Leeds castle

Leeds Castle - a kind of military fortification in the XIV. It arose in those troubled years, when the onslaught of the Crusaders in the Belarusian and Lithuanian lands reached a maximum strength. Together with the Lithuanians and Ukrainians population of Belarus bravely fought with the enemy. Especially attracted invaders Ponemanya rich land.

To close the knights of the road into the land of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Prince Gediminas in 1323 ordered to lay a stone castle in Lida. The new combat outpost prinemanskih land built about five years.

Withstand the onslaught of the Crusaders could then only those fortifications, which take account of the siege tactics of the troops, armed with high-grade military equipment because of time. In the XII-XIV century. in Northern Europe and Baltic countries has spread the special type of lock-Castel. The basis of their power were high stone walls in the form of a quadrangle, which was placed under the protection of the garrison and lived. Especially a lot of Castel built the Livonian Knights in the occupied lands of the Baltic states. Small in size, these fortifications were invaders database, point of collection of tribute from conquered peoples, the place of markets.

Architects of Leeds Castle, based on the type of chivalry Castel, creatively approached the solving of complex problems. On the basis of local building traditions, they have created a powerful structure that is suitable for reliable protection. Within its walls is now able to find shelter residents, not only the city but also the neighboring villages.

The builders used the terrain well, choosing to lock the swampy lowlands, where a river flowed into the river Kamenka Lideyu. On an artificial island, pour out of the sand and gravel, and was erected this building. The walls of the castle of Leeds in terms reminiscent of a trapezoid, a large base of which looks to the north, to where most threatening danger of war. Prior to the northern wall (the length of about 93.5 m) lay deep and broad moat, which is apparently filled with water. North wall (length 80 m) covered marshy banks and Lidei heaters. The length of the western and eastern walls - respectively 84 and 83.5 m

Near the northeast corner of the castle walls cut through the thickness of the eastern two inputs. Smaller gate ("fortka") with a width of 2.5 m and the passage of a height of 3 m had a lancet arch, lined with brick bolypemernym. The second (approximately 4.5 m wide and about 6 m in height) Arched ended.

Smaller gates were like "black" everyday entrance. Large well opened only for the solemn entry of the Prince or noble guests.

In the south wall of the castle, at an altitude of about 2 m from the ground, was a semicircular opening height of 3.9 m and a width of about 2 m seems that it was an escape route for the garrison at critical moments in defense.

The southern wall is also interesting that there remain to this day the ancient battlements. They are tubeless and in terms of the shape of trapezoids have addressed a broad base inside the castle courtyard. At the same height loopholes have different widths and three of type were alternated on the wall. The loopholes were intended to be fired from bows and crossbows, and later - from handguns. Along the perimeter of the castle walls, below the battlements, there was a wooden gallery - the platform ("vulitsa"), arranged on the cantilever beams. Rose to the platform with a handrail on the stairs, which were located in the northwest and southeast corners of the castle.

Battle gallery covered with reinforced roof, which had a ramp to the side yard. Simultaneously with the walls in the south-west corner tower of the castle was built in the plan is close to the square of the size 11,3 X11, 3 m thickness of its walls reached a height of 3 m, was apparently much higher than the 12-meter high castle walls.

There is evidence that it is in this tower was the Orthodox Church of St. George, here made by the city in 1533

The second tower was located on a diagonal from the first, in the north-east corner of the courtyard. It was built later, probably in the 80 years of the XIV century. or at the turn of the XIV and XV centuries. when everywhere in Belarus and Lithuania improved defenses for a decisive rebuff to the Crusaders. Plan Lida second tower - a versatile skewed rectangle the size of 12X12, 5X12, 3X12, 15 m

Archaeological and written sources indicate that on all floors were apartments and rooms: on the ground, covered kripichnym vault, a prison, above - and the court file. Premises occupied the upper floors. Stairway to lift situated in the wall.

Accommodation Castle on the swampy lowlands largely removed the problem of water supply. In the course of archaeological excavations in the castle courtyard found several medieval pits. Considerable importance was the large pond on the Lidee and Kamenka, who closed the direct approaches from the east and southeast sides.

Over the centuries of its existence and its Lida Castle neodnazhdy repulsed the attacks of enemies. After the death of Gediminas, when Lida became the capital of Prince Olgerd inheritance, and then his son Jogaila, between the princes began a long feud over the throne. This discord used by crusaders. In 1384, after a long siege and storming of the castle they captured. In December of 1392 units of knights, led by Commander Ian Rumpengaymom, Konrad Liechtenstein and their ally Duke Vytautas crossed near the town of Alytus through the Neman and fettered by frost marshes came to the walls of the castle Lead-ray. Together with them, look for happiness robber dragged and English knights, who led the young Earl of Northumberland PA.

The enemy is "lit Pidzamche" and robbing the city, laid siege to the castle. Prince Dmitry Koribut, who led his defense was strong enough, but, frightened by the knights, decided to leave the castle. Waiting until the night he went to the garrison to the side Novogrudok. Knights got a large number of weapons and ammunition.

In winter 1394 the Crusaders attacked again on the Lido. And again on the march was attended by English knights led by the Earl of Bedford, as well as the French squad. But this time, the invaders could not profit from anything: the people themselves burned their homes and locked in the castle, bravely repulsed all enemy assaults. From 1396 to 1399 he lived at Leeds Castle expelled from the Golden Horde Khan Toqtamish: Duke Vytautas gave him refuge there, hoping to help him regain the throne, and then use Tokhtamysh in the fight against Muscovy. However, at the Battle of Vytautas Vorskla militia troops were killed loser rival Khan.

August 5, 1406 Lida appeared under the walls of Smolensk Prince George teams Svyatoslavovich. He went to rescue his family from captivity, which a year earlier Vytautas polonium, capturing Smolensk. After several unsuccessful assaults lifted the siege of Smolensk. Do not succumb to the castle and the prince Svidrigajlo (1433g.), who waged a long war with Zigimont.

From 1434 to 1443 the castle became a haven for another exiled Khan Devlet-Hajji Giray. However, his fate was happier than Tokhtamysh: through the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, he became Khan of the Tatars Perekop.

After a long lull in the war in 1506 came under the walls of one of the pens Lida Crimean Tatars, but the risk to storm the castle, he did not dare.

Lida consisted of Medieval castle, the prince's court, the city proper with Pidzamche and Districts. Prince's court, or the castle farm, as it is often called in the XVIII century., Was placed over the little river Kamenka, in the north-west of the castle. Beside him was a mill, distillery, and various other farm buildings.

"The Place" was on the north of the castle. Its historic center was considered the market, which runs a total of four streets: Wilensky - in the direction of Vilna, the Castle - the castle, Kamensky - to Kamenka and further along the road to Vasilishki and Ostrin and Curve Street, which connected Kamensky street to the market. The district at that time was small - only a few dozen huts. His defenses town Lida did not.

During the long Russian-Polish war of the mid-XVII century. stone walls and towers of the castle of Leeds have felt the full force of the then recent siege equipment. After a long siege and shelling in the summer of 1659 30000th army commanders Khovansky Nikita took the castle by storm. Badly damaged, he was completely destroyed in the 1702g. When one of the Swedish troops blew his tower. While the strategic importance the castle had been. A period of desolation and destruction of the old building, which was last used as intended rebel detachment T. Kosciuszko in 1794

At the end of the XIX century. enterprising local businessmen began to break down castle walls and let the brick and stone for sale. However, after strong protests by Lida antiquarian managed to stop the vandalism.

At the beginning of this century, the Imperial Archaeological Commission has allocated 946 rubles. to carry out conservation work on the Leeds Castle, but made it a bit: the lock part measurement, zafotografirova-tower and a wall and dismantled unsafe place of masonry.

In the 20 years of conservation work carried out partial Polish restorers. In the 80 years of restoration of the BSSR Ministry of Culture restored the completion of the walls and the north-east tower, which will house the Museum of the city of Lida.