The genesis and fortification of the castle architecture of the early Middle Ages

This study is devoted to a detailed analysis of the genesis and fortification of castle architecture of the early Middle Ages, covering the period from the 5th to the 11th century. An extensive review of historical documents, drawings, works of historians, and reports of archaeological research was conducted. The study examines the architectural, social, and economic aspects of castle architecture, paying special attention to the impact of historical events on defensive structures and the changes caused by the integration of construction methods from different cultures. The main attention was paid to the examination of the evolution of castles from simple wooden fortifications to powerful stone ones and the analysis of construction methods used in various regions. The castle architecture of the early Middle Ages borrowed many elements from ancient Roman and Byzantine fortifications, such as towers, walls, and gates. These elements adapted and developed in the face of frequent invasions and instability, which led to the creation of more powerful and functional fortifications. Castle architecture was born gradually, starting with simple fortifications, such as the Roman fortifications of Autun, Saxon burgs, the location of which is recorded in the list of Burghal Hidage, compiled in the 9th century. One of the first types of castles were Motte and Ringwork or similar in function, motte-and-baileys, first common in England and Germany, representing fortifications on artificial hills and plots of land surrounded by moats and ramparts, which played an important role in strengthening the power of the feudal lords in the 11th-12th centuries. Examples of such fortifications are the Peñerudes Tower in Morcina and the Castle of Canossa. Marlborough Castle in Wessex, Berkeley Castle and Castello Firmiano Castle are important monuments of fortification of castle architecture of the 5th-11th centuries, demonstrating a more developed approach to strengthening in comparison with their predecessors. The findings are important for analysing the development of castle architecture and understanding the historical processes that influenced its formation