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An Examination of the
Chateau Gaillard's Role During Richard the Lionheart's Campaign in
the Vexin; Its Engineering Advances, and Richard's Involvement in
Its Construction
The
research project I propose focuses upon the Chateau Gaillard, a
twelfth century fortification designed by Richard the Lionheart and
constructed in Les Andelys, France. The Chateau Gaillard
warrants study for its strategic importance during
Richard's campaign in the Vexin against Philip Augustus
of France. The castle served as the main staging area for men
and supplies, and became a symbol of Richard's power and
ability to utilize resources. A comparison of the castle to
those in the surrounding region will contribute to an understanding
of European siege warfare in general, and Richard's
campaign specifically. I will also examine the Chateau
Gaillard's engineering advances in terms of their
practical function and place in castle development; the
design of the castle influenced later European structures.
Another topic which I will address,
is the specific nature of the Chateau Gaillard's
construction process. The resources dedicated to a
castle's construction served as an important indicator
of its strategic importance during the Middle Ages, much as a
military budget for a project does today. Furthermore,
historians generally acknowledge that Richard oversaw the Chateau
Gaillard's design and development, an unusual
circumstance for a monarch, and his personal involvement in the
project should be examined in more detail.
There are several methods I will use to
address these questions. First, I will examine applicable
primary sources, such as accounts given by English and French
chroniclers. Second, I will consult secondary sources for a
broad perspective of fortification development. Finally, I
will study the Chateau Gaillard and other medieval fortifications
firsthand when I travel abroad this spring; my primary reason for
studying overseas is to visit the remains of medieval
fortifications and gain a better understanding of warfare in the
Middle Ages.
By studying the Chateau Gaillard
and its place in medieval siege warfare, I will contribute to my
advisor's study of Richard and the coronation rite of
the duke of Aquitaine. My advisor is seeking to show the
importance of Richard's use of materials from Bourges
and Berry. Richard and Philip Augustus both struggled to
control these regions for financial and strategic considerations;
an examination of the Vexin campaign, a similar struggle, would
facilitate and support his research. Additionally, I hope to
contribute to his study by expanding on Richard's role
as warrior and builder.
There are several works with which I plan
to begin the research process:
Anderson, William. Castles of Europe.
London: Elek, 1970.
Bradbury, Jim. The Medieval Siege.
Woodbridge: Boydell, 1992.
Contamine, Philippe. War in the Middle Ages.
Paris: Basil, 1984.
Gillingham, John. Richard the Lionheart. New
York: Times, 1978.
Toy, Sidney. A History of Fortification from 3000 B.C.
to A.D. 1700. 2nd ed.
A rough timetable for the project runs as follows:
Spring Semester: tour fortifications
early/mid June: begin research
early/mid June-early August: gather and consult
sources
early August-late August: correlate information and
reach conclusions
Faculty Letter of Support