The Impetus of Castle Construction: To Fortify or Aggrandize?

Abstract

As demonstrated by the work of historian Charles Coulson, modern revisionary trends in castle studies have questioned the defensive functionality of medieval European castles. Debates have arisen on whether these structures were erected to primarily function as fortified residences or to enhance prestige. This analysis, centered on English medieval castellology, disputes the revisionary sentiment that castles were not frequently constructed to serve as fortifications, but to instead substantiate affluence. To comprehend the adaptations and morphologies of the castle studies community, historiographic analysis identifies the notable historians and interpretations which have shaped the discipline. The dichotomy between traditional and revisionary works is discussed to shed light on the varied perceptions held by historians throughout the 19th, 20th and 21st century. Source analysis on castles erected between the 11th and 14th centuries suggests their primary function in the British Isles was rooted in fortification, whereas status enhancement was significant, albeit subsidiary. This claim is advocated with literature and a digital exhibition concerning popular styles in English medieval castle architecture and the events which propagated their developed — portrayed through notable structures: The White Tower of London, Dover Castle, Caerphilly Castle, Caernarfon Castle and Castle Bodiam.