Moat

The moat is an approach obstacle in the immediate run-up of a medieval castle. The artificial moat, the castle area completely enclose or partially seal off at high-risk sites of the area. By the ditch attackers were prevented from immediately to get to the gate or wall. In particular, the use of heavy siege equipment, such as convertible tower or battering ram, could be effectively disabled.

Grave obstacles were already widespread in ancient fortifications, in Roman military camps they were called fossa. Even in the modern fortress of the trenches remained an important component.

Water and dry ditches

The most common type of the moat was dry moat, the more difficult by its depth and possibly by steep slopes approaching the castle. Dry ditches could be fitted to the grave sole additional barriers, for example by rows sharpened stakes ( Pfahlgraben ).

Ditches were virtually restricted in lowland castles. For hilltop castles the facility of a moat was constructive not make sense and, moreover, water was extremely rare here - was often the system of a fountain the complex and most expensive construction project when the well shaft had to be driven by several meters of rock down to groundwater level. Therefore, many hill forts had only cisterns.

The trenches of some lowland castles and city fortifications were flooded only in the event of an attack. These had to be present, a river or lake near the plant. Especially cities replace the moat like through a system of upstream ponds, which could serve as fish ponds in peacetime and the food supply improved.

Ditches with stagnant water had the disadvantage that the water quickly became foul and the trench was marshy, making it become a breeding ground for pathogens easily and could generally reduce the quality of life at the castle. However, there was also castles, which were purposely built in a swamp ( marsh castles ), as the enemy approach was particularly effective hampered by the muddy terrain. To avoid swamping by fresh water supply, water ditches were often connected by channels with flowing water.

Another advantage of water ditches that were in contact with natural waters, was the complete protection against undermining, that is, against the construction of underground tunnels or Sappen with which the defensive wall was brought down. By subsequently flowing water the plant such tunnel was not possible.

Grave types

According to their position in the fortification grave following types are distinguished:

• Moat: a ring enclosing the entire castle moat, which is often used by lowland castles.
• Moat: The moat is widespread in hill forts, especially in the subgroup of spur castles. He bolted from only the most accessible side of the castle complex, while the remaining pages are protected by steep slopes.
• Section ditch: A ditch separates section separately fortified sections of a castle from each other, for example, core and outer bailey castle or the parts of a castle section.
• Slope ditch: A ditch slope is applied at hillforts on less steep hillside lots and often has a curved shape following the slope course, but also the entire hilltop can enclose circular.
• Gate trench: the trench directly in front of a castle gate is also called the gate trench. He is spanned at this point by a bridge or drawbridge, which allows access to the gate. Most of the ring, neck or section trench simultaneously assumes this function, but there are also independent Torgräben, for example, to interrupt a ramp that leads to the gate.

On the basis of their profile, ditches can be distinguished in:

• V-shaped ditch: Digging with wedge-shaped, tapering profile, the more difficult standing in the ditch.
• Sohlgraben: u -shaped grave profile with a flat or rounded sole.

The grave depths vary greatly, with some prehistoric and early medieval fortifications there are only shallow pits are still low, formerly mostly picket winning ramparts, hungary temporal ramparts ( 10th century ) and younger in contrast, have often very deep trenches ( 5 m, in some cases up to 20 m, Burg Wildenstein originally approximately 30 meters) on. These extraordinary grave depths agree often by exploiting and post- natural gullies and cuts, the builders of these castles had the Castle Square usually already selected accordingly.

The ditches of medieval castles and city walls were later often filled, so that the original attachment concept is only limited recognizable today. Again considerable depths can be achieved, usually between three and ten meters. The grave exterior walls medieval and modern fixtures are often designed as drywall. The grave wall usually runs vertically here. This made the penetration of an enemy, but especially his retreat. The attacker was caught as it were in the ditch and could easily be combated with long-range weapons.

In prehistoric and early medieval castle architecture, there are often double or even triple rampart and ditch systems, which provided an effective protection against the attacks of mounted hordes, so the attacker forced to Fußkampf. There are both wedge-shaped Spitz and flat Sohlgräben before, the grave excavation was used to plant the ramparts or - in rock substrates - as a building material of the castle.

High Medieval castles were often built into older, often much larger scale ring walls. The Wall - trench systems of these predecessor systems are preserved in numerous impressive examples, such as the castle Lower House ( ream), the castle Bramberg ( Haßberge ), the Elmsburg in Elm, or Burghalten Landsberg am Lech. Also, the deep moat of the Altenburg near Neuburg on the Danube is the moat of a castle hungary temporal predecessor.