castle, only one entrance was a lifting bridge, then the iron grille. Over all other buildings rose main Tower, or donjon. In the courtyard, the necessary infrastructure was also located behind the goal: workshops, forge and mill.
It should be said that the place for the structure was chosen carefully, it was supposed to be an elevation, hill or mountain. Well, if you managed to choose a territory to which at least one side ate the natural reservoir - the river or the lake. Many celebrate how the nests of prey birds and locks are similar (photo for example below) - and those and others were famous for their inaccessibility.
Hill for the castle
We will understand in the structural elements of the structure in more detail. The hill for the lock was the elevation of the correct form. As a rule, the surface was square. The height of the hill was an average of five to ten meters, there were structures and above this mark.
Particular attention was paid to the breed from which the bridgehead was made for the castle. As a rule, clay was used, peat, limestone breeds were also moved. We took the material from the rux, which dug around the elevation for greater protection.
Floors were popular on the slopes of the hill, made of twigs or from the boards. Here was the staircase.
Ditch
In order for some time to slow down the offensive of a potential enemy, as well as to make it difficult to transport the siege guns, it was necessary to be a deep ditch with water, a sliding hill on which castles were located. The photo shows how this system functioned.
It was necessary to fill in water - it guaranteed that the enemy would not produce a subpople on the castle territory. Water is most often supplied from a natural reservoir located nearby. It was necessary to regularly clean from garbage, otherwise he was mell and could not fully fulfill his protective functions.
Also, there were also cases when logs or stakes were mounted in the bottom, which prevented the crossing. For the owner of the castle, his families, subjects and guests were provided for a cross-bridge, which led directly to the goal.
Goal
In addition to its direct function, the gate was performed and a number of others. The castles of the feudalists had a very secure entrance, which during the siege was not so easy to capture.
The gate was equipped with a special heavyweight grid having a wooden frame view with thick iron rods. If necessary, she descended to detain the enemy.
In addition to the guards, standing at the entrance, on both sides of the gate on the fortress wall were located two towers for best Review (The input area was the so-called "blind zone". There were not only hourly sentible here, but the archers were on duty.
Perhaps the most vulnerable part of the gate was gate - the urgent need for its guard arose in the dark time, because the entrance to the castle closed on the night. Thus, it was possible to track all who visits the territory in the "Nurse" time.
Courtyard
Having passed the control of guards at the entrance, the visitor fell to the courtyard, where it was possible to observe a real life in the castle of feudal. All major and boiled work was found here: warriors were trained, the blacksmiths had a weapon, artisans manufactured the necessary objects of life, the servants performed their duties. Also here was a well with drinking water.
The area of \u200b\u200bthe courtyard was not big, which made it possible to follow everything that happens on the territory of the Senior.
Donzhon
An element that always rushes into the eyes when you look at the castle - Donta. This is the most tall tower, the heart of any housing feudal. It was located in the most inaccessible place, and the thickness of his wall was such that it was very difficult to destroy this structure. This tower provided the ability to observe the surroundings and performed the functions of the last refuge. When the enemies broke out through all the lines of defense, the population of the castle was hidden in Dunzon and withstood a long siege. At the same time, Dontaon was not only a defensive structure: here, at the highest level, the feudal and his family lived. Below are servants and warriors. Often inside this building there was a well.
The lowest floor is a huge hall where lush feasts passed. Behind the oak table, who was leaving from all sorts of yoke, squeezed the squad of feudal and he himself.
Internal architecture is interesting: row staircases were hidden between the walls, which could be moved between levels.
Moreover, each of the floors was independent of the previous and subsequent. It provided additional safety.
The donjon kept the stocks of weapons, food and drink in case of siege. The products were kept on the highest floor so that the feudal family was provided and not starved.
And now consider another question: how are the castles of the feudalists were comfortable? Unfortunately, this quality suffered. Analyzing the story of the Castle of the feudal, heard from the mouth of the eyewitness (a traveler who visited one of the similar features), we can conclude that it was very cold there. Some people tried to busy the room - nothing worked, there were too huge halls. There was also noted the lack of a cozy homely focus and monotonance as if "sliced" rooms.
Wall
Like the most important part of the castle, which was owned by a medieval feudal, was a fortress wall. She surrounded the hill on which the main construction was. Special requirements were put forward to the walls: an impressive height (so that the stairs for the siege are not enough) and durability, because not only human resources, but also special devices were often used for the assault. The average parameters of such structures: 12 m in height and 3 m in thickness. Impressive, isn't it?
Crowned the wall in every corner watching towersin which watch and archers were on duty. In the area of \u200b\u200bthe castle bridge, there were also special places on the wall so that the deposited could effectively reflect the attacking attacks.
In addition, all over the perimeter of the wall, according to its very top, the gallery was held for a soldier of defense.
Life in the castle
How did life proceeded in medieval castle? The second person after Feodala was the manager who led the consideration of the provisions to the owner of the peasants and artisans who worked in the territories of the estate. This man took into account how many products were produced and brought, what amounts paid vassals for the use of land. Often he worked the manager paired with a writer. Sometimes it was envisaged for a separate room in the castle.
The staff of the servants included direct servants to help the owner and the hostess, there was also a cook with cook assistants, a stiffness - a person responsible for heating the room, blacksmith and a culk. The number of servants was directly proportional to the magnitude of the castle and the status of feudal.
The large room was enough to get enough. Stone walls at night have cooled very much, in addition, they strongly absorbed moisture. Therefore, rooms have always been raw and cold. Of course, the plots tried to maintain warmth, but it was not always possible. Particularly prosperous feudals could afford to decorate walls with wood or carpets, tapestries. To keep as much heat as possible, the windows did small.
Limestone furnaces were used for heating, which were in the kitchen, from where the heat was rapidated to nearby rooms. With the invention of the pipes there was an opportunity to damn other castle rooms. Special comfort feudals created tiled furnaces. Special material (burned clay) made it possible to warm up large areas and kept better heat.
What furified in the castle
Interested in the diet of the inhabitants of the castle. Here the social inequality traced best. Most of the menu was meat dishes. And these were selected beef and pork.
No less important place on the feudal table occupied agriculture products: bread, wine, beer, porridge. The trend was as follows: the more notably the feudal - the lighter on his desk the bread. It is no secret that it depends on the quality of flour. The percentage of grain products was maximal, and meat, fish, fruits, berries and vegetables were only a pleasant addition.
A special difference in cooking in the Middle Ages was abundant use of seasonings. And here it could be known to afford something more than the peasantry. For example, African or Far Eastern spices, which, according to the cost (for a small capacity), did not yield to a large cattle.
1. Castle feudal. Starting from the VIII century, a lot of castles were built in Europe to protect against the attacks of Normans and Hungarians. Gradually, every lord tried to build a castle: depending on the possibilities are huge or modest. Castle is a dwelling feudal and its fortress. Castle fortress.
1. Castle feudal. First, the locks were built of wood, later from the stone. Powerful walls with gear towers served as reliable protection. The castle was often erected on a hill or a high rock, surrounded with a wide moat with water. Sometimes it was built on the island in the middle of the river or lake. Through the ditch or duoku, the lifting bridge, overnight and during the attack, the enemy was raised on the chains. From the tower over the gate constantly overlooked the surroundings of the guard and, noticing the enemy in the distance, the alarm of the alarm. Then the warriors were in a hurry to take their places on the walls and in the towers. Top tower
1. Castle feudal. To penetrate the castle, it was necessary to overcome many obstacles. The enemies were to fall asleep, over the open space to overcome the hill, approach the walls, climb on them at attachment to assault stairs or break the taran with oak, came the gate gland. On the heads of the enemies, the castle defenders dropped stones and logs, lily boiling water and a hot resin, metali spears, showered them arles. Often, the attackers had to storm the second, even a higher wall. Defense of Castle
1. Castle feudal. The main tower of Donjon rises above all the buildings. In it, feudal with his warriors and servants could withstand a long siege if other fortifications were already captured. Inside the tower one over the other were located halls. In the basement, the well was done and the stocks of the products were kept. Near the cheese and dark dungeon, prisoners were languishing. From the basement usually shed a mystery underground movethat took the river or forest. Donzhon
1. Castle feudal. The only rail door leading to the tower was located high above the ground. If you managed to break it, I had to fight for each floor. On the palter stairs, it was necessary to wade through the hatches, which were closed with heavy stone slabs. In the case of capturing the tower in the thickness of the wall, a screw staircase was made; Through it, the master of the castle together with his family and warriors could go down to the saving underground move. Castle in Spain
2. Knight's gear. Military affair has become an occupation of almost exclusively feudalists, and so it was for many centuries. Feodal often fought all his life. The knight was armed with a big sword and a long spear; Often he also enjoyed a combat ax and a terrible cockpit with a metal thickened end. The Knight could cover the big shield to the legs.
2. Knight's gear. The body of the knight protected the chain of the shirt, woven from the iron rings (sometimes in 23 layers) and reaching the knees. Later, the Kolchuga changed the armor of the armor from steel plates. On the head, the knight put on his helmet, and in a minute of danger, he lowered his face to take a metal plate with eye slits. Knights fought on strong, hardy horses, which were also protected by armor. The knight was accompanied by a squire and several armed warriors, horse and hiking, a whole "combat unit".
2. Knight's gear. A combat horse, knight equipment and gear of travelers were very expensive. Therefore, carrying the Knight's service, a landseller, who was provided with all necessary dependent peasants. Feudals were preparing for military service since childhood. They constantly practiced in fencing, horseback riding, wrestling, swimming and throwing a spear, studied acceptants and tactics of battle. Self-knight
3. Entertainment knights. The Lords were rarely engaged in economic affairs themselves. To do this, in each estate, they kept managers. The main time of the feudal police was given to wars and military exercises, hunting and femors. Favorite entertainment knight Hunting and tournaments - were associated with military affairs. The hunt not only served as entertainment, but also helped replenish food reserves. During the hunt, it was possible to show courage and dexterity: the fight against an enraged wild boar or wounded bear was as dangerous as with the enemy warrior, and the pursuit of deer trained in horseback riding. Hunting
3. Entertainment knights. Tournaments Military contests knights in force and agility arranged kings and noble feudalles. There were many viewers, sometimes from several countries. Notable gentlemen, judges and ladies were squeezed in the stands, and simple people were crowded behind the wooden barrier around the arena.
3. Entertainment knights. Herolds special heralds declared the names and motto knights entering into battle. Participants of the tournament dressed in battle armor, drove into opposite ends of the arena. By the sign of the judge, they rushed at the horses towards each other. Dumb tournament spear knight tried to knock the opponent from the saddle. Sometimes the competition ended with serious injuries or even the death of participants. The winner received a horse and armor of a defeated opponent as a reward. The occasion was played by the battle of two knightly detachments, which were built up with a chain. Royal Gerolds Battle of Dets
3. Entertainment knights. Typically, the tournament was completed by the peak. Conversely, solemn feasts on the occasion of victories, coronation, weddings and other important events included often not only feast and dancing, but also tournament competitions. During such celebrations, initiations in the knights often happened, honors and rewards were distributed. In the evenings, the inhabitants of the castle gathered in a common hall, where a huge focus was burning fireplace, played bones and chess, saw wine and beer, solved their family affairs. Monotonous life violated the arrival of guests and holidays. In the castles in the castles, the river was raised wine, the tables were leaving under the seizure of snacks. The animal carcasses were fried in the foci of the whole, on the huge spit. The inhabitants of the castles and their guests had fun jesters and dwarfs, invited artists and, of course, poets from the number of suite. Speech by musicians
4. "Shame and convince me not the end." Noble knights considered themselves people "noble", proud of antiquity of their birth and the number of famous ancestors. The knight had his emblem - a distinctive sign of the genus and motto - a brief saying, usually explaining the meaning of the coat of arms. Full coat of arms and examples of coat of arms
4. "Shame and convince me not the end." The knights were not shy to rob the defeated, their own peasants and even passions on large roads. At the same time, the Knight was supposed to despise calcality, thrift, but to show generosity. The incomes received from the peasants and military prey most often spent on gifts, feasts and treat friends, hunting, expensive clothes, on the maintenance of servants and warriors.
4. "Shame and convince me not the end." Another important quality of the knight was considered loyalty to the king and senor. It was his main duty. And the betrayal imposed a stigma of the storm for the entire genus of the traitor. "Who will change to his senir, he should have incurd to be rightfully" said in one of the poems. In the legends about the knights, courage, delete, contempt for death, nobility.
4. "Shame and convince me not the end." In this developed code (laws) of the Knight's credit included other special rules: the knight should look for feats, fight the enemies of the Christian faith, protect the honor of the ladies, as well as weak and offended, especially widows and orphans, to be fair and gallant. But these rules of the Knight's honor were used mainly in relations between feudalities. All those who considered "non-profit", knights despised, behaved with them arrogantly and cruelly. However, in relations between "noble" people, the rules of the Knight's honor were not always respected. In everyday life, in the family, with vassals and equal, many feudalles were rude, cruel and unrestrained, greed and stupid, could cause a disaccier to a woman. Worship of a beautiful lady
Education of the knight Usually from seven years, the boy left the father's castle and served as a PJ with the court of a noble feudal. He performed various orders of Señora and his family members. At 15, the young man became a squint of the knight. In the castle, he looked after the hunters and hunting dogs, I met the guests, the armor of the knight came in the campaign, and during the battle was behind him, so that at any moment there was a spare weapon. Only after a long service or large feats were dedicated to the knights. During the holiday, the warrior was kneeling before the most significant of the guests, and he hit his palm on the back of the back or blade the sword on his back either on his shoulder the only strike in his life, which the knight could get without repaying him. Then the knight put on the spurs and washing his sword. The ceremony ends with a disquality of the knight's dexterity: Jumping on the horse, he tried to pierce the target with a spear. But often the dedication in the knights took place on the battlefield, for the manifested military valor and loyalty. Pozhomoruzhevazvazhomorzhetsky return
Pipe of the instigator The challenge challenge, and the knight is a trumpet in response sings, the glade will repel them and the sky. Took the sedni lowered, and the shells are attached to the shells; Here the horses rushed, and finally the fighter came close to the fighter. Dryden, "Palamon and Arsita" by vote alone recognized another. They came together in the middle of the field. He and the other allowed a spear into the case, the enemy strikes in the shield patterned, pierce it under probably thick break the floors, but they remain unharmed, both. They fell away from their litters saddles. With the horses, the fighters fell away by the last sideways, but jumped at their feet immediately deftly, their swords were baptized, so that he would continue his martial arts again, one death put him. From the song about Roland (XII B). Back O. knightly tournament
Caesar Gaisterbakhsky. Dialogue about wonders. XIII century Story about one of the German knights. "The name of this knight Ludolf. It was a real tyrant. Once he poured on the road to the riding in a new purple dress, and his peasant was met, which rushed on the wagon. The dirt splashed from under the wheels was blurred his clothes, and then this full pride knight, beside himself from anger, snatched the sword and compartment to the peasant hand. " Per. From Latin // Nineakina N. I. The history of the Middle Ages: sources, tasks, games. Pp. 93 Return
