Romanesque Architecture Vocabulary

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering Romanesque architectural terms, historical figures, and fortification elements based on the lecture notes.

Romanesque

A style of architecture that grew up in Western Europe after the decline of the Roman Empire, described as a combination of Roman and Byzantine styles, but basically Roman in character.

Feudalism

A military and political system based on personal loyalty between vassals and lieges, which led to the establishment of the Feudal System where landlords built castles for protection.

Charlemagne

The first Frankish King elected as Holy Roman Emperor in $A.D.\,799$, marking the beginning of a new era after the end of the Western Roman Empire in $A.D.\,475$.

Rib & Panel Vaulting

An architectural framework where a system of ribs supports thin stone panels.

Quadripartite

A type of vaulting that is divided into four parts.

Sexpartite

A type of vaulting that is divided into six parts.

Corbelled Arches

Arches found underneath the eaves of a church, typical of Romanesque architectural features.

Dioti Salvi

The designer of the Baptistery in Pisa, which features a circular plan with a diameter of $39.3\,m$.

Nicola Pisano

The artist who carved the magnificent pulpit inside the Pisa Baptistery.

Bonanno Pisano

The architect of the Campanile in Pisa, which is a circular structure $52\,\text{feet}$ in diameter.

Motte

A steep mound of earth surrounded by a ditch and surmounted by a timber stockade and tower.

Bailey

The outer wall of a castle or the courtyard enclosed by it.

Palisade

A fence of pales set firmly in the ground for enclosure or defense.

Fortification

A defensive military work constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position.

Bastion

A projecting part of a rampart or other fortification, typically forming an irregular pentagon attached at the base to the main work.

Ravelin

A V-shaped outwork outside the main ditch of a fortress, covering the works between two bastions.

Sally port

A gateway in a fortification permitting a large number of troops to move rapidly from the besieged position and attack the besiegers.

Casemate

A vault or chamber in a rampart, having embrasures for artillery.

Glacis

A slope extending downward in front of a fortification that brings advancing enemy soldiers into the most direct line of fire.

Escarp

The inner slope or wall of the ditch surrounding a rampart, also called a scarp.

Counterscarp

The exterior slope or wall of the ditch surrounding a rampart.

Parapet

A defensive wall or elevation of earth or stone protecting soldiers from enemy fire.

Cordon

A projecting course of stones below the parapet of a rampart.

Berm

A ledge between the exterior slopes of a rampart and the moat of a fortification.

Citadel

A fortress in a commanding position in or near a city, used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.

Keep

The innermost and strongest structure or tower of a medieval castle used as a place of residence, also called a donjon.

Merlon

One of the solid parts between the crenals of a battlement.

Crenel

Any of the open spaces alternating with the merlons of a battlement.

Embrasure

An opening, loophole, or crenel through which missiles may be discharged.

Bema

A transverse open space separating the nave and the apse, which later developed into the transept of cruciform churches.

Nave

The principal or central part of a church, extending from the narthex to the choir or chancel.

Narthex

The portico before the nave of an early Christian or Byzantine church, appropriated for penitents.

Campanile

A bell tower, usually one near but not attached to the body of a church.

Wheel window

A rose window having distinctly radiating mullions or bars.

Tympanum

The space between an arch and the horizontal head of a door or window below, often decorated with sculpture.

Chevet

The rounded east end of a Gothic cathedral, including the apse and ambulatory.

Apse

A semi-circular or polygonal projection of a building, usually vaulted and used at the sanctuary or east end of a church.

Cathedral

The principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's throne called the cathedra.