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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Carlisle Castle
Castle
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Carlisle Castle

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 County

Cumbria, England (6 castles) 

 Categories

Stone

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location54.897223,-2.94207 (Google Maps)
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 DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Cumbria, England (6 castles) 

 Categories

Stone

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
54.897223,-2.94207
///sushi.rats.define
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
he location where Carlisle Castle is built had been used as a defensive site long before the medieval castle builders came along. The site was a Roman fort and before that possibly a Saxon stronghold. The first medieval castle was built in around 1092 or 1093 during the reign of William II in order to control Malcolm III, the Scottish King who repeatedly invaded the north of England. The keep and walls were erected by Henry I in the twelfth century. In 1568 Mary Queen of Scots was held as a prisoner at Carlisle.

Location

See Also

People

  • Henry (II, King of France 1547-1559)
  • Mary (Stuart, Queen of Scotland)
  • William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Timeline

1093

...

Construction of Carlisle Castle

William Rufus ordered the construction of a castle at Carlisle because of the thrreat that the Scottish King Malcolm III posed.

1136

...

Carlisle Castle under Scottish control

After King Stephen gave up the rights to Cumberland after the Treaty of Durham to the Scots, King David made Carlisle his southern capital. The Scottish king made large improvements to the defences of the castle at Carlisle and built a keep.

1157

...

Malcolm IV surrenders land to Henry

The areas of Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland were surrendered by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland to King Henry II of England. The lands had been acquired by King David I in 1135 at the Treaty of Durham. Henry took back control of Carlisle Castle from the Scots. ¹

1173

Summer

Invasion of the north of England

King William of Scotland targeted several key fortifications in northern England, particularly in Northumberland and Cumberland in an attempt to seize territory while King Henry II was preoccupied with the broader revolt against his son. Castles that he attempted to capture included Carlisle Castle, Newcastle Castle, Prudhoe Castle and Alnwick Castle. All of these castles managed to be defended against the Scottish King's attacks and sieges.

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. M.T.Clanchy, England and its Rulers

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    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Henry (II, King of France 1547-1559)
    • Mary (Stuart, Queen of Scotland)
    • William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.

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