Knowra Windsor Castle Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is a royal residence in Windsor, England, occupied by the British monarchy for nearly a thousand years. It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world.
William the Conqueror : The Norman duke who conquered England in 1066 and became its king. He ordered Windsor Castle built as part of a ring of fortifications around London.
Ward (castle) : An enclosed division of a castle, often separated from other areas by walls or gates. The castle’s Upper, Middle, and Lower Wards organize its residences, ceremonial rooms, and religious buildings.
English Civil War : A series of conflicts in England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1642 to 1651 over monarchy, Parliament, and religion. Parliamentarian forces occupied the castle, which became a military headquarters and prison.
Buckingham Palace : The monarch’s principal official residence in London and a major venue for state occasions. Unlike London’s central palace, Windsor combines royal residence with a fortified historic setting.
Norman architecture : The architectural style developed in England after the Norman Conquest, marked by massive walls and rounded arches. Its defensive forms shaped the castle’s earliest stone structures.
State Apartments : Formal rooms in a royal or aristocratic residence used for official ceremonies and entertaining. These rooms host state occasions and display the Royal Collection at Windsor.
Siege of Windsor Castle : A short siege of Windsor Castle by rebel barons in 1216 during the First Barons' War. The siege tested the fortress’s defenses during a revolt against King John.
Palace of Holyroodhouse : The British monarch’s official residence in Edinburgh, Scotland. It serves a regional royal role in Scotland rather than Windsor’s long-standing English residence.
Henry II of England : King of England from 1154 to 1189, whose reign strengthened royal administration and authority. He replaced much of Windsor’s original timber fortification with stone.
St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle : A Gothic chapel within Windsor Castle, serving as a royal chapel and the home of the Order of the Garter. It provides a site for worship, investitures, and royal burials inside the castle.
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