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Krak des chavaliers plaine

The curtain wall at Krak des Chevaliers, Syria

A curtain wall is the defensive wall surrounding the bailey of a medieval castle.[1] It can also be a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress[2] in post-medieval fortifications.

In earlier designs of castles the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult.

Later with the introduction of trace italienne fortifications the height of the curtain walls was reduced and beyond the ditch additional outworks such as ravelins and tenailles were added to protect the curtain walls from direct cannonading.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. Friar (2003), p. 86.
  2. Whitelaw 1846, p. 444/

References[]

  • Whitelaw, A., ed (1846). "The Popular Encyclopedia; or, Conversations Lexicon". Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London: Blackie & Son. 
  • Friar, Stephen (2003). The Sutton Companion to Castles, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 2003. ISBN 978-0-7509-3994-2
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The original article can be found at Curtain wall (fortification) and the edit history here.
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