tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927188814636059936.post2119141066045714474..comments2023-08-02T09:04:27.679+01:00Comments on Rear Guard Action: A Posh NeighbourhoodJurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159781200263742361noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927188814636059936.post-66855364364679714362013-11-15T07:02:00.463+00:002013-11-15T07:02:00.463+00:00Obviously, the Kromme Rijn area was not the Wild W...Obviously, the Kromme Rijn area was not the Wild West. It's just that I can't see the abundance in the 13th century that would allow noble families to throw up several strongholds in an area just as an act of conspicious consumption. I'm not very knowledgeable in medieval studies so I have no idea about inheritance practices in the area. I can see how it affected landholding and castle buildingJurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159781200263742361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927188814636059936.post-10301924164299986742013-11-15T06:49:52.033+00:002013-11-15T06:49:52.033+00:00partitionable inheritance is always given as an ex...partitionable inheritance is always given as an explanation for the disproportionally large amount of motte-castles (vliedbergen) on my home island of Walcheren.Jan Kees Molhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827705757423832349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927188814636059936.post-31589645217261305292013-11-15T06:47:39.637+00:002013-11-15T06:47:39.637+00:00I'd consider a castle a bit of overkill agains...I'd consider a castle a bit of overkill against rodents! Not sure about the level of lawlessness and feuding in 13/14th C. Utrecht. I somehow don't think it compares to the Scottish Borders, Mani in Greece or even Frisia.<br />Do you know if Utrecht practiced primogeniture, or if they partitioned inheritances? The latter might also lead to competition within families.<br />Jan Kees Molhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827705757423832349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927188814636059936.post-38169208787073543732013-11-14T23:06:19.243+00:002013-11-14T23:06:19.243+00:00not the only explanation. The article you sent me ...not the only explanation. The article you sent me (for which many thanks! It is easier now to track down the ones I haven't seen yet) suggests that safe storage was also a function. They might not have withstood a determined band of soldiers, but they would have kept out thieves and other threats to the produce of the land. ANd they would have still emphasized the claim of the castle builders over the area. WHich is why they owned several castles in the same area.Jurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159781200263742361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927188814636059936.post-8946471165262458692013-11-14T17:11:37.335+00:002013-11-14T17:11:37.335+00:00apparently these towers had no real military role,...apparently these towers had no real military role, which is why they were tolerated by the bishop of Utrecht. Which leaves oneupmanship as the only explanation.Jan Kees Molhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827705757423832349noreply@blogger.com