Adulterine castle facts for kids
Adulterine castles were special castles built in England during the 1100s. What made them special? They were built without the king's permission! This happened a lot during a big civil war called the Anarchy, which lasted from 1139 to 1154.
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What Were Adulterine Castles?
During a time of war, people often build strongholds to protect themselves. In England, during the civil war known as the Anarchy, many new castles were built. This war was fought between two groups: one supporting King Stephen and the other supporting Empress Matilda.
Both sides needed new castles for several reasons:
- To defend their lands.
- To use as bases for attacking enemy areas.
Most of these new castles were simple motte-and-bailey designs. This means they had a large mound (the motte) with a tower on top, and a walled courtyard (the bailey) below. Examples include castles at Winchcombe and Bampton. King Stephen also built a line of castles, like those at Burwell and Rampton, to protect his lands around Cambridge.
Why Were They Called "Adulterine"?
The word "adulterine" means "unauthorized" or "illegal." Traditionally, the King had to give permission before anyone could build a new castle. But during the chaos of the civil war, this rule was often ignored. Many people built castles without getting the King's approval first.
People at the time were worried about this. One writer, Robert of Torigny, even claimed that over a thousand such castles were built! However, this was probably an exaggeration. He also suggested a smaller number, around 126.
What Happened to These Castles?
When the war ended, Henry II, Empress Matilda's son, became king. He announced that he wanted to get rid of all the unauthorized castles. It's not clear exactly how many were destroyed. Robert of Torigny said 375 were torn down.
However, modern studies suggest that fewer castles might have been destroyed than people once thought. Many of these castles were probably just left empty and abandoned after the war ended. They were often built quickly and weren't meant to last forever. In fact, more than half of the castles built during this period have completely disappeared today!
See also
In Spanish: Castella adulterina para niños
