Castles of the French castle type in Bohemia and Moravia
Definition
Castles of the French type are considered to be regular multi-towered castles with mostly round flanking towers, which allow for active defence. The internal buildings are of a perimeter character.
The origin and development of the French castle
The cradle of the French castle was the French Capetian kingdom, the origin can be placed in the reign of Philip II. Augustus (1180 - 1223), especially the last 25 years of his reign. The development of French castles of the 12th century consisted of the donjon with the use of flanking turrets. Written sources are generally divided on the dating of individual castles, so it is very difficult to determine whether castles of the French type began to be built in the second half of the 12th century or at the end of the 12th century. The dating of the late 12th century was dealt with by J. Mesqui, who places the change in castle architecture in the years 1170 - 1200. He also notes the construction of flanking towers during the later 12th century. Despite the great similarity of the castles, they were not built according to a template, but adapted to the conditions of the terrain. It was a square layout with perimeter buildings, with flanking towers on two sides and corner flanking towers. The gates were held by a pair of towers in the centre of the two courtyards, while the round donjon stood in the inner courtyard. This was used in the rebuilding of older castles. Further development of castles was such that the donjon became a corner flanking tower. The type created in the castles of King Philip II. Augustus spread rapidly through central France, then on to Alsace, and influenced the castle architecture of Frederick II of Sicily's kingdom in southern Italy. In the second half of the 13th century it penetrated into England, Holland, Switzerland and Spain, where it may have had earlier origins. Central and eastern Europe, with the exception of a few Bohemian castles, was not affected by the French castle scheme in the 13th century, rather the influence of ancient and Arabic fortification was more pronounced here, nor can any wider influence of French castle builders be considered.
Conclusion
French castles were the first to be dealt with in our country by D. Menclová, who created a group of castles based on the dating of the late 13th and early 14th century. She then looked for connections between castles in the Rhineland and foreign builders working at the royal court in the late 13th century. All the sites so far known are castles built on promontories - with the exception of Úsov, which is more likely to be on the corner of a plateau. Only Konopiště and Týřov form a pure application of the type. In the other types it is an imitation and misunderstanding of the principle. The layout of the camp is downright hybrid. The three castles in the royal forest - Týřov, Džbán and Nižbor - are unquestionably related. Konopiště, Tábor, and Úsov stand rather alone. These are consistent royal foundations, the only exception perhaps being Konopiště, here it could be a castle built by a bishop. This, however, ranks alongside the royal forge at the end of the 13th century. The oldest is Týřov, with Džbán built in the first half of the 13th century, and Nižbor, Úsov, and Tabor in the second. The youngest is Konopiště, founded at the end of the 13th century. There is probably no connection between Týřov and Konopiště. Týřov and Konopiště differ from each other by the front of the flanking towers in front of the courtyards. In France we encounter the solution used at Konopiště. Since the origin of the French castle type is not assumed in Bohemia, and the small number of castles, it is also an import. In Bohemia we do not encounter typical French gates, enclosed by two round towers or turrets. At Týřov, the second gate is designed with a typical domestic square passage tower, and of course a mast-head drawbridge. In close proximity to Týřov, the Džbán Castle was built in a combination of the French castle scheme with perimeter buildings. Its front wall was probably inspired by Týřov. It is not a complete flanking system, but is limited to the front side only. At Nižbor, built by King Přemysl Otakar II, only one tower has been preserved, standing between the chapel and the palace, making franking impossible. This shows a misunderstanding of the basic principles of the French castle. This process continues at Úsov and also at Tabor, where the towers are losing their flanking ability. Because of the increasing misunderstanding of the type of castle at the above-mentioned sites, we can assume that Týřov was the model, not foreign sites. The interpretation of the principles of the French castle scheme is a considerable and complex issue that needs to be addressed separately.
Sources:
Durdík, T. 1998: Castles of the 13th century castle type in Central Europe. Prague.
Durdík, T. 1999: Encyclopaedia of Czech Castles. Prague.
Plaček, M. 1999: Castles and chateaux in Moravia and Silesia. Prague.
Prokop, A. 1904: Die Markgrafschaft Mähren in kunstgeschichtlicher beziehung. Band I-IV. Wien.
Definition
Castles of the French type are considered to be regular multi-towered castles with mostly round flanking towers, which allow for active defence. The internal buildings are of a perimeter character.
The origin and development of the French castle
The cradle of the French castle was the French Capetian kingdom, the origin can be placed in the reign of Philip II. Augustus (1180 - 1223), especially the last 25 years of his reign. The development of French castles of the 12th century consisted of the donjon with the use of flanking turrets. Written sources are generally divided on the dating of individual castles, so it is very difficult to determine whether castles of the French type began to be built in the second half of the 12th century or at the end of the 12th century. The dating of the late 12th century was dealt with by J. Mesqui, who places the change in castle architecture in the years 1170 - 1200. He also notes the construction of flanking towers during the later 12th century. Despite the great similarity of the castles, they were not built according to a template, but adapted to the conditions of the terrain. It was a square layout with perimeter buildings, with flanking towers on two sides and corner flanking towers. The gates were held by a pair of towers in the centre of the two courtyards, while the round donjon stood in the inner courtyard. This was used in the rebuilding of older castles. Further development of castles was such that the donjon became a corner flanking tower. The type created in the castles of King Philip II. Augustus spread rapidly through central France, then on to Alsace, and influenced the castle architecture of Frederick II of Sicily's kingdom in southern Italy. In the second half of the 13th century it penetrated into England, Holland, Switzerland and Spain, where it may have had earlier origins. Central and eastern Europe, with the exception of a few Bohemian castles, was not affected by the French castle scheme in the 13th century, rather the influence of ancient and Arabic fortification was more pronounced here, nor can any wider influence of French castle builders be considered.
Conclusion
French castles were the first to be dealt with in our country by D. Menclová, who created a group of castles based on the dating of the late 13th and early 14th century. She then looked for connections between castles in the Rhineland and foreign builders working at the royal court in the late 13th century. All the sites so far known are castles built on promontories - with the exception of Úsov, which is more likely to be on the corner of a plateau. Only Konopiště and Týřov form a pure application of the type. In the other types it is an imitation and misunderstanding of the principle. The layout of the camp is downright hybrid. The three castles in the royal forest - Týřov, Džbán and Nižbor - are unquestionably related. Konopiště, Tábor, and Úsov stand rather alone. These are consistent royal foundations, the only exception perhaps being Konopiště, here it could be a castle built by a bishop. This, however, ranks alongside the royal forge at the end of the 13th century. The oldest is Týřov, with Džbán built in the first half of the 13th century, and Nižbor, Úsov, and Tabor in the second. The youngest is Konopiště, founded at the end of the 13th century. There is probably no connection between Týřov and Konopiště. Týřov and Konopiště differ from each other by the front of the flanking towers in front of the courtyards. In France we encounter the solution used at Konopiště. Since the origin of the French castle type is not assumed in Bohemia, and the small number of castles, it is also an import. In Bohemia we do not encounter typical French gates, enclosed by two round towers or turrets. At Týřov, the second gate is designed with a typical domestic square passage tower, and of course a mast-head drawbridge. In close proximity to Týřov, the Džbán Castle was built in a combination of the French castle scheme with perimeter buildings. Its front wall was probably inspired by Týřov. It is not a complete flanking system, but is limited to the front side only. At Nižbor, built by King Přemysl Otakar II, only one tower has been preserved, standing between the chapel and the palace, making franking impossible. This shows a misunderstanding of the basic principles of the French castle. This process continues at Úsov and also at Tabor, where the towers are losing their flanking ability. Because of the increasing misunderstanding of the type of castle at the above-mentioned sites, we can assume that Týřov was the model, not foreign sites. The interpretation of the principles of the French castle scheme is a considerable and complex issue that needs to be addressed separately.
Sources:
Durdík, T. 1998: Castles of the 13th century castle type in Central Europe. Prague.
Durdík, T. 1999: Encyclopaedia of Czech Castles. Prague.
Plaček, M. 1999: Castles and chateaux in Moravia and Silesia. Prague.
Prokop, A. 1904: Die Markgrafschaft Mähren in kunstgeschichtlicher beziehung. Band I-IV. Wien.