How are You Building Your Castle?

Coming out of a season of world change, many people are still trying to rebuild their lives. We often lament what we have lost, but there is a lot we can do in this season. Perhaps we should take a moment to reflect on what we can accomplish in survival mode, as strategic value demands it. As I pondered the thought, I turned to one of my favourite medieval topics and that is castles. In fact, visiting castles of the world is on my bucket list.

When we think of castles, we think of stone castles. When you look at the grandeur of some of the most visited castles in the world, it’s hard to believe that people originally constructed many castles out of wood. Wood was easy and functional. Architects only started designing into stone castles as warfare became more sophisticated.

Yet there were military strategists who intentionally built wooden castles. William the Conqueror used building wooden castles as a strategy in the Norman Invasion of England. The English did not have a system of castles, ‌but William, the duke of Normandy in northern France, understood their strategic value. Castles acted as a fortified post for the calvary and provided a base for men and horses to be housed.

I, for one, am impressed by this engineering feat and wonder how we can learn from how he could use the cheap and accessible to create a legacy. William had the timber pre-cut in his homeland before the invasion. He knew speed was of the essence and so his fleet contained the timber, materials and even the pre-cut fortifying bolts for the initial three castles. The sight of organised foreigners rapidly building castles probably terrified the locals. As any battle strategist would know, a demoralised local army is far easier to defeat.

With his eyes on the throne, William knew he had to establish his rule quickly. It was possible to construct one of these wooden castles in a matter of weeks. He built on sites that had the highest ground, providing defence, as his scouts could see any potential attack from miles away. The castes often adjoined rivers, giving his men access to water. Some scholars believe they constructed over 1000 of these castles.

William the Conqueror’s clever planning came to a climax on 14 October 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, where he defeated King Harold II of England. I believe we can learn a lot from this new king. Some of the best lessons for us are to have a vision; assess what we have; and to act quickly. 

There have been so many times when I stop and start and don’t follow through with what I know has to be done. I know I am not alone. This is something I see in many people who battle with transforming their lives. They think their future lies in building the stone castles right now when they don’t even have the access to the bricks. 

Over the next 21 years, William built stone castles, but he established his rule with the timber ones. 

So the question is, “What can you start with today?”