Crenellation (or crenelation, also known as castellation) is the name for the distinctive pattern that frames the tops of the walls of many medieval castles, often called battlements. Crenellation most commonly takes the form of multiple, regular, rectangular spaces cut out of the top of the wall to allow defenders spaces to shoot arrows from and other spaces to hide behind full cover. A castle (from the Latin castellum) is a structure that is fortified for defence against an enemy and generally serves as a military headquarters dominating the surrounding countryside[1]. The term is most often applied to a small self-contained fortress, usually of the Middle Ages. ... A battlement, in defensive architecture such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (i. ...

Ornamental crenellations on Taymouth Castle, Scotland, built 1810

The technical name for an opening in crenellations is embrasure or crenel, while the raised portions of the wall between them are called merlons. Crenellations would have been used originally on defensive walls built around a settlement (with or without a castle), but the modern experience of them is mainly their appearance on the towers and turrets of castles and mock-castles. They can also be seen in large numbers on the Great Wall of China. Taymouth Castle, Scotland. ... Taymouth Castle, Scotland. ... Categories: Fortification | Architectural elements | Stub ... A crenel (also spelled as crenelle and alternatively known as a carnel, embrasure, loop or wheeler) is an indentation in the 15th century from Old French and comes ultimately from the Latin word crena, notch. jake was here Categories: | | | ... A merlon, in architecture, forms the solid part of an embattled parapet between the embrasures, sometimes pierced by loopholes. ... The Eiffel Tower Fire-observation watchtower in Kostroma, Russia. ... Corbelled corner turrets at Newark Castle, Port Glasgow. ... The Great Wall in the winter The Great Wall of China (Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: Wànlǐ Chángchéng; literally 10,000 Li (里)¹ long wall) is a Chinese fortification built from the 3rd century BC until the beginning of the 17th century, in order to protect the various...

Crenellations are easy to build, and have been used to give a castle-like look to buildings for a long time, especially in baronial architecture. However, some have suggested that as an ornamental feature they may have a very long history, with a 'license to crenelate' being granted to the privileged.^[1] 'Real' crenellations for defensive use might be expected to have embrasures that are narrow and tall, to allow an archer to conceal his body for safety behind the merlons.

Ornamental crenellations are often evenly spaced and too small for practical archery. The size of ornamental crenellations is likely to be dictated by the scale of the building to which they are attached. The practical use of crenellations, and the idea that a castle could be defended at all, cannot long have survived the introduction of gunpowder and artillery. These arrows score as an inner 10 (X), and a 9 Archery is the practice of using a bow to shoot arrows. ... Smokeless powder Gunpowder, whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance that burns very rapidly, releasing gases that act as a propellant in firearms. ... A 155 mm artillery shell fired by a United States 11th Marine regiment M-198 howitzer Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ...

Examples of crenelation

The following are castles which have crenelation:

• Fetteresso Castle, Scotland
• Glamis Castle, Scotland

Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy (as part of the UK)  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Licence to crenellate

In England Norman nobles could not build castles without the permission of the king, because a castle might be viewed as a threat to the crown. A building could be forfeited to the king if it had not been authorised. The limit of the allowable fortification was defined by crenellation. This feature was deemed to be the distinguising feature that separated a castle from a fortified manor house. Permission was granted by a "licence to crenellate" sometimes granted by the king, sometimes by a bishop. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population...

References