The Castle (German: Das Schloß) is a novel by Franz Kafka. In it a protagonist, known only as K., struggles to gain access to the mysterious authorities of a castle who govern the village where he wants to work as a land surveyor. Kafka died before finishing the work, but suggested it would end with the Land Surveyor dying in the village; the castle notifying him on his death bed that his "legal claim to live in the village was not valid, yet, taking certain auxiliary circumstances into account, he was permitted to live and work there". Dark and at times surreal, The Castle is about alienation, bureaucracy, and the seemingly endless frustrations of man's attempts to stand against the system.
History of the novel
Kafka began writing The Castle on the evening of January 27, 1922, the day he arrived at the mountain resort of Spindlermühle (now in the Czech Republic). A picture taken of him upon his arrival shows him by a horse-drawn sleigh in the snow in a setting reminiscent of The Castle. Hence, the significance that the first few chapters of the handwritten manuscript were written in first person and at some point later changed by Kafka to a third person narrator, 'K.'
Max Brod
Kafka died prior to finishing The Castle and it is questionable whether Kafka intended on finishing it if he had survived his tuberculosis. On separate occasions he told his friend Max Brod of two different conditions: K., the book's protagonist, would continue to reside and die in the village; the castle notifying him on his death bed that his "legal claim to live in the village was not valid, yet, taking certain auxiliary circumstances into account, he was permitted to live and work there" , but then on September 11, 1922 in a letter to Max Brod, he said he was giving up on the book and would never return to it. As it is, the book ends mid-sentence.
Although Brod was instructed by Kafka to destroy all his works on his death, he did not and set about publishing Kafka's writings. The Castle was originally published in German in 1926 by the publisher Kurt Wolff Verlag of Munich. This edition sold far less than the 1500 copies that were printed. It was republished in 1935 by Schocken Verlag in Berlin, and in 1946 by Schocken Books of New York.
Brod had to heavily edit the work to ready it for publication. His goal was to gain acceptance of the work and the author, not to maintain the structure of Kafka's writing. This would play heavily in the future of the translations and continues to be the center of discussion on the text. Brod donated the manuscript to Oxford University.
Brod placed a strong religious significance to the symbolism of the castle. This is one possible interpretation of the work based on numerous Judeo-Christian references as noted by many including Arnold Heidsieck.
Malcolm Pasley
The publisher, Salmen Schocken, soon realized the translations were "bad" and in 1940 desired a "completely different approach". In 1961 Malcolm Pasley got access to all of Kafka's works, except The Trial, and deposited them in Oxford's Bodleian library. Pasley and a team of scholars (Gerhard Neumann, Malcolm Pasley, Jost Schillemeit, and Jürgen Born) started publishing the works in 1982 through S. Fischer Verlag. Das Schloß was published that year as a two volume set — the novel in the first volume, and the fragments, deletions and editor's notes in a second volume. This team restored the original German text to its full, and incomplete state, including the unique Kafka punctuation considered critical to the style.
Stroemfeld/Roter Stern
Interpretations of Kafka's intent for the manuscript are ongoing. Stroemfeld/Roter Stern Verlag is working for the rights to publish another critical edition with manuscript and transcription side-by-side. But they have met with resistance from the Kafka heirs and Pasley. This edition is not yet available.
Major editions
* 1930 Translators: Willa and Edwin Muir. Based on the First German edition, by Max Brod. Published By Secker & Warburg in England and Alfred A. Knopf in the United States.
* 1941 Translators: Willa and Edwin Muir. Edition include an Homage by Thomas Mann.
* 1954 Translators: Willa and Edwin Muir additional sections translated by Eithne Wilkins and Ernst Kaiser. "Definitive edition". Based on the Schocken 1951 Definitive edition .
* 1994 Translators: Muir, et al. Preface by Irving Howe.
* 1997 Translator: J. A. Underwood, Introduction: Idris Parry. Based on Pasley Critical German Text.
* 1998 Translator: Mark Harman Based on Pasley Critical German Text.
The title
The title, Das Schloß, may be translated as "the castle" or "the lock". It is also similar to Der Schluß (close or end). The castle is locked and closed to K and the townspeople; neither can gain access.
Plot
The narrator, K. arrives in the village, governed by the castle. When seeking shelter at the town inn, he gives himself out to be a land surveyor summoned by the castle authorities. He is quickly notified that his castle contact is an official named Klamm, who, in the introductory note, informs K. he will report to the Council Chairman.
The Council Chairman informs K. that, through a mix up in communication between the castle and the village, he was erroneously requested but, trying to accommodate K., the Council Chairman offers him a position in the service of the school teacher as a janitor. Meanwhile, K., unfamiliar with the customs, bureaucracy and processes of the village, continues to attempt to reach the official Klamm, who is not accessible.
The villagers hold the officials and the castle in the highest regard, justifying, quite elaborately at times, the actions of the officials, even though they do not appear to know what officials do or why they do it; they simply defend it. The number of assumptions and justifications about the functions of the officials and their dealings are enumerated through lengthy monologues of the villagers. Everyone appears to have an explanation for the official's actions that appear to be founded on assumptions and gossip. One of the more obvious contradictions between the "official word" and the village conception is the dissertation by the secretary Erlanger on Frieda's required return to service as a barmaid. K. is the only villager that knows that the request is being forced by the castle (even though Frieda may be the genesis), with no regard for anyone in the village, only Klamm. Pepi and Jeremiah quickly come to their conclusions and do not hesitate to state them.
The castle is the ultimate bureaucracy with copious paperwork that the bureaucracy maintains is "flawless". This flawlessness is of course a lie; it is a flaw in the paperwork that has brought K. to the village. There are other failures of the system which are occasionally referred to. K. witnesses a flagrant misprocessing after his nighttime interrogation by Erlanger as a servant destroys paperwork when he cannot determine who the recipient should be.
The castle's occupants appear to be all adult men and there is little reference to the castle other than to its bureaucratic functions. The two notable instances are the reference to a fire brigade and that Otto Brunswick's wife is self declared as from the castle. The latter builds the importance of Hans (Otto's son) in K's eyes, as a way to gain access to the castle officials.
The functions of the officials are never mentioned. The officials that are discussed have one or more secretaries that do their work in their village. Although the officials come to the village they do not interact with the villagers unless they need female companionship, implied to be sexual.
Characters
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate this to the Gentleman's Inn. Below all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation.
Character Description
K., the Land-Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm.
Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over-zealousness. She eventually leaves K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waitperson at the Herrenhof).
Hans, landlord
(Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn. According to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K.
Gardena, landlady
(Bridge Inn) The self proclaimed firebrand of the Bridge Inn she is a former short-term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives. She remains infatuated with Klamm.
Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service. K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is very immature and sensitive.
Arthur and Jeremiah, K's assistants
(Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is given two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time.
Mayor/Superintendent
(Village Council Chairman in Harman edition) Assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior. He explains to K why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher.
Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work.
Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus.
In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion."
Momus, Klamm's secretary Handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabne, who is not mentioned again in the novel.
Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First Secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K, but only gives him a short message.
Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs.
Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors.
Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials
Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas.
Otto Brunswick, son-in-law of Lasemann
(brother-in-law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given.
Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle.
Hans, a sympathetic Student A student at the school where K is a janitor. Offers to help K and K uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother.
Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn.
Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K.
Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn.
Brügel
(Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K, when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn.
Sordini Castle secretary who exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error.
Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof.
Teacher When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K's appointment.
Miss Gisa, the school mistress The assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K.
Schwarzer An under-castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher.
Pepi A former chamber maid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette
Lasemann, a tanner, father-in-law of Otto Brunswick
(brother-in-law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) The village tanner that offers a few hours shelter to K. during on his first full day in the village.
Gerstacker, a Coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger.
Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief that strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger.
Major themes
Theological
It is well documented that Brod's original construction was based on religious themes and this was furthered by the Muirs in their translations. But it has not ended with the Critical Editions. Numerous interpretations have been made with a variety of theological angles.
One interpretation of K.'s struggle to contact the castle is that it represents a man's search for salvation. According to Mark Harman, translator of a recent edition of The Castle, this was the interpretation favored by the original translators Willa and Edwin Muir, who produced the first English volume in 1925. Harman feels he has removed the bias in the translations toward this view, but many still feel this is the point of the book.
Fueling the biblical interpretations of the novel are the various names and situations. For example, the official Galater (the German word for Galatians), one of the initial regions to develop a strong Christian following from the work of Apostle Paul and his assistant Barnabas. The name of the messenger, Barnabas, for the same reason. Even the Critical Editions naming of the beginning chapter, "Arrival", among other things liken K. to an Old Testament messiah.
Abuse of power
While in talking to Olga in (Chapter XVII, "Amalia's Secret") K. himself ridicules the officials, in general, based on Sortini's "abuse of power" in requesting Amalia to come to the Gentleman's Inn. K. caught, once again, in not understanding the customs of the village is shocked at the behavior of Sortini. Olga expresses the "heroic" actions of Amalia, but appears too understanding of the community's acceptance of the status quo when it comes to the solicitations by the officials.
Bureaucracy
The obvious thread throughout The Castle is bureaucracy. The extreme degree is nearly comical and the village residents' justifications of it are amazing. Hence it is no surprise that many feel that the work is a direct result of the political situation of the era in which it was written, which was shot through with anti-Semitism, remnants of the Habsburg bureaucracy, etc.
But even in these analyses, the veiled references to more sensitive issues are pointed out. For instance, the treatment of the Barnabas family, with their requirement to first prove guilt before they could request a pardon from it and the way their fellow villagers desert them have been pointed out as a direct reference to the anti-Semitic climate at the time.
Allusions to other works
Critics often talk of The Castle and The Trial in concert, highlighting the struggle of the protagonist against a bureaucratic system and standing before the law's door unable to enter as in the parable of the priest in The Trial.
In spite of motifs common with other works of Kafka, The Castle is quite different from The Trial. While K., the main hero of The Castle, faces similar uncertainty and difficulty in grasping the reality that suddenly surrounds him; Josef K., the protagonist of The Trial, seems to be more experienced and emotionally stronger. On the other hand, while Josef K.'s surroundings stay familiar even when strange events befall him, K. finds himself in a new world whose laws and rules are unfamiliar to him.
Publication history
Harman translation
In 1926 Max Brod persuaded Kurt Wolff Verlag to publish the first German edition of The Castle. Due to its unfinished nature and his desire to get Kafka's work published, Max Brod took some editorial freedom.
In 1961 Malcolm Pasley was able to gain control of the manuscript, along with most of the other Kafka writings (save The Trial) and had it placed in the Oxford's Bodleian library. There, Pasley headed a team of scholars and recompiled Kafka's works into the Critical Edition. The Castle Critical Edition, in German, consists of two volumes—the novel in one volume and the fragments, deletions and editor's notes in a second volume. They were published by S. Fischer Verlag in 1982, hence occasionally referred to as the "Fischer Editions".
Mark Harman used the first volume of this set to create the 1998 edition of The Castle, often refer to as based on the "Restored Text" or the "English Critical Edition".
The lack of the fragments and missing text would have little meaning to most readers if the Muir translation did not let one know that there was more to read. The casual reader may not find the additional text of value, which Harman mentions that he has not included the text. According to the Publisher's Note:
"We decided to omit the variants and passages deleted by Kafka that are included in Pasley's second volume, even though variants can indeed shed light on the genesis of literary texts. The chief objective of this new edition, which is intended for the general public, is to present the text in a form that is as close as possible to the state in which the author left the manuscript."
Harman has received general acceptance of his translation as being technically accurate and true to the original German. He has, though, received criticism for, at times not creating the prosaic form of Kafka. Some of this is due, as with Muir's translations, on accusations that Pasley compilations are also inaccurate, although better than Brod's.
As noted in the Table of Contents above, Harman includes an eleven page discussion on his philosophy behind the translation. This section provides significant information about the method he used and his thought process. There are numerous examples of passages from Pasley, Muir's translation and his translation to provide the reader with a better feel for the work. As referenced above, some feel that his (and the publisher's) praise for his work and his "patronizing" of the Muirs goes a little too far.
Muir translation
In 1930 Willa and Edwin Muir translated the First German edition of The Castle as it was compiled by Max Brod. It was published by Secker & Warburg in England and Alfred A. Knopf in the United States. 1941 edition was the edition that fed the Kafka post-war craze. The 1941 edition included a homage by Thomas Mann.
In 1954 the "Definitive" edition was published and included additional sections Brod had added to the Schocken Definitive German edition. The new sections were translated by Eithne Wilkins and Ernst Kaiser. Some edits were made in the Muir text namely the changes were "Town Council" to "Village Council", "Superintendent" to "Mayor", "Clients" to "Applicants" .
The 1994 edition, the current publication, contains a preface by Irving Howe.
The Muir translations make use of wording that is often considered "spiritual" in nature. In one notable example, the Muirs translate the description of the castle as "soaring unfalteringly" where Harman uses "tapered decisively". Furthermore, the word "illusory" is used from the opening paragraph forward. Some critics note this as further evidence of the bias in the translation leaning toward a mystical interpretation.
Underwood translation
A translation by J. A. Underwood was published in 1997 and 2000 (ISBN 0-14-018504-6) by Penguin in the UK.
Adaptations
The book was adapted by German director Rudolf Noelte into a film released in 1968. It was also filmed by Austrian director Michael Haneke in 1997 under the original German title Das Schloß, starring Ulrich Mühe as K. There is a 1994 Russian movie adaptation, The Castle, directed by Aleksei Balabanov. Another less-well-known adaptation was also made in Russia in 1994, called The Land Surveyor (Землемер). It was a 46-minute-long animation created at Diogen Studio and directed by Dmitriy Naumov and Valentin Telegin. . A 120-minute-long French radio adaptation, written by Stephane Michaka and directed by Cedric Aussir, was aired by France Culture in 2010.
Allusions to The Castle in other works
A story similar to that of The Castle is told in the British television series The Prisoner. In the late 1970s, an unlicensed computer game spin-off of The Prisoner took things one step further by incorporating elements of The Castle into the game play.
The novel Oficina Número 1 (Office Number 1) by Venezuelan writer Miguel Otero Silva has one character reading The Castle, and although never referred to by name, describes several parts of it.
The Castle is also referred to in Lawrence Thornton's Imagining Argentina. A professor is arrested under suspicion of subversive activities. He tells the authorities he has been meeting Dostoevsky, Koestler and Camus at a place called "the Castle". The main character's cat is also named Kafka.
Although not expressly stated as such, the Steven Soderbergh film Kafka from 1991, starring Jeremy Irons, incorporates the basic thematic elements of The Castle as well as allusions to Kafka's own life as a writer and his collected works. The title character, "Kafka", an insurance company clerk by day and a writer by night, lives and works in the shadow of the mysterious Castle, which rules over the life and death of the local citizenry through a seemingly incomprehensibly complex conspiracy of bureaucracy and cover-ups.
Iain Banks's novel Walking on Glass has characters who find themselves in a situation similar to K.'s: trapped in a castle, subject to arbitrary and bizarre rules which they must obey in order to find a way of leaving, and surrounded by "servants" who comply entirely with the rules by which the castle is run. The allusion is made specific in one of the final chapters, where reading The Castle (along with The Trial and Titus Groan) is hinted at as a key to the characters' escape from their own castle.
K., the protagonist of J.M. Coetzee's The Life and Times of Michael K, attempts to live simply outside the governing system of war torn South Africa.[citation needed]
African-American author Richard Wright references The Castle in his autobiography Black Boy.
Japanese game designer Suda51, creator of No More Heroes, is planning to make a game based on The Castle, titled Kuriyami
A world in the children's Nintendo DS game Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter, the Galactic Jungle, presents the player with a stubborn bureaucracy not unlike the one portrayed in the novel.
Gene Wolfe's novel There Are Doors contains numerous references to The Castle throughout, including a high-placed official known as Klamm, several characters referred to as "Herr K.," and an actual copy of Das Schloss found nailed to a table within a dream.
Argentinian writer Ernesto Sabato is said to be influenced by Kafka's existentialism. The main character in his novelle, "The Tunnel", is named Castel, presumably after Kafka's story title.
Novel. Austria Kafka as in 1926. K hero staying at a nearby village came to the castle, the castle rulers, the count without a residence permit, no one is willing to accept. He was ordered to pretend Ying Bojue when land measuring member of twists and turns are allowed temporary residence. Castle on the corner, but he still could not enter. Did not finish the novel, the author planned to write k until just before she died were allowed to stay in the village to inform, but can not enter the castle.
Translated by Google
chéng bǎo
Like a fortress of the town; large fortified building or buildings
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No. 5
Jimu around, then see the castle Gang Luan, streams woods, thick cloth out. - Qing Xue Fu-cheng, "oil painting View of Paris in mind"
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No. 6
City base. "Book of Jin Liu rate of Biography": "Tun Juan into the prison of the city, not to discuss various services, Henan castle bearing winds were very public allegiance." "Yuan Shiwen Zong Ji 4": "bald Jian Fang Xiu spy known castle cloth soldiers refused to defend, without a drop off. "
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No. 7
Tezhi Western medieval feudal lords of the houses or town. More generally refers to this fortress-like town. Ba Jin "destroyed" Chapter VIII: "I live in a house in the mountains, elegant exception. House shape rather like a medieval castle." Ai Qing "Light of the hymn": "They want to put out the fire, in darkness, the The puzzle in the castle rock, always maintain the bloody rule. "
Translated by Google
Basic Introduction
Name: castle French name: château Since the Stone Age, people have been using fortifications and civil engineering. In the 9th century, Europe has never had a real castle. However, due to the invasion against the Vikings, with the formation of decentralized feudal political forces, from between the ninth century to the fifteenth century, the castle of thousands throughout Europe. In 1905, in France, this country's statistics, for example, is displayed territory of more than ten thousand castles. In feudal society, where the nobility of the legal order and provide protection to the inhabitants from the Vikings and other raiders such as intrusion. The purpose of the aristocracy built the castle is to provide a protective and controlled by the military force to secure the base. In fact, generally considered the function is used to defend the castle, is a form of opinion with the facts, because the initial purpose of building is used as a tool to attack. Its function is as a professional soldier, especially the Knights of base and control the surrounding countryside areas. When the king's central authority decline for various reasons, the castle posed by the network and they support a military force, but provides a relatively politically stable. From the beginning of the ninth century, local strongmen on the castle began to occupy the various regions of Europe. These early design and construction of the castle mostly simple, but slowly developed into a solid stone building. Many of them belong to the king or the king's courtiers, nobles argued though is threatened by barbarians castle was built, but the fact that they use it to establish local control. This often happens because in Europe there is no strategic defensive terrain, but then they do not have a strong centralized government. Poitou region of France are the best examples in Europe throughout the castle. Before the ninth century Viking invasion, there were only three castles; But in the eleventh century, the increased thirty-nine. This pattern of development can be found in other parts of Europe, because it can quickly build castles. Appeared before the artillery, the castle defenders occupy a greater advantage than the siege. Around the castle and for defense while maintaining a large number of soldiers, not only did not bring peace or mutual defense against intruders, but fueled wars occurred.
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Historical Evolution
Type the early castle was called "the mound and the plate to build." Dirt mound is built into the embankment, with a certain width and height, generally fifty feet high. Mound above can be large wooden tower of the building, enclosed wooden planks beneath mounds, called plates built for protection □ positions, livestock fence and used to live in huts. Mound and plate built like an island, was excavated trenches filled with water and surrounded by a bridge and narrow steep trails to connect with each other. In danger, if the board vain to keep building the case, the defense force will retreat to change it inside. In the 11th century began with stone instead of mud and wood to build a citadel. Wooden building in the embankment above change it, change built by large stones, which are called shell fortress fortifications, or change it later developed into a fortress. Surrounded by a stone wall will be built and the old fortress board and replaced by a trench or moat surrounded by an additional _set_ to guard the castle drawbridge and gate gates only. The basic model of the most famous castle fortress, the Tower is built by William the Conqueror. It Originally a square building was painted white to attract attention, and later kings to see today on the walls of buildings and improved to enhance its size. After the Crusades, brought new defense technologies and siege engineers to make the castle design is improved. Extend from the center of the concentric castle, surrounded by a ring of two or more block walls. Initially to strengthen the walls of the square tower of defense, and later changed to a circular tower of. Because the square tower of the corner will be very vulnerable to attack, so that the whole tower of highly traumatized, and the round tower of even more resistant. At the top of the walls and tower of the addition of more readiness to make them more capable of downward attack. While artillery appeared in the early 14th century Europe, but until the mid-fifteenth century ago, and did not use to have a fighting force of siege artillery. With the power of artillery upgrade, people have begun to do in response to changes in the design of the castle. Previous high-risk steep walls are replaced by low sloping walls. By the mid-fifteenth century, due to the expansion of the monarchy, the castle began to decline. The eleventh century, William the Conqueror claim to have all the castles in England and from the hands of the aristocracy to recover them. To the thirteenth century, the castle's construction or strengthening the king's consent must be obtained. Its purpose is to repeal the castle, so they can not be relied upon as rebellion. The castle was abandoned, a quarter of the nobility still saved, others reduced to rubble. Due to the production of wealth from the countryside to the cities, towns strengthen defense facilities but has become more important. The construction of the castle, you can spend less than a year or so to complete, it could consume the two decades. For centuries, the construction of the castle is an important industry, known for being a master mason high demand, and clustering into a partnership castle builders will change from one place to another job. Towns want to hire skilled workers to build the cathedral, and lords also want to hire them to build castles. In North Wales Baomalisi castle, built since 1295. Its symmetrical design, there is no weakness. Dingsheng built during the time of need thirty blacksmiths, masons and four hundred thousand workers. The workers are mostly engaged in digging, handling, lifting, excavation and split stone. This design has not been possible to complete the rigorous castle. The large castle Cornwell's, by Edward I in Wales, England, spent four months to build. The castle walls are masonry, stone and flint inside to fill with gravel, crushed stone and flint these to mix the mortar grind machine. The width of the walls generally six to sixteen feet range.
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Operation Defensive
The basic point is to defend the castle siege as possible so that those who fall into the most dangerous and the most exposed to the enemy; contrast, defenders should minimize the risk of exposure. A well-designed castle, a few troops can be long-term and effective defense. Has a solid defense, allowing defenders advantage in the supply of adequate power to keep unyielding, who was to come to the rescue until the siege army to repel, or allow an attacker to make the bomb source must, diseases that decimated the Cross forced to withdraw the case. Castle defense facilities include the following: 1. Fortress Fortress is a small castle, usually in large castle complex inside. The main function is as a defensive fortress use, people usually are executed by a castle defense. If a foreign enemy were captured outside the city, who can spread the defense to keep the final fortress of defense. In the case of many famous castle, this complex of buildings is to start the fortress was built, is the site of the original fortifications. As time goes on, this composite construction will gradually expanded to four weeks, including the outer walls and change it, as a first line of defense fortress. 2 walls Stone walls with fire and resist bows and other missile weapons to attack the enemy can not function so no circumstances under ladders and siege towers and equipment for example, climbed the steep walls. The walls of the top defenders can archery or throwing objects down to the siege by the attacks. Besiegers thus completely exposed in an open space among the defenders sit down and have a strong protective advantages compared to the shooting, when the siege by firing up appeared to be quite negative. If the walls are built on steep cliffs or other high places, their effectiveness and defensive value would be greatly improved. Entrance gates and the walls will be reduced as far as possible, in order to provide a greater degree of defense. 3. Jianta Tower of the city was built on a corner or wall, at regular intervals designed as a sturdy base. Change it from the flat walls highlighted, so that the body in the tower of defense who can shoot in the direction of the external face of the wall. The city corner Arrow training, you can make defenders expand oriented attack, making shots from different angles. You can change it so that the defenders who defend the gates from each face. When several castles started just a simple change it, and later expanded into larger, with walls, and additional internal fortress tower of the castle complex. 4. Battlements Walls and change it will continue to be strengthened in order to provide greater protection defenders. In the top of the wall behind the platform, which allows defenders to stand combat. Pass the top of the wall in the _set_, allowing defenders outside shooting, or in combat, get part of the cover up. The Pass can add wooden shutters for extra protection. Small firing ports can be _set_ in the wall, let archers when shooting full protection. During the attack, the wooden platform at the top of the wall or from projecting change it, so that defenders can shoot the wall of the enemy, if the enemy had come prepared to defend those who can cast their stones or Proton boiling liquid. Hidden in the wooden platform above the fire will be kept moist, and it has a similar function is called the stone arch battlement port facilities will be _set_ at the top of the gates or other important positions. 5 moat, moat and drawbridge To highlight the advantages of tall walls, the walls will be digging out the bottom of a trench around the entire castle, and filled with water as much as possible during this road ditches to form a moat. Moat and moat walls allow direct attacks more difficult. If you wear the armor of the soldiers fell into the water, and even shallower depth will easily be drowned. Moat also increased the presence of the enemy castle dig tunnels underneath the difficulty, because if authentic collapse during excavation, the digger can easily be moat river drowning. In some cases the siege, the siege before the attack who will try to drain away the water in the moat, and then dried Allende filled ditch, then siege towers or ladders to attack the wall. Drawbridge across the moat or trench may allow the castle residents easy access when needed. Encounter the critical moment, the drawbridge will be lifted to restore the role of the trenches and closed walls. Mechanical castle drawbridge lifted into the attack against the siege's. 6 gate Gate is sturdy fence at the gates of the channel, if necessary, can fall to block the door. The castle gates is a concierge interior space, are robust defense of the castle stronghold. People can reach the concierge from the gates of the channel through a tunnel. In the middle or at the ends of the tunnel, there will be one or more layers of the gate. Mechanical action rolling shutter can be lifted and lowered to make solid protection at the top of the porter. Gates on both sides of the gate itself is usually shot or jab as heavy wooden or iron fences, defense and the besiegers. 7 outside the fort Strong castle gates and the gates will be outside, and the open area between the two gates was called outside the fort. It is surrounded by walls, the purpose of design is to let the intruder through the outer gates fall into the trap. Once the siege by outside Fort, you can only withdraw from spreading outside the gates or inward gates continue to attack □; this time, often become targets bows and other missile weapons. When everything is fine, as long as a few soldiers will be able to defend the castle. In the evening, all of the bridge will be lifted, and will fall to the gates closed door. Under the threat of siege, will naturally need more troops to defend the castle. When the siege by making attacks, or attempts to drain away the water in the moat, or filled trenches, you need to allocate enough archers and crossbow shooting from or change it on the wall by the siege. As long as the attack can cause casualties, who can blow siege combat morale and reduce its strength. If you can projectile weapon fire, who made a heavy blow on the siege, are more likely to regard the various expelled. If the siege to take a close melee combat, you need powerful sword combat soldiers to fight. Soldiers must be dropped from the platform of stone or poured boiling liquid must also repair damaged walls, or burning enemy projectile weapon to throw flames. Who are actively looking for opportunities in the defense out from the castle raid siege army. Quick raid mainly be burned or trebuchet siege tower walls under siege in order to delay the progress of the siege's morale and combat. In times of crisis, local farmers will be recruited on the service. Although they had not received training in bow and arrow, but they can serve as many other tasks.
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Tackling tactics
[Prelude] siege In the late Middle Ages, the castle and the town has a number of fortifications surge, and occupies an important strategic position itself, making the occupation or defend a military base became commonplace activity. Despite relying on a small army to guard the castle, but it needs to be captured by siege defenders than the huge army. Because the latter requires sufficient force to control the countryside around the castle area, defeat the siege troops to directly attack or siege stronghold. These operations are extremely consumed. When approaching the enemy castle, where the residents will generally valuables, especially with their food and weapons, retreated to the castle. However, if the Lord will continue to think long siege warfare, not war farmers will be blocked at the door, so as not to consume food. Historically promised many records show that many civilians during the siege was thrown outside the town, in order to maintain food stocks. For example King Henry V of England, when the siege of Lyons, who put the old and weak defense expelled to maintain their food stocks. The British refused to allow these unfortunate people through their front, making the elderly and infirm were forced to clip in for several months between the city of Lyon and the British a long time, during which they killed and starved for between struggling to keep up Army surrendered. When approaching enemy might surrender and the team, especially in a big castle or town casualties when the negotiations will be completed soon. If negotiations fail, the siege who would carefully estimate the likelihood of re-assault stronghold, if judged that the risk of sexual assault was too much, who will block castle siege and began the siege. Once the siege began, that artillery fire to the city, siege warfare launched. If the siege by the lack of fair and square in the grounds to sue retreat, often regarded as unacceptable humiliation. Large-scale siege warfare bit like a social event. Vilnius fifteenth century siege lasted only a few months though, but who has built a siege including bistro with great tennis camp. In order to make yourself a nice comfortable nobility during the siege warfare, often carry their wives and families. Neighboring towns flocked merchants and artisans will _set_ up workshops and provide services. [Defense] considerations War period live show, castles and towns rarely been occupied since the assault. Assault all words are usually desperate acts, compared to mobilize all words treachery or covert action is more likely to succeed. Unless the garrison force is very low, otherwise the raid troops tend to cause a great loss. Usually based on loyalty siege by major conventional war and defense army to siege warfare orchestrated matters, try to minimize the loss of siege. If we can make defenders renegade surrender, you can remove and destroy attacking battle walls. If the person is not in the city castle lords, many days while trapped in reinforcements yet to see a case, known as the castle's defenders guard commander or supervisor, you can come forward without prejudice to surrender their honor. Castle probation usually require a written contract that clearly explain their responsibilities, in this case they will not be punished because of surrender. Only in very few cases, the castle guard would not choose to surrender or despise this choice. Some cases show who will after a successful siege assault on the castle without human tolerance, comprehensive and even soldiers massacred civilians in the city of grass and wash the castle or town swept empty. Knight would not normally be captured to be killed, because you can take them to ransom. All those who are assigned to the siege booty. World War siege at the appropriate time to use this means, the aim is to guide the defender to negotiate the surrender of things. 1417, Henry V of England, after a long siege, the city was made Caan. Then he allowed his army swept thoroughly wash the bottom of the city, in retaliation for the stubborn resistance of the defenders. In addition to the priests, the city all the people give all killed. Henry V to the next wave of attack targets that Pooh castle, although both parties are aware there will be no reinforcements arrived to help, but the defense are still raised after seven days, if there is no surrender conditions before the arrival of reinforcements ready to raise his flag. Craik defense by the Knights Crusader castle in the Middle East is the most famous, seat stand so far in Syria today is impressive. During the Crusades by the Knights defense which, in the fall of 1271 before the Arabs in Egypt, a total of 130 years years, have resisted more than 12 times of siege warfare. Although the story was snatched attack is rare, but there are a few rare examples of typical significance, is fighting to defend those who are not killed. Arabs attack Craik disdain main gate, because even break it, and there are a series of deadly narrow walkway leading to a more robust second blocking gates. They changed the southwest corner of the city at the bottom of a large excavation change it, and to attack the south wall, and let them have access to the range of the outer walls. While still face before attacking □ stronger central fortress, but they try to use the trick. They will leave him with Knight, head of information and old pigeon run into the city, claiming that the elders ordered the garrison to surrender. Following in the troops and rescue is not a hopeless situation, although troops knew it was fake messages, also had to accept this great honor to hand over the castle. [Collapse] defense strategy The greatest difficulties in the capture of a castle or a fortified town encountered is to overcome the force used to prevent the enemy into walls. One way to solve this problem is to cut loose at the bottom of the walls to make it collapse, the premise is not _set_ to be the castle moat moat of water or first row of light. If the rock solid foundation of the wall, this approach will not work. Once the strategic mining corner taken, the attackers would dug a tunnel leading to the city walls, and along it to the bottom of the walls. This tunnel will be supported by stakes, and then support the foundation walls of the bottom mud dug and removed, and then put stakes to support. The stakes will be a tunnel fire burned later as originally planned. If everything goes according to plan, when the stakes used to support the weight of the walls gradually being burned, the walls will be because of a lack of support and 坍倒. So part of the wall will collapse to open a gap, so that a direct military siege scored castle. Digging trenches labor and time-consuming. Defender may be alerted to the existence of the tunnel, but beware of the walls for the second Road safety is threatened walls built to withstand, so when the exterior wall collapsed completely exposed a gap will not come. Defender also know how to counter the trenches tactics, which is at the bottom of the walls of their dug a tunnel and try to intercept enemy tunnels. When the two tunnels met each other, it will lead to the underground war. [Implement] siege tactics Siege army will _set_ up the appropriate location of the castle surrounded, to prevent escape or to break the city's soldiers. Siege who also controls the nearby farms and villages and _set_ up patrols to collect information on Fangyuan Jun's all about and gathering food. Siege commander who will review the situation and decide on a place that castle siege or preparing to make a simple and effective attack. If the castle because the grain to make and surrender, who will defend siege concentration imprisoned, and to prevent any rescue force to surround himself. · Strategy Decide how best to use the siege method would probably involve some of the following options: · Tap the bottom of the walls. · Choose to destroy part of the wall, and then threw stones to be collision (or use artillery when the Middle Ages until 1450 that is about to end, the effectiveness of artillery is still insufficient). · Choose to fill the trenches (or moat) part. · Build siege towers and ladders to attack the wall. · _Select_ the gates or other parts to hit the hammer. · Implementation Be ready to surprise each variable speed, urgency and will capture the castle, is expected to surrender time and labor and other owned by proportional. If the siege were sufficient food supplies, do not force the aftermath of the siege, and in honor of those who get the defense may surrender satisfied assault on the surface area of the preparatory work will be slower. If the siege by supply shortages, rescue force any time soon, or very tenacious defender, preparation work will be carried out around the clock. After completion of the preparatory work, the opportunity siege defender who will give final surrender before the assault. [Siege equipment] Siege equipment is used across the walls and other defenders of the castle, so that is superior forces attack forces can attack defenders with minimal casualties. Many equipment is designed to impact or destroy walls. In addition to the simple ladder, most commonly used in medieval siege equipment, including a giant trebuchet, trebuchet, siege towers, hit the red car and a large shield. Once the walls were destroyed or siege towers already in place, it will launch a voluntary soldiers into battle assault. This forces a "bleak expectations" and famous, because they have the intention of doing casualties. However, in such forces can successfully survive, will get the highest award in the promotion, titles and trophies. Giant trebuchet catapults are large by Shen Zhongying weights (usually a big bag of rocks) to enhance its power. Long throwing arm trebuchet will be installed on one end by a large boulder and the weight to pull down sheets. When throwing arm is released, the throwing arm will be lost due to gravity sudden bounce upwards, so that the boulder with a high arc trajectory violently projected out. Such weapons are thrown out by the projectiles, will rapidly fall, the ideal situation is to change it to the top of crushing, the defense equipment and platforms. Unless projectiles can just hit the top of the walls, it would be difficult alone destroy a giant trebuchet vertical walls. If no bows cover a giant trebuchet in the assembly, and may be found at the soldiers guarding the city were destroyed after the breakout. Giant trebuchet best suited for crushing wooden roof, and can be used for arson and burning rubble projectiles fired out together. And giant trebuchet trebuchet is not the same, its power is wound a rope or thong play out. It wrung rope manufacturing gear tension after release, rotating rope will be thrown out of the throwing arm. When throwing arm hit the heavy tribute to curb cross, _set_ at the end of the throwing arm projectiles inside the basket, it will be thrown out. Tribute to curb cross can be adjusted to change the trajectory of projectiles. Relative to the giant trebuchet, trebuchet ballistic comparison equatorial, and can produce the same power. Intensive shooting trebuchet, capable of walls have a great destructive power. In addition, projectiles and debris avalanche helped fill the walls of the trenches, they are made out of rubble by climbing into the city siege also provided. Siege to siege towers were moved close to the wall, and the plate from the top of a ladder down to the top of the walls, so that the tower soldiers who rushed for melee combat and defense from the stair treads. Each one will be very huge siege towers, by the moist skins protected against fire burned. Due to the huge weight and makes moves slowly, so there will be _set_ up in the stakes pulleys to move forward sliding manner, so that it is close to the bottom of the walls. When sliding the front of the ground must be prepared for, usually laying planks in the mud on the ground as the soil surface in order to move. When close to the castle siege towers, archers will launch from the top archers in the battle zone to the castle; snapping as long as it is a wall, the soldiers will _set_ foot on the walls of the tower from the tower ladder. Assault from the siege tower never let defender surprised, because in the siege towers looming move, there will be plenty of time to prepare for the enemies of Islam. Defender will come to the most threatened part of the wall, or prevent ladders board down. When the siege towers close to those who would attempt to seize the defense and try to open. To the last minute assault, siege engineers to attack some of the walls can be fired to disperse ready defender of assault made. If the siege were the first team to be knocked from the tower, then there will be an endless supply of soldiers poured out from behind the risers to complete the capture of the castle task. There is a huge car crash stakes, there will be an iron pile, covering the inside of the back and forth, going to hit the walls or gates. After hitting the wall, the stakes will continue to swing back and go down to the walls of the collision. This impact force can break open the gates manufactured from thick planks or stone walls, an open gap for attacks. Top of the car will be covered with collision moist skins to prevent the flame burned. In fact, the operation of the appliance is very dangerous collision task, because the defense can thrown from the top of the boulder, boil water, or burning fat to crash the car, in an attempt to destroy or kill operation to be soldiers. Even the gate or bridge has been destroyed, the latter may also need Jidao gate and concierge strikes. Winter AD 1111 to 1112 between the occurrence of a siege at Tyre, the home defense position defenders Arabs invented a creative tool to fight collision car. They threw ropes with hooks hooked collision car and pull it from the wall. After repeated several times, the car crash was to get ruined. One of the archers and crossbow siege on the ground, with a large wooden shield as a cover, this is known as a large shield shields. At the top there is a large shield launch small mouth, so that soldiers can shoot from behind for the defender. Lion King Charles I of England is psychological when watching these large shield, shot in the shoulder by a crossbow, causing fatal injuries Since the Stone Age, people have been using fortifications and civil engineering. In the ninth century AD, Europe has never had a real castle. However, due to the invasion against the Vikings, with the formation of decentralized feudal political forces, from between the ninth century to the fifteenth century AD, thousands of castle throughout Europe. In 1905, in France, this country's statistics, for example, is displayed territory of more than ten thousand castles. During the feudal nobility on the local law and order and provide protection to the inhabitants from the Vikings and other raiders such as intrusion. The purpose of the aristocracy built the castle is to provide a protective and controlled by the military force to secure the base. In fact, generally considered the function is used to defend the castle, is a form of opinion with the facts, because the initial purpose of building is used as a tool to attack. Its function is as a professional soldier, especially the Knights of base and control the surrounding countryside areas. When the king's central authority decline for various reasons, the castle posed by the network as well as military forces they support, but provides a relatively politically stable.
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相关文艺
A love Sanshiliuji -------- words: Huru Hong Song: Savan Kotecha / Andrew Marcus Frampton / Wayne Wilkins
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Cartoon characters
King and Queen of the address. Sometimes a character. Their human shape and castle pillars are very similar, so some people think he is the resurrection of the "pillars of people." Nothing offensive capabilities, weapons are two red flags.
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Encyclopedia
Castle castle That tetrahedrite ... UK Anglesey County Bo Mali Kennedy Town ehengbao Castle (c astle) feudal lords or kings, design Anti mansion. A representative of the medieval city in Western Europe Fort. In China, the Han Dynasty tyrannical landlords and the construction of self-defense Dock walls, castles synonymous with Western Europe. In addition, historical records , There are also border the city will be used for defensive barrier, pass the Fort and other related peripheral called the castle. The heyday of the city 堡西欧 Castle Medieval Western Europe 9 is a mid-15th century. At that time, Western European countries monarchy Decline, separatist lords have built castles in self-defense, castle fast Speed rise. n century castle child almost throughout Western Europe. Castle Usually built on a bend or inaccessible highlands, surrounded by buildings Wall, in the middle is the core of the castle - the main building, retaining wall dug Moat or trench (see Figure). Fort Multi-wall masonry brick, high 10 to 15 meters thick and strong enough to withstand the siege was broken weapons Bad, cover top of the wall with a push spy shooters and shooting with the crib Mouth. Siyu built the castle walls and towers and turrets. Tower And corner towers above the city walls and prominent wall 2 a 3 meters, ranking high Pro forming the high ground, the castle in order to enhance defense capabilities. The main building and some up to 50 meters thick and up to 5 meters, mostly flat Round and square, the upper features observed firing chamber. Main Except for the lords and their families to live, but also the entire castle Finally, a defense facility, as the castle is the most rugged, most stringent Dense part. Once the castle perimeter fall, garrison retreat Keep the main building. The gate is the weakest part of the castle, which is usually Located at the bottom between the two towers or turrets to strengthen the city Defense door. With a multi-channel doors and gates, door gates at Mostly wooden board, outsourcing metal, mostly iron gate. Heavy To the castle also has Urn. From the 13th century, outside the city Let drawbridge on the moat, usually from the crane to prevent Directly attack the enemy gates. Inside the castle also has a strong long-term supply Arsenal needed to keep grain storage and wells, etc., and dug When illegal channels for contact with the outside world and the besieged castle evacuation With. In order to expand defense in depth, and to nearby residents were To get asylum enemy attacks, mostly in the periphery of large castle Then build a facade and Waihao. Since the fall of the castle is extremely difficult, so in some countries Military importance but also to build a castle like military installations, And played an important role in the war. As Flanders defense When the army in the war against France in 1302, a few weeks Inter was forced to rely on the castle Kurt French garrison surrendered. Late 15th century, due to the increasing power of artillery, the castle Has been unable to resist the powerful artillery attacks. L {wishful big spear fighting Contention (1494 a 1559) at the beginning, the French long drive Naoto Italy Lee quickly destroy the castle one by one with artillery. Since then, the city Military fort will lose value, and become dignitaries Xuanhe Symbolic forces increasingly in architectural design trends luxury And comfortable living, the deliberate pursuit of the castle of the plastic arts, and With ornate main room, hall and church replaced the past The main building. As in 1498, French King Louis XII will Blois Royal Castle expansion into palatial buildings. China dock wall Western Han Dynasty, in the northwest along the Great Wall Built a dock on the wall, which was developed by the pavilion made of the tunnel, is amyl Shou Lizu defense of residence. Eastern Han period, tyrannical Landowners and repression against peasant uprising in order to protect its financial Rich and dock wall manor and build self-defense. Dock wall and Western Europe Medieval castle in the shape and function are similar, but through Often constructed on flat terrain. It is surrounded by a high build Large walls, Siyu built turret, is expected to build on gates Floor; homes built in three five-story high-rise, a tyrannical landlord Bedroom. In addition, the dock wall also has a barn, warehouse and soldiers Room. Some dock wall built by insurance, is located in the steep mountains Or bend terrain __ dagger (Zhang Chunyi)
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English Expression
: large fortified building or group of buildings with thick walls, towers, battlements and sometimes a moat, The Castle, castel, castello
conservator, defender, Defense person, fort, barbican, fort, vindicator, small concrete shelter for soldiers, often partly underground, from which a gun may be fired, Conservation Food person, shield thing, chauffeur reservation Chengbao Village