Castle Defence 101: Machicolations

Machicolations are built to allow a garrison to attack besiegers who manage to make it past longer-range defences to the castle walls. These structures are a more advanced form of earlier hoardings, which were constructed out of wood. Sometime in the 12th century elements of these sheds, which cantilevered beyond castle walls, began to be replaced by stone.

Defensive principles behind hoardings/machicolations. Sourced from The Medieval Fortress by Kaufmann and Kaufmann.

There are two main types of machicolations - slot and box.While slot machicolations are commonly understood to be gaps in the area above or directly in front of an entrance, box machicolations generally consist of a stone balcony or gallery built out from a castle wall.

Examples of machicolations. Sourced from The Medieval Fortress by Kaufmann and Kaufmann.

In the Battle Castle universe, we focus on box machicolations. These deadly features allow castle defenders to shoot down arrows or crossbow bolts, throw hard objects such as stones, or dump scathing liquids such as boiling water or quicklime on anyone who dares approach the walls.

Through our experts, on-location scouts and research, we've found evidence of these defensive structures in three of our Battle Castle Six - the Knights Hospitaller's Crac des Chevaliers, Edward's Conwy Castle, and Richard the Lionheart's Chateau Galllard.

To see the Machicolations at these castles, check out our blog Castle Features #3 - Machicolations

-The Gatekeeper

@TheGatekeep