motte

military architecture

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July 1, 2026

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A motte is a mound or hill, often used as the site for a Norman castle in Britain. The motte-and-bailey castle, which appeared in the 10th and 11th centuries, was an early distinctive European fortification. It consisted of an elevated earth mound (the motte) topped with a timber palisade, surrounded by a defensive ditch. This ditch separated the motte from an outer palisaded area called the bailey. Access to the motte was typically via a bridge from the bailey. This type of castle spread throughout western Europe and was a key element of feudal warfare, providing a secure refuge for the lord and his forces.123

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military technology
The motte-and-bailey castle
…organization and warfare was the motte-and-bailey castle, which appeared in the 10th and 11th centuries between the Rhine and Loire rivers and eventually spread to most of western Europe. The motte-and-bailey castle consisted of an elevated mound of earth, called the motte, which was crowned with a timber palisade and…
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…organization and warfare was the motte-and-bailey castle, which appeared in the 10th and 11th centuries between the Rhine and Loire rivers and eventually spread to most of western Europe. The motte-and-bailey castle consisted of an elevated mound of earth, called the motte, which was crowned with a timber palisade and…
Read More