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TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
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    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
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    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Carisbrooke Castle
Castle
Castle
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Carisbrooke Castle

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 County

Isle Of Wight (2 castles) 

 Categories

Pre Medieval / Motte & Bailey / Stone

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location50.6878,-1.312 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Isle Of Wight (2 castles) 

 Categories

Pre Medieval / Motte & Bailey / Stone

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
50.6878,-1.312
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
arisbrooke Castle was originally a Roman fort. The castle is located in the centre of the Isle of Wight and was put up soon after William the Conqueror came to England. The Earl of Hereford, William Fitz Osbern may have been responsible for its construction, but he was killed in battle during 1070/1071 and so would have had little opportunity to oversee the construction. Osbern's son, Roger, is more likely to have built or refortified the castle. It was at Carisbrooke Castle that William arrested his own half brother, Odo for acts of treason. Henry I granted the castle in the first year of his reign to Richard de Redvers. The Redvers family owned the castle for much of the Medieval period, only ending in November 1293 when the last Redvers, Isabel died. In 1136, Baldwin de Redvers took refuge in the castle on the run from King Stephen. Unfortunately the wells on the island ran dry and Baldwin gave up the land in exchange for his head. Baldwin's land was restored to him in 1153 when Henry II became king. Baldwin, the last male in the line, died in 1216 poisoned, it is said by Peter of Savoy. Isabella de Fortibus, Baldwin's sister took control of the castle and successfully ran it until her death in 1293.

In the reign of Queen Eliabeth I, the Italian engineer Federigo Gianibelli was employed to improve the earthwork defences around the castle. The modifications were designed to make it harder for cannons to fire in a direct line at the walls of the castle. The outer gateway was also rebuilt in the Elizabethan period.

Carisbrooke Castle served as the prison for Charles I after he was captured trying to flee the country. In more recent times the castle was the home of the governors of the Isle of Wight, the last of whom was Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria.

Location

See Also

People

  • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
  • William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)
  • Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford)
  • Fitz Osbern, Roger (Earl of Hereford)
  • Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Other

  • Isle of Wight

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Location Map (click to explore)

Timeline

1100

...

Carisbrooke Castle given to de Redvers

Henry I granted the ownership of Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight to Richard de Redvers a Norman nobleman.

1136

...

Baldwin de Redvers flees to Carisbrooke

The Earl of Devon, Baldwin de Redvers took refuge in Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight after a defeat at the hands of King Stephen.

1355

...

Carisbrooke Castle passes to Isabel

After the death of Isabella de Fortibus in 1293 Carisbrooke Castle became the property of Edward I and the Crown. In 1355 Edward III granted the ownership of the castle to his daughter Isabel.

1377

...

Carisbrooke defended against the French

The French landed on the Isle of Wight and attacked Carisbrooke castle. The castle did not fall to the French.

1647

November

Charles I held at Carisbrooke Castle

Charles I took refuge at Carisbrooke but the castle later turned out to be his prison from where he attempted several times to escape but failed.

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Location

See Also

People

  • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
  • William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)
  • Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford)
  • Fitz Osbern, Roger (Earl of Hereford)
  • Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Other

  • Isle of Wight

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

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