The castle was far more than a walled and turreted fortress; it was an instrument of social
control and the symbol of power, authority, and wealth. Acknowledged expert Marilyn Stokstad
combines interpretive essays and original documents in English translation in order to examine
the role of the castle in society as well as its use in war. Thirty illustrations provide
valuable visual references, while twenty brief biographies of rulers, builders, and chroniclers
allow a glimpse into the lives of those who lived in and constructed these impressive structures.
Seventy excerpted and annotated primary documents cover topics ranging from the defense of
castles to the banquets thrown within them. A glossary of terms, annotated chronology, and index
complete this useful work on a fascinating subject.

Commencing with an overview of the military and social systems operating in the Middle Ages,
Stokstad places castles and other fortified places in an appropriate context. Readers are then
guided through the development of early "motte and bailey" castles and the development of masonry
towers and walls in the 11th and 12th centuries. The Castle as Fortress considers the military
aspect of castles, including siege warfare and the architectural response to attack and defense,
in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Castle as Headquarters explores castles and citadels as local
and regional government and economic centers in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Castle as Symbol
and Palace looks at the symbolic role of architecture and at castles as elite residences and
settings for public display. A concluding interpretive essay looks at the impact of gunpowder
on castles as well as our continuing fascination with castles as a romantic fantasy of an
idealized world.

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