Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.17018/portal.2014.3
The Cesargrad Castle: Historical-Archeological Analysis
Andrej Janeš
orcid.org/0000-0003-0683-3364
; Hrvatski restauratorski zavod, Odjel za kopnenu arheologiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The Cesargrad castle is one in a series of castles and fortresses in northwestern Croatia. It is situated northwest of the town of Klanjec, on the western side of the Cesargrad Hill, overlooking the Sutla River and its Zelenjak Gorge. Nowadays it stands at the very border of Croatia and Slovenia, with the castle of Kunšperk located on the latter side.
Cesargrad was first mentioned in 1399, when it was owned by the Counts of Cilli. After the family became extinct in 1456, it shifted from one Styrian and Slavonian owner to another, finally passing down to the Erdödy family by the late 15th century. An important date in the history of Cesargrad is January 29th 1573, when the fortress suffered an attack by peasant troops during the Great Peasants’ Revolt. The Erdödy family renovated Cesargrad after that, however in the early 17th century it is again mentioned as a ruin.
Croatian Conservation Institute conducted archeological investigations of the castle in two campaigns, in 2008 and 2010. The 2008 investigations encompassed the square tower H, which is located in the northeastern corner of the central portion of the castle. Research included interior of the tower as well as its surrounding area. In 2010, excavations were conducted in the large room K of the southern wing of the Great Hall, i.e. the residential part of the castle core. Due to the fact that a large portion of the standing architecture is in poor condition, along with the archeological investigations, plans are underway for the conservation and structural improvement of this fine late medieval monument.
In the course of both campaigns, a large amount of ceramic material was discovered, both of kitchen and table as well as technical ceramics, including the distinctively shaped Late Gothic stove tiles. Most of the kitchen ceramics amounts to coarsely-executed pottery, with a smaller portion of fine table ceramics. Chrono-typological analysis of the pottery rims dates the found material to the period from the mid-14th to early 16th century. Most prevalent is the oxidation-fired ceramics in lighter tones, followed by reduction-fired ceramics, and again the reduction-fired ceramics that was subsequently exposed to oxidation atmosphere. The table ceramics and the green-glazed relief stove tiles are dated from the 15th to the second half of the 16th century. In addition to the remains of game animal bones that were found, the table ceramics and this type of stove tiles are indicative of a luxurious lifestyle of a part of the Cesargrad residents. Surprising is the distinctively small amount of fine glazed ceramics and majolica, considering that this was a residence of nobility.
Analyses of the architectural remains and found movable material have revealed that the ground floor of tower H was one of Cesargrad’s kitchens. The type of elevated fireplace, embedded into the wall of the tower, in addition to the ceramics and stove tiles discovered, indicate that the tower was built during the 15th century and was used into the second half of the 16th century. The ground floor room of the southern wing of the Great Hall (K) was identified as a storage chamber, although it is possible to assume that it was the original Cesargrad kitchen. Rooms on the first floor, with large window openings, belonged to a representative portion of this castle. By way of analogies with castles in neighboring countries and the analysis of architecture, the early construction of the castle can be dated to the late 13th and early 14th century, i.e. much prior to its first mention in written sources.
Ključne riječi
castle; analysis of architecture; medieval ceramics; construction development; room function; Hrvatsko Zagorje
Hrčak ID:
133007
URI
Datum izdavanja:
22.12.2014.
Posjeta: 1.896 *