Who Could Build a Castle in the Middle Ages?

Nicholas C. Rossis

In my last post, I explained how a Medieval army could assault a castle. But who built the castle in the first place, and how expensive were they, anyway? Luckily, Helena Schrader and Quora have the answer. Before we move on, though, let’s answer a different question: what is a castle?

Is this a palazzo or a castle?

When the family and I visited Florence, we went to Palazzo Davantzati; a lovely example of Rennaisance urban architecture in the middle of the city. The palazzo was advertised in the guides as having all the comforts of Rennaisance everyday life. These included easily barricaded, thick wooden doors reinforced with iron studs, a kill zone behind the entrance, and a winding staircase that would provide bedroom defenders (literally — the bedrooms were on the upper floor) ample opportunity to attack anyone climbing it.

Clearly, its owners were worried about more…

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