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Castle Life
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The Royalty
King Richard 1 - 'The Lionheart'
1157 - 1199AD Became King in 1189AD. Richard was born on 8 September 1157 in Oxford, son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He possessed considerable political and military ability. However, like his brothers, he fought with his family, joining them in the great rebellion against their father in 1173. In 1183 his brother Henry died, leaving Richard heir to the throne. Henry II wanted to give Aquitaine to his youngest son, John. Richard refused and, in 1189, joined forces with Philip II of France against his father, hounding him to a premature death in July 1189.
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Queen Berengaria of Navarre
1170 - 1230AD The 1191 marriage was engineered by Richard’s mother, Queen Eleanor. King Henry II had just died. Richard, now king, was unmarried and the royal succession required an heir. Eleanor insisted that he marry before leaving for the Third Crusade. She brought the bride she’d chosen, twenty-six-year-old Berengaria, to Sicily just before Richard sailed off to the Holy Land. She ordered that Berengaria accompany him, to reduce the chances of his philandering and hasten the production of offspring.
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Noblewomen
Many noble ladies live in the castle. The Lady Elena gives them a home and helps teach the young girls. In return they help and obey her. They spend their days, not in leisure, but busy attending the business of castle life. They supervise the upbringing of the children. They give instructions to the servants on the day-to-day running of the castle.
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The Castle Protectors
The Knights
It was the duty of a Knight to learn how to fight and so serve their Lord according to the Code of Chivalry. The Code of Chivalry dictated that a Knight should be brave and fearless in battle but would also exhibit cultured Knightly qualities showing themselves to be devout, courteous and generous. Weapon practice included enhancing skills in the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance. A Knight would be expected to guard the Castle and support his liege lord in Medieval warfare.
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The Men-At-Arms
A man-at-arms has the arms and equipment of a knight, but not the title of a knight. A squire must be of noble birth - the son of another knight, or someone with a title, such as the baron. He is a trainee knight. You may become a Knight by training as a squire or by showing great skill and bravery in battle. A foot soldier is a fighting man who is not of noble birth. Knights always fight on horseback. Sir Richard spends much of his life making war on enemy barons. His knights and men-at-arms must be well trained and always ready for battle. They practice fighting by having jousts and tournaments. You will attend a joust and tournament during your stay at the castle.
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Entertainment
The Castle Servants & Serfs
The Head Steward
The steward is the head servant. He can read and write a bit, and do large sums. Few others of his station can do this. One of the steward's jobs is to settle quarrels and punish criminals. The stewards and bailiffs are also the police.
The serfs own nothing. They are slaves. Many are the children of foreigners who were captured in war and sold to the rich noblemen. They live on the baron's land, grow their own food and work in his fields. |
The servants wake early to light the castle fires and prepare breakfast for the household. The servants are responsible for all of the tasks necessary to keep the castle running smoothly. They tend the livestock and gardens, cook the food, carry the bath water, look after the children. And in times of siege, lay down their lives for the nobles.
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