Original scientific paper
Sixteenth-century round defence towers in the Croatian Military Frontier
Zorislav Horvat
Abstract
ln the second half of the fifteenth andin the sixteenth century Turkish attackson Croatia escalated and fortification construction increased. New types' of fortifications developed, primarily designed for efficient defence from firearms and artillery. These fortifications included the round defence tower, which served botth for the daily protection of the owner-castellan and for defence from attacks by larger Turkish units.
Defence towers were usually entered across a drawbridge or up a wooden ladder leading to the first story. The main residential quarters were on the second story, where the windows larger an there was a console latrine. The ground story held storerooms and the top story served for defence. It usually projected on consoles to alow the defence of the foot of the tower.
The tower size: diametar, height, widith of walls and probably the details, as well, were expressed in whole numbers of feet and hvati (a square measure), which were the units of measure used in medieval construction.
Round defence towers were either self-standing or incorporated into ramparts, depending on the specific case and concept of defence.
It is interesting that such defence towers were typical of the Croatian Military frontier region (Banija, Kordun, Lika, Krbava), wich was probably the consequence of both local traditions and influence form the south, i.e. from Dalmatia. The workmanship of the details depended on local materials and on the skill of local masters, and we may say that these defence towers were typical of the sixteenth-century Croatian Military Frontier.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
30790
URI
Publication date:
30.4.1993.
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