Carved capital, castle of Chateau-Thierry, Picardy, France

A knight holding a standard on a harnessed rearing horse, with 2 other men holding weapons, on a carved stone capital, 42x45cm, found near the Tour Thibaud or Thibaud Tower, built 12th century, at the medieval castle of Chateau-Thierry, Picardy, France. The men have strange swollen legs, which may refer to the miracle of the bees of St Generic. The first fortifications on this spur over the river Marne date from the 4th century and the first castle was built in the 9th century Merovingian period by the counts of Vermandois. Thibaud II enlarged the castle in the 12th century and built the Tour Thibaud, and Thibaud IV expanded it significantly in the 13th century to include 17 defensive towers in the walls and an East and South gate. The castle was largely destroyed in the French Revolution after having been a royal palace since 1285. In 1814 it was used as a citadel for Napoleonic troops. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13430043

Media ID

45104863

Size

5616px x 3744px (4.7MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen