King John's Castle, Limerick City
This is a plan of King John's Castle made in about 1611. The castle was over 400 years old at that time. Taken from O'Dwyer and Begley's The Diocese of Limerick, Ancient and Medieval, 1906.
King John's Castle, Limerick City
King John's Castle, Limerick City
This is a plan of King John's Castle made in about 1611. The castle was over 400 years old at that time. Taken from O'Dwyer and Begley's The Diocese of Limerick, Ancient and Medieval, 1906.
Limerick received a charter from King John in 1197, granting the citizens of the city the same rights as the citizens of Dublin city. They were allowed to elect a mayor and bailiffs who would govern and administer the city.
During the first decade of the thirteenth century, one of Limerick city's most famous landmarks was planned and built. King John's Castle, named for the reigning monarch, is a fortified castle that still stands today. Over the past 800 years it has been added to, partially destroyed and repaired again.
The castle had a unique structure for its time. It was built without a keep and had high curtain walls designed to withstand enemy attacks. The curtain walls ran between a series of towers, which had various defensive uses.
Round towers are a feature of thirteenth-century castles. They were less vulnerable to attack than the square towers that are a feature of earlier castles. Siege techniques and the machinery used in sieges had improved, so the way in which castles were built had to improve in order to withstand attack.
During the first decade of the thirteenth century, one of Limerick city's most famous landmarks was planned and built. King John's Castle, named for the reigning monarch, is a fortified castle that still stands today. Over the past 800 years it has been added to, partially destroyed and repaired again.
The castle had a unique structure for its time. It was built without a keep and had high curtain walls designed to withstand enemy attacks. The curtain walls ran between a series of towers, which had various defensive uses.
Round towers are a feature of thirteenth-century castles. They were less vulnerable to attack than the square towers that are a feature of earlier castles. Siege techniques and the machinery used in sieges had improved, so the way in which castles were built had to improve in order to withstand attack.