This week in Battle Castle-Dec. 9

Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:

On YouTube

BattleCastle.TV: host Dan Snow shares how a small group of soldiers approached Chateau Gaillard

Battle Castle host Dan Snow details how a handful of French troops infiltrated one of Chateau Gaillard’s walls during the siege of 1203-1204. Philip Augustus of France and his army attacked the castle to try and push the English out of Normandy. Though King John reigned at the time it was besieged, the stronghold was built by his brother Richard I before he died. Battle Castle: Gaillard reveals how the Lionheart’s castle builders constructed the fortifications, which included securing the castle, an island fort, and the town of Petit Andely, and details the medieval weapons that the French used to attack it.

Dan’s vlogs are released every Thursday on YouTube, unveiling details related to the stories that will be profiled in the Battle Castle shows.

On Twitter

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This week in Battle Castle-Sept. 23

Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:

 On YouTube

Battle Castle:  Malbork — exploring the castle

Writer Nicole Tomlinson and the rest of the Battle Castle crew, including host Dan Snow, explore an area of Malbork Castle in Poland that’s normally out of bounds to the public. Battle Castle: Malbork profiles the siege of 1410 when Polish and Lithuanian forces attacked the brick stronghold. The offensive, which was led by King Jagiello and Grand Duke Vytautas, occurred after the Battle of Tannenberg. The castle, historically known as Marienburg, was built by the Teutonic Order, crusader knights who occupied this area of the Baltic in medieval times.

On Flickr

Battle Castle: Gaillard – surrounding lands

Photos of the area surrounding Chateau Gaillard, including the River Seine and the town of Petit Andely, taken during the filming of Battle Castle: Gaillard with host Dan Snow. The French army, led by Philip Augustus of France, laid siege to English King Richard I’s stronghold in 1203-1204. The show reveals how Richard the Lionheart’s castle builders constructed the fortifications and details the medieval weapons used to attack it.

More: http://battlecastle.tv/blog/chateau-gaillard-how-nature-stands-guard

On Twitter

Medieval siege tip of the week:

For a soldier seeking comfort, supple deerhide leather can be tailored to fit like a second skin – B. Cornwell
3 ways to #gomedieval
Awesome medieval moments on the web, chosen by The Gatekeeper:

Build family memories reenacting another age

http://beckywilloughby.blogspot.com/2011/08/flashback-friday-medieval-fun.html via beckywilloughby

Collect Ancient maps to share in a modern time

http://www.henry-davis.com/MAPS/EMwebpages/EML.html via henry-davis

Learn parts of a medieval castle by playing hangman

http://www.freado.com/hangman/172/parts-of-a-medieval-castle via @ccarpinello

Want more Battle Castle action?

A world of castle engineering, bloody siegecraft, and epic clashes that transform mortals into legends awaits …

Join us.

www.battlecastle.tv

This week in Battle Castle-Sept. 16

Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:

 On YouTube

Battle Castle: Gaillard — crew arrives at hotel

Executive Producer and Director Ian Herring and Camera and Director of Photography Sean F. White arrive at Chateau Corneille with the rest of the Battle Castle crew, ready to film host Dan Snow at Chateau Gaillard. The French army, led by Philip Augustus of France, laid siege to English King Richard I’s stronghold in Normandy in 1203-1204. Battle Castle: Gaillard reveals how Richard the Lionheart’s castle builders constructed the fortifications, which included securing the castle, an island fort, and the town of Petit Andely, and details the medieval weapons used to attack it.

On Flickr

Battle Castle: Conwy – the Wilds of Wales

Photos of Snowdonia in Northern Wales, taken during the filming of Battle Castle: Conwy. The production crew and host Dan Snow travelled out into the Wilds of Wales to capture the spirit of what the region may have looked like in the Middle Ages during the time that Conwy and King Edward I’s other Welsh castles were built. The show reveals the castle builders who engineered and raised these fortifications, as well as the weapons and battles that tested them in 1294 when Welsh leader Madog ap Llywelyn headed a medieval rebellion against the English and laid siege to their castles.

More: http://battlecastle.tv/blog/battle-castle-universe-dead-men-fight-again

On Twitter

Medieval siege tip of the week:

From the dawn of defence, fortifications have aimed to exploit height– M. Keen
3 ways to #gomedieval
Awesome medieval moments on the web, chosen by The Gatekeeper:

 

Want more Battle Castle action?

A world of castle engineering, bloody siegecraft, and epic clashes that transform mortals into legends awaits …

Join us.

www.battlecastle.tv

This week in Battle Castle – Sept. 9

Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:

 On YouTube

Conwy — comparing Welsh castles

Executive Producer Maija Leivo reveals her impressions of the differences between Conwy, Caernarfon, and Harlech castles in Northern Wales. The Battle Castle crew scouted and shot at all three locations for Battle Castle: Conwy. The fortifications are part of the Iron Ring that King Edward I erected as part of his castle building campaign in what is now Snowdonia. In 1294 Welsh leader Madog ap Llywelyn challenged these strongholds during a medieval rebellion against the English.

More: <a href="

On Flickr

Battle Castle: Gaillard – fisheye’s view of the keep

The keep at Chateau Gaillard, captured through a fisheye lens, shot during the filming of Battle Castle: Gaillard with host Dan Snow. The French army, led by Philip Augustus of France, laid siege to English King Richard I’s stronghold in 1203-1204. The show reveals how Richard the Lionheart’s castle builders constructed the fortifications, which included securing the castle, an island fort, and the town of Petit Andely, and details the medieval weapons used to attack it.

More: http://battlecastle.tv/blog/chateau-gaillard-change-perspective

On Twitter

Medieval siege tip of the week:

Several things are needed to construct siege engines: skilled engineers, considerable labour, accessible material … and so on – K. Nossov
3 ways to #gomedieval
Awesome medieval moments on the web, chosen by The Gatekeeper:
A case for graffiti

 

Knights give bowling tournament an old edge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwLR-Abh8Kk Uploaded by MedievalTimesUSA

Watermelon prepared by longsword

A world of castle engineering, bloody siegecraft, and epic clashes that transform mortals into legends awaits …

Join us.

www.battlecastle.tv

This week in Battle Castle

From this week forward, we’ll be sharing highlights from our current production, Battle Castle, on our blog.

Hosted by historian and broadcaster Dan Snow, Battle Castle profiles the military architecture and engineering of some of the world’s greatest castles, as well as the medieval weapons technology they faced during the epic sieges that tested them.

This action documentary series is scheduled to air on History Television in Canada and Discovery UK early next year. It’s also slated for distribution by BBC Worldwide.

Battle Castle reveals the stories of:

-Dover – The Key to England

-Crac des Chevaliers – The Crown Jewel of Crusader Castles

-Malaga – Ferdinand and Isabella’s bloodiest siege

-Conwy – King Edward’s Iron Ring

-Chateau Gaillard – Richard the Lionheart’s stronghold

-Malbork – The Teutonic Knight’s red-brick glory

In addition to these broadcasts, Battle Castle also features an extensive online world that continues to grow every day.

This trans-medieval journey includes exclusive web content, behind-the-scenes material, and plenty of opportunities to #gomedieval.

Here’s what’s going on this week in the Battle Castle universe:

 On YouTube

Battle Castle: Gaillard – Dark Discovery

Camera and Director of Photography Sean F. White and Technical Assistant Rory Lambert explore an unexpected opening found at Chateau Gaillard. The French army, led by Philip Augustus of France, laid siege to English King Richard I’s stronghold in Normandy in 1203-1204. Battle Castle: Gaillard reveals how Richard the Lionheart’s castle builders constructed the fortifications, which included securing the castle, an island fort, and the town of Petit Andely, and details the medieval weapons used to attack it.

More: http://battlecastle.tv/blog/chateau-gaillard-exploring-dark-side

On Flickr

Battle Castle: Malbork – a medieval feast

Photos of an exhibit at Malbork Castle, meant to recreate what a meal served at the fortification during the Middle Ages may have consisted of, shot during the filming of Battle Castle: Malbork with host Dan Snow in Poland. The show profiles the siege of 1410 when Polish and Lithuanian forces attacked the brick stronghold. The offensive, which was led by King Jagiello and Grand Duke Vytautas, occurred after the Battle of Tannenberg. The castle, historically known as Marienburg, was built by the Teutonic Order, crusader knights who occupied this area of the Baltic in medieval times.

More: http://battlecastle.tv/blog/malbork-castle-recipe-gomedieval-fun

On Twitter

Medieval siege tip of the week:

Beware the elite’s desire to defend their own interests, as it can be the beating heart of any structural defence – M. Keen
3 ways to #gomedieval
Awesome medieval moments on the web, chosen by The Gatekeeper:
Siege engine homage: trebuchet salutes the Kansas City Wildcats

Dare to compare medieval cooking … stay for the Sweet Frumenty, avoid the Plague (no really, it’s a drink)

http://cookit.e2bn.org/historycookbook/index-27-normans-medieval.html via CookIt!

Writer Merry Farmer rolls out medieval-themed blogs every Monday. Bonus points for the alliteration

Want more Battle Castle action?

A world of castle engineering, bloody siegecraft, and epic clashes that transform mortals into legends awaits …

Join us.

www.battlecastle.tv