| Forum: | Individual Castles |
| Topic: | Help!!!!!! |
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------------------ ------------------ Gordon. [This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 03-14-2000).] ------------------ ------------------ Gordon. [This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 03-14-2000).]Adam Sandler In what country were castles the strongest and in what time of history were they existing? wurdsmiff Your question is more suited to the General Discussion forum. Please consider your choice of forum more carefully in future.
It is an interesting question and could involve much discussion amongst numerous members, and even then it would come down to a matter of opinion.The strength of a castle cannot be measured as such, it's strength being perceived, and experienced by those who attack and defend it. We can make some judgement as to the quality of the defences, and history can tell us how individual castles fared against attack. Across the ages and across continents, the variety of castles is immense, and to say that those from one country or a particular period were stronger would be difficult to justify. The perceived strength would depend upon the weaponry available in that place and time, few, for instance, would be seen as being places of strength in event of nuclear attack.
There is potential for this to develop into a really good discussion on the relative defensive merits of many individual castles.
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Philip Davis I agree with Wurdsmiff on this. Strongest is so dependent on subjective factors, such as the moral of the defenders, and as weapons changed over time defences changed. Was Dover stronger in the 12th century against arrows and catapults than the earthworks around Donnington castle were against cannon in the 17th? Both withstood seiges for many months. In absolute terms of defences of territory the trenches of the Western Front of the first World War (particularly those of the German Army) were the most successful defences in that they held their positions against enormous efforts for years.
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html wurdsmiff Whilst not strictly a castle, but a series of them with fortified cities and other defences,Malta has a good case for having the strongest fortifications of their day. The Great Siege lasted from 18th May 1565 to September 8th the same year. The Turks bombarded Valletta and Fort St Elmo incessantly for that time, and still the Knights of St John of Jerusalem held out. all of Europe proclaimed it 'The lsland of heroes'
(they even endured having the heads of their dead colleagues fired at them from cannon)
Later in World War 2, another great siege took place, as the Germans attempted to capture the last British foothold in the Mediterranean outwith Gibraltar. During the worst bombing, there was the same poundage of high explosive bombs dropped on the island in two weeks, as on London during the entire war. Again they held out, sheltering in ancient catacombs, and the mediaeval fortifications.
More than enough remains to captivate the enthusiast for a few weeks holiday a year. I've been eight times, and counting!
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm
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