The Medieval Fortress: Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages

by Joseph E. Kaufmann, H.W. Kaufmann, Robert M. Jurga

The castles of the Medieval world continue to interest readers, both as architectural wonders and because of their dramatic role in world history. The general public is largely unaware of just how many castles survive today or over how wide an area of Europe and the Middle East they are to be found.Fortifications specialist J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann and technical artist Robert Jurga (authors of the acclaimed Fortress European Fortifications of World War II ) have once again combined European sources and personal observations to present a unique portrait of military architecture. They reveal how the medieval fortress combined both Roman and barbarian features, with some influences from as far away as China. Detailed coverage is given for castles in the British Isles, France, Germany, Moorish Spain, and as far east as Poland and Russia, as well as Muslim and Crusader castles in the Middle East. The Medieval Fortress covers the origin and evolution of the castles and other walled defenses, their major components, and the reasons for their eventual decline, which was not solely due to the introduction of gunpowder. Also receiving extensive coverage are the weapons and equipment of garrisons and besieging troops. Over a hundred photographs and 150 extraordinarily detailed technical drawings accompany the main text, which also takes an in-depth look at representative castles of each major type.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Medieval History, Reference

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Shyue Chou Chuang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this excellent volume more than two decades ago and I finally got down to reading it and I finished it.

This is an excellent volume that examines castles, forts and walled cities during the Middle Ages and as such the older fortifications of the classical world is not within its remit. The book is divided into the following sections, the elements of medieval fortifications, the early fortifications, the age of castles, the decline of high castle walls and finally the medieval castles and fortifications in various political entities and regions, from England to North Africa.

The appendices include a listing of the builders and architects of the fortications, a chronology of sieges and a short history of medieval artillery.

The Da Capo edition is marred by poor photos, the black and white photos were mostly far too dark to distinguish the details and as such were mostly worthless in a volume that is full of photos and illustrations.

The numerous layout diagrams of the castles were also missing captions for various numbered items and in certain diagrams, some sequenced numbers were missing. It makes for a frustrating read. There were also inconsistencies in the spelling, "Hospitaller" and "Hospitaler". The volume could have been better edited and checked for such glaring errors.

The interior handdrawn illustrations of the castles were poorly drawn, most looking like ten minute sketches, hardly worthy of the good writing in this volume.

The paper quality is of rather mediocre quality, not terrible but mediocre. The hardcover binding seems to be of poor quality, opening the pages too wide would crack the glue of the binding.

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent reference work on the subject, although it is limited to Europe (with a small amount of the Mideast/Central Asia). It doesn't have quite the "bits and pieces" detail of "Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe (Lepage), but it's not that much less. On the other hand, this book contains more historical information about castles and their place in the historical context. There's also a good list of castles by geography and castle plans/layouts.

It's not perfect, but it is very, very good for somebody who wants to know how/why castles were built they way they were.

[Walt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the subject. The authors blend together imagery and analysis very well.

[Brannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book with very useful illustrations.