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Castle Welute: Difference between revisions
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===Early modern period=== | ===Early modern period=== | ||
The military value of Castle Welute became apparent to military and Royal figures during the latter half of the 17th century. Though its fortifications remained largely medieval, the Castle sat upon one of the most dominating geographical features of the Upper Urce, making it a vital position to hold in the northern [[The Valley (Urcea)|Valley]] if the [[Northgate]] was breached. Consequently, major reconstruction efforts began in the early 18th century as part of a [[History_of_Urcea_(1575-1798)#Army_reform|broader effort]] to make Urcea more resilient in the face of military conflict. The keep and medieval curtain walls were retained as the center point of the fortress, but a series of sprawling {{wp|star fort|star fortifications}} were constructed radiating out of the medieval castle. As the Castle sat on the west bank of the river and would be vulnerable if an army were to surpass the new outer fortifications by crossing to the east bank, several batteries and fortifications - collectively dubbed Castle Leo - were built along the east bank. Warehouses for siege supply were built as was a major supply depot intended to support operations of the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] in the northern section of the Valley. The resulting set of fortifications were impressive, and only came under serious threat once during the century they were operational. During the [[Second Caroline War]], advanced forces of the Imperial Army | The military value of Castle Welute became apparent to military and Royal figures during the latter half of the 17th century. Though its fortifications remained largely medieval, the Castle sat upon one of the most dominating geographical features of the Upper Urce, making it a vital position to hold in the northern [[The Valley (Urcea)|Valley]] if the [[Northgate]] was breached. Consequently, major reconstruction efforts began in the early 18th century as part of a [[History_of_Urcea_(1575-1798)#Army_reform|broader effort]] to make Urcea more resilient in the face of military conflict. The keep and medieval curtain walls were retained as the center point of the fortress, but a series of sprawling {{wp|star fort|star fortifications}} were constructed radiating out of the medieval castle. As the Castle sat on the west bank of the river and would be vulnerable if an army were to surpass the new outer fortifications by crossing to the east bank, several batteries and fortifications - collectively dubbed Castle Leo - were built along the east bank. Warehouses for siege supply were built as was a major supply depot intended to support operations of the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] in the northern section of the Valley. The resulting set of fortifications were impressive, and only came under serious threat once during the century they were operational. During the [[Second Caroline War]], advanced forces of the Imperial Army skirmished with pickets around the castle, and Imperial reconnaissance suggested it would be too difficult to take without a prolonged siege. This played a major role in the failure of the Imperial Army to advance on [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], setting the stage for later victories over the Imperial Army by [[Ionian Plateau|Ionian]] forces loyal to House de Weluta. | ||
===Transition to Royal residence=== | ===Transition to Royal residence=== | ||
===Contemporary history=== | ===Contemporary history=== | ||
==Major structures== | |||
===Royal Chapel=== | |||
[[File:FranceNormandieLeMontSaintMichelAbbaye.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The tower and steeple of the Royal Chapel among the other inner Castle structures.]] | |||
The Royal Chapel, officially the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, is the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] chapel serving the people living in and around Castle Welute. It is primarily intended for use by [[House de Weluta]] and their retainers, but is open to a limited public audience (primarily those of the Marketeer Quarter) during various Catholic holy days. The first Royal Chapel was built along with the original Castle and was likely a small room no more than twenty feet long, but in subsequent construction the Royal Chapel became the most prominent structure within the Castle. Its steeple and tower are often the most closely-identified part of the Castle. [[File:Sainte Chapelle - Upper level 1.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The interior of the Royal Chapel.]]The current Chapel was built in a {{wp|Romanesque|Levanesque}} style. Following the ascension of the first de Weluta [[Apostolic King of Urcea|Apostolic King]] in [[1402]] led to significant new investments in the interior of the Chapel, giving it its modern appearance. | |||
===First wall=== | |||
===Marketeer Quarter=== | |||
[[File:Le Mont-Saint-Michel 20171015 67.jpg|thumb|left|200px|View of some structures and homes within the Marketeer Quarter.]] | |||
At the ground level of the Castle lay the "Marketeer Quarter", a town-like arrangement built into the Castle's hillside. The Quarter arose at some point during the earliest decades of the Castle's use as an informal gathering of merchants that was eventually enclosed within the Castle walls following the construction of the second wall. During its use as a major military fortification and medieval castle, the Marketeer Quarter was the permanent home to about 200-300 people who owned and operated various shops at the base of the hill inside the walls. These shopkeepers were primary responsible for procuring and storing various foodstuffs for the people and some of the guards, but were otherwise free to pursue economic enterprises as they saw fit. In the mid-18th century, the entire quarter's residents were bought out by the government as the Castle was transformed into a more extensive military fortification and centralized supply depot. The Quarter remained in military possession until [[1930]], at which time it was transferred to the Crown. The Crown owns all property within the Quarter but leases out all the homes, shops, and restaurants. After [[1960]], veterans of the [[Second Great War]] were given preferential treatment when competing for Castle leases, and as of [[2030]] veterans or descendants of veteran families make up the vast majority of the 273 people living within the Quarter. The Quarter's shops and restaurants are a popular tourist destination, both in their own right as well as for those visiting the Castle grounds. | |||
===Second wall=== | |||
[[Category: Urcea]] | [[Category: Urcea]] | ||
[[Category: Buildings]] | [[Category: Buildings]] | ||
[[Category: IXWB]] | [[Category: IXWB]] | ||
[[Category: 2022 Award winning pages]] | {{Template:Award winning article}} | ||
[[Category:2022 Award winning pages]] | |||
[[Category:IXWB]] | |||