Floor-opening between the supporting corbels of a battlement
Machicolation
Cutaway of a medieval wall. The machicolation is labelled G.
In architecture, a machicolation or machicolade[1]
(French: mâchicoulis) consists of an opening between the supporting corbels of a battlement through which defenders could target attackers who had reached the base of the defensive wall beneath. A smaller related structure that protects only key points of a fortification is called a bretèche. Machicolations, hoardings, bretèches, and murder holes are all similar defensive features serving the same purpose: to enable defenders atop a defensive structure to target attackers below. The design allowed defenders to remain behind cover rather than being exposed by leaning over a parapet. Such features occurred commonly in defensive fortifications until the widespread adoption of gunpowder weapons made them obsolete.
Etymology
The word machicolation derives from Old Frenchmachecol, mentioned in Medieval Latin as machecollum, probably from Old French machier 'crush', 'wound' and col 'neck'.[2] The verb Machicolate is first recorded in English in the 18th century, but machicollāre is attested in Anglo-Latin.[3][page needed]
The oldest known buildings with machicolation are Ancient Roman fortifications of the Limes Arabicus dating from the 4th century AD.[4] The design was brought to Europe from the Levant following the crusades and became especially prevalent in Southern Europe.
Machicolations were more common in French castles than English, where they are usually restricted to the gateway, as in the 13th-century Conwy Castle.[5] Within France, machicolation is more common on southern castles. One of the oldest extant examples of machicolation in northern France is at Château de Farcheville which was built from 1290 to 1304.[6]
