THE EDICT OF PÎTRES, CAROLINGIAN DEFENCE AGAINST THE VIKINGS, AND THE ORIGINS OF THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE
Simon MacLean
ABSTRACT The castle was one of the most characteristic features western European landscape in Middle Ages, dominating social and political order from eleventh century onwards. origins are generally assigned to ninth tenth centuries, standard story begins with defensive fortifications established against Vikings during reign West Frankish king Charles Bald (843–77). In this article I argue that there serious problems origin story, by re-evaluating some key sources on which it rests – particularly Edict Pîtres (864). seek demonstrate my analysis source has important implications for how we think about relationship between state Carolingian Empire; extension evolution north-western Europe twelfth centuries.
Transactions of the Royal Historical Society|St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository)