Medieval History Term of the Week: Donjon
Donjon
[duhn-juhn, don-]
Etymology: Middle English dongeon, donjon, from Anglo-French donjun, from Vulgar
The inner stronghold of a castle or keep. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 225).
*The word donjon is obviously where our modern day term of dungeon comes from.
From The Deeds of Bishop Arnald of Le Mans and the Le Mans Commune, 1065-1081:
Thus on a certain Sunday, with the agreement of certain traitors, Geoffrey entered the fortress [donjon] located next to the Cathedral with eighty knights. Geoffrey then began to act hostilely and to strive with all his might for the destruction of the citizens. When his efforts were revealed, the citizens immediately called together the nobles of the whole region and especially Fulk, count of Anjou [Fulk IV Rechin]. These men shut Geoffrey and his men into the donjon and laid siege to it.
**term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
Filed under: Middle Ages History, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on March 19th, 2010
I can see how “donjon” evolved(in English) into “dungeon”.Castles often served as “administrative” centers and those who opposed the local lord or who had committed various actions thought to be crimes were often held in the “donjon”(below or outside the main “administrative” quarters, of course). Your medieval terminology is always interesting. BTW, “donjon” itself derives from Latin “dominium”.
Anne G
Thanks, Anne!