View from the walls of Krak des Chevaliers. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Medieval castles were essentially fortresses, and military defensive strategies. They were especially prevalent from the 11th to the 15th centuries. For many centuries, they provided immense strategic advantages in conflicts. While they were mostly used as the homes of leaders, they also allowed kings, counts, and lords to effectively control territories. Because the primary purpose of a castle was for defense, the location of a castle had to be selected with extreme care.   Medieval Castle Design The Edinburgh Castle view from the North. Source: Wikipedia   Castle architects typically built castles on high ground such as a hill or a cliff which offered a natural advantage. Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, for example, sits on a dormant volcano. Its positioning made a direct assault nearly impossible as attackers had to fight while moving uphill, which exhausted them before they reached its walls. Water was another key defensive element to consider when building castles. Many castles were built by waterbodies such as rivers and lakes. Some were also surrounded by man-made lakes called moats.    Image of Bodiam Castle, England. Wikipedia   The Bodiam Castle in England which was built in 1385, is a perfect example of this. It is surrounded by a wide artificial moat, which meant that an attacking army could not simply walk up to the walls. Instead, they had to cross the water under fire, a dangerous undertaking. In many instances, a moat would be over 39 feet wide and 13 feet deep. The design helped to counter siege fighting strategies such as towers and battering rams.   Medieval Castle Walls Photo of Harlech Castle. Source: Wikipedia   Castle walls also featured incredible feats of engineering. Early Norman castles, for example, were built using wood and were called motte-and-bailey castles. Many of them were built after the Norman conquest of 1066 when William the Conqueror sought to control England. Later castles were made of stone and offered far greater protection as the walls could at times be 3 to 6 metres thick. The walls of Harlech Castle, built between 1283 and 1289 during Edward I’s conquest of Wales are a prime example.    Some castle designers also added some features to the stone walls to allow archers to fire down on enemies at the base of the wall. The strategy was largely effective in slowing down invaders. However, early square towers had a weakness because they had blind spots at the corners. By the 12th century, round towers became more common as they offered a 360-degree view. They allowed defenders to shoot arrows through the gaps in the walls.   Murder holes at Bodiam Castle. Source: Wikipedia   The entrance was a castle’s weakest point and therefore heavily fortified. The entrances to High and Late Medieval castles were a complex structure of their own and often had multiple iron gates called portcullises. They had thick wooden doors and above the passage were holes called murder holes where defenders could drop projectiles like rocks at attackers. They also had arrowslits which were narrow vertical windows in the walls that allowed archers to shoot with great safety.   Medieval Castles and Offensive Strategies Edinburgh Castle, Scotland   That said, castles were not just passive forts but offensive bases. They allowed a ruler to project his power across the surrounding land from his castle. The surrounding area was known as a castellany. Because castles were a permanent base for a garrison of soldiers, they would be used to control the local population. The setup also allowed leaders to collect taxes and enforce the law. Castles also allowed rulers to control strategic routes including river crossings.    Krak des Chevaliers. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Crusader castle, Krak des Chevaliers, in modern Syria is a famous example. Built by the Knights Hospitaller, it was used to control the Homs Gap, a vital passage that connected the Mediterranean coast to the Syrian interior. Its garrison of up to 2,000 soldiers could raid enemy territory for miles. As such, enemies were wary of the fortress because if they went past it, the castle’s garrison could attack and block their supply lines. Such an attempt could easily lead to sieges.   The ability to raid was another major strategic advantage provided by castles. A small force of mounted knights could leave the castle and attack enemy lines, burn villages loyal to the enemy, and disrupt the enemy army’s movements. The constant attacks would easily wear down enemies. The protection provided by castles also made it difficult for the enemies to launch large-scale counter-attacks.

For centuries, Native American leaders have stood resilient against federal policies that threatened their lands, cultures, and sovereignty. From the forced relocations of the 19th century to the challenges posed by the Dawes Act of 1887, these leaders have exemplified unwavering courage in the face of adversity. Their enduring legacies continue to inspire and remind ...

A herder tending to his goats in the highlands of southwestern Turkey’s Muğla Province discovered a Roman funerary stele in the shape of an altar with figural reliefs. The front of stele features a relief of a man and woman under an arch, likely a married couple, with a Greek inscription underneath. Reliefs of two different types of wreaths are carved into each of the sides. The herder spotted the funerary grave marker in a forested area in the foothills of Akdağ mountain and reported it to the Fethiye Museum Directorate. Archaeologists were dispatched to examine it and they recognized it as an object of historical significance because of its imagery, inscription and completeness. They also recognized how heavy it is — an estimated 300 kilos (660 lbs) — and therefore how difficult it would be to remove it from the rugged hills and schlep it over rough terrain 45 minutes to the nearest road and thence to the museum. They buried it for its own protection and set up motion-detector cameras to keep it safe while they worked on the logistics. To recover the stele, a team or archaeologists and support workers hiked to the find site, wrapped the heavy stone and then carried it for seven hours down the rocky, forested, steep hillside to the road. Archaeologist Ahmet Meke, who took part in the recovery, said the piece likely dates to the first–third centuries C.E. and represents a type of altar-shaped grave stele commonly seen across Anatolia. He explained that what sets this example apart is its elaborate relief carving and inscription, elements that give it significant epigraphic value. According to Meke, the front of the stone depicts a man and a woman, suggesting a family portrait commemorating the deceased. The clothing and styling of the figures, he noted, offer a window onto everyday life and the social fabric of Roman-period communities in the region. He added that the accompanying inscription contains information about the individual buried there. The marker will now be cleaned and conserved. The find site is still being protected by the security cameras while authorities go through the steps of proposing it for protected status.

1937 - Russian chess player Alexander Alekhine recaptures his final world title from Dutch grand master Max Euwe by a large margin (+10−4=11) 1941 - Japanese Emperor Hirohito signs a declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire 1966 - A fire at an army barracks in Erzurum, Turkey kills 68 people. 1973 - Orioles sell pitcher Eddie Watt to the Phillies 1988 - A 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Spitak, Armenia, kills 25,000 to 50,000 people and leaves up to 500,000 homeless 2006 - A Tornado strikes Kensal Green in northwest London, seriously damaging around 150 properties 2018 - Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is elected the new leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union party, replacing Angela Merkel 2024 - Restored Notre Dame Cathedral re-opens after the 2019 fire with a VIP ceremony attended by world leaders in Paris, France More Historical Events »

Wikimedia CommonsInside the chapel of St. Stanislaus. Archaeologists have uncovered a hidden crypt beneath a Polish church that not only yielded secret tunnels and the remains of numerous Knights Templar — but might also be the resting place of the Holy Grail itself. As one of the most sought after historical items of all time, the discovery is unimaginable. From their participation in the Crusades to the secret initiation rites that led to their decline, the mysterious band of Catholic warriors has captivated historians for centuries. Said to be keepers of the Holy Grail, the secret passageways of this hidden crypt could bring this legendary artifact closer than ever. “The legend says that Templars, under cover of darkness, sunk a wooden box with golden coins and the Holy Grail [into a since-dried lake mentioned in the stories],” said local historian Marek Karolczak, “and the treasure has either been stolen or lost forever in the swamp.” According to Smithsonian, the ongoing archaeological dig began in 2004 — with last year’s use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) responsible for the promising development. If found, the Holy Grail has been sitting under Chwarszczany’s chapel of Saint Stanislaus all along. Wikimedia CommonsThe St. Stanislaus chapel in Chwarszczan was built by the Knights Templar in 1232. The Knights Templar were formed in 1119, as the Christian Crusades ravaged the Middle East in hopes of wrestling the Holy Land from Muslim control. It was French knight Hugues de Payens who established the secret sect, as a small military order aimed to protect pilgrims traveling east. While the group has inspired endless speculation and creatively liberated depiction in both literature and film ever since, their tangible contributions are quite real. Traces of this sect are visible all over Europe — namely in the Chwarszczany church constructed to testify to their permanence. “Our GPR has detected gothic crypts with the remnants of Templar Knights beneath the chapel,” said lead archaeologist Przemyslaw Kolosowski. With no more than 100 residents comprising the West Pomeranian village, Chwarszczany is a disarmingly quiet and uneventful place for such a find. Nonetheless, GPR doesn’t lie — and it’s indicated that a number of crypts, human remains, and an underground tunnel lies beneath. “According to legends and medieval documents, there was a well in the vicinity of the chapel,” said Kolosowski. “Rumor has it that the well served as an entrance to a secret tunnel. This still requires an exhaustive archaeological investigation.” WIkimedia CommonsIt was ground-penetrating radar that yielded the remarkable discovery of secret passageways, crypts, and human remains. Though renovations and excavations at the church have continued for the last 16 years, the most captivating strides were made in July 2019. Kolosowski’s team began with an exhaustively comprehensive scan of the premises and surrounding fields, with around 100 volunteers helping out. While experts were disappointed that their suspicions of a medieval fortress beneath the ground were dashed, unforeseen developments proved even more enthralling. Centuries-old cobblestone was uncovered. An 18th-century distillery. Bronze Age pottery. A 1757 coin left behind by Russian troops. What archaeologists uncovered thereafter, of course, has been the most astonishing find of all. Studying a small depression beneath the stone floors, researchers uncovered seven vaulted crypts. Though some involved claim these “cannot be dated back to Templar times,” the debate is ongoing. The Knights Templar not only built this church in 1232, but used its chapel as “both a place of worship and a defensive fortification.” As such, it is highly plausible that those buried beneath — and the uncovered passageways — are Templar-related. To make matters even more enthralling, a secret underground tunnel has also been found beneath the town of Myślibórz. Settled by the Templars in 1238 — Myślibórz is half an hour away from Chwarszczany. Wikimedia Commons“From the Creation of the World until 1384,” depicting the Knights Templar being burned at the stake. “Back in those days, the appearance of Knights Templar on this soil was a popular trend,” said Karolczak. “This is the time of Crusades. Local rulers wanted to strengthen their power by inviting military orders to settle on their land and build commanderies.” Though the Knights Templar had staunch support of the Pope and consequently enjoyed lavish donations and tax breaks, the tides began to turn in the early 14th century. Some believe their increasing secrecy and ominous initiation rites led to their arrest — others believe it was the money. King Philip IV of France ultimately ordered the Knights Templar arrested. Whether out of sheer desperation to seize the group’s enormous wealth for himself or make it clear that his political dominance outranked the papacy — the secret order was no more. In 1312, King Philip IV ordered these detained men tortured, yielding presumably false confessions of sacrilege and homosexuality. Pope Clement V disbanded the group as a result, relegating the legacy of the Knights Templar to modern-day mystery and archaeological work. Of course, the theory that this group managed to recover the Holy Grail during the Crusades has been most hypnotizing to those involved in this research. Said to be guardians of the Cup of Christ, it’s alarmingly possible that we’re about to find it. After learning about the hidden crypt and remains of Knights Templar uncovered beneath a Polish church, take a look at 28 photos of the world’s biggest crypt — the Paris Catacombs. Then, learn about Otto Rahn and the Nazi crusade for the Holy Grail. The post A Secret Knights Templar Crypt Was Found Beneath A Polish Church — And It Could Contain The Holy Grail appeared first on All That's Interesting.