Castles in Medieval Times
In medieval times, castles were used for a number of reasons
· Although invaders from overseas had ceased but about 900 AD, castles were used to with stand hold of land by kings and lords. Castles could be used defensively in the face of revolts, and attacks from neighboring counties
· To enforce the use of the feudal system. In medieval times, the feudal system was used to show power. The King was the most powerful, then the lords, then Knights and finally, peasants. The castles were not only intimidating themselves, but showed power and authority, and gave a warning to the peasants that worked the land. This controlled the threats of revolts from the starving peasants.
· To enforce the power, the king was considered to be the next in line from God and all the laws he made were considered to be the right of God. If peasants questioned the feudal system, the church could also be questioned and if that happened, the Church would lose power and authority, as well as the king.
· Although invaders from overseas had ceased but about 900 AD, castles were used to with stand hold of land by kings and lords. Castles could be used defensively in the face of revolts, and attacks from neighboring counties
· To enforce the use of the feudal system. In medieval times, the feudal system was used to show power. The King was the most powerful, then the lords, then Knights and finally, peasants. The castles were not only intimidating themselves, but showed power and authority, and gave a warning to the peasants that worked the land. This controlled the threats of revolts from the starving peasants.
· To enforce the power, the king was considered to be the next in line from God and all the laws he made were considered to be the right of God. If peasants questioned the feudal system, the church could also be questioned and if that happened, the Church would lose power and authority, as well as the king.
The Purpose of Beaumaris and it's relationship with the Feudal System
The feudal system (see above) was the way society was organized in Medieval Europe. Beaumaris was built in 1295 to
combat the Welsh rebellions, led by peasants. As peasants were at the bottom of society, the rebellion was seen as a
threat to the feudal system and government, and needed to be controlled. The king, Edward I, saw the need for
reinforcement and built a stronghold there to control the peasants and any other commoners that had reason to rebel.
Also used as luxury living quarters for the king and his family, to show the towns people authority and any other foreigners the authority of the monarchs and nobles. Also, to run a castle costs money, mainly brought from taxes. people would not pay the king taxes, and the monarchy would crumble, so the Feudal system was essential to the running of Beaumaris and any other castle of the time.
combat the Welsh rebellions, led by peasants. As peasants were at the bottom of society, the rebellion was seen as a
threat to the feudal system and government, and needed to be controlled. The king, Edward I, saw the need for
reinforcement and built a stronghold there to control the peasants and any other commoners that had reason to rebel.
Also used as luxury living quarters for the king and his family, to show the towns people authority and any other foreigners the authority of the monarchs and nobles. Also, to run a castle costs money, mainly brought from taxes. people would not pay the king taxes, and the monarchy would crumble, so the Feudal system was essential to the running of Beaumaris and any other castle of the time.
Life in Medieval Times
The medieval period was a fascinating time. Lasting officially from 477 to the Tudor era, early works and writings were lost, and, thus, we have little knowledge about the beginning of this era, which is commonly referred to as the Dark ages. Medieval times used the feudal system as their form of government and the way society was run. Constant wars and revolts, both with other countries and themselves. War could be caused by land disputes, religious differences, Personal reasons or a combination of the above. Society was organized by the feudal system (See above), meaning the rich had more power than the poor. Wars were often fought by the king and his nobles, as well as knights, who wore extravagant armor inlaid with gold and silver that also protected from attackers. Knights boasted weapons including swords, shields, lances, pikes, various forms of crossbows and axes. War was declared by the king and was fought by almost the entire noble population. Eating habits of the rich and poor significantly varied from country to country. British nobles ate a variety of meats, fruit, soft white bread, cheese and drank ale. Poor English Peasants ate a staple diet of dark rye bread, vegetables such as turnips and leeks, hard sheep’s cheese and occasionally mutton and pork. French peasants ate in a similar way to the English, but French nobles ate a large variety of meats including boar, swan, beef, a variety of game, deer and any other meat available. French nobles drank wine, however, English nobles drank ale or beer, as grapes would not grow in the wet and marshy British climate. Medieval women were seen as useless and unimportant, and with the exception of a few women throughout the era ( Eleanor of Aquitaine, Joan of Arc etc.) had no involvement in politics or warfare. Commonly, women would stay at home and look after children as well as cook, clean, mend clothes, study herbal medicine and occasionally farm or collect nuts or berries. Peasants had very simply built houses often consisting of one room shared with the rest of the family as well as livestock. Court Nobles had luxurious manor houses; some even lived with the king himself! The manor had large singular rooms, a kitchen, stables for horses and other animals, great hall and garden. This showed the differences between rich and poor.