Maiden Castle

Read more of Maiden Castle online

Maiden Castle is a hill fort, mostly dating from the Iron Age, situated 2 miles south of Dorchester, in Dorset, England. The earthworks are up to 6 m high, and enclose an area of 18 ha, making it one of the largest hill forts in Europe. The name maiden is believed to derive from the Brythonic mai dun, meaning great hill. 'Castle' is a common English folk name for prehistoric earthwork sites, referring to the defensive banks and ditches. There is no 'castle' as such on the site.

Excavations at the site have dated construction of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure back to around 4000 BC. An extensive bank and ditch as well as a bank barrow burial mound are evident from this period at the eastern end.

However most of the works at the site date from around 450 to 300 BC, when an earlier Iron Age hillfort dating to c. 600 BC was extended and enlarged with three new ditch-and-bank earthworks built creating the main fortifications in a set of three concentric rings with offset entrance points.

Centuries after its construction the fort was probably occupied by the Durotriges, a Celtic tribe at the time of the Roman invasion. The site may have been attacked and invested by the 2nd Legion under Vespasian in AD 43. The Romans occupied the site but concentrated their efforts in the area around Durnovaria (now Dorchester) and the nearby Poundbury Hill. There was some Roman construction at the site, including a small temple built around AD 400.

Though never a site of great import to the Roman government or army Maiden Castle did serve as a strongpoint for a group who called themselves the Brothers of the Eagle. This militant group sought threats to the People as a whole and was made up of Uratha from all of the Tribes of the Moon, as well as Ghost Wolves and even Wolfblooded kin. Named the Brothers of the Eagle (or Eagle Warriors) after the Romans with whom they came for many years they sought and destroyed nests of Beshilu, gathered in numbers to face down the Pure tribes time and again and brought a semblance of peace and community to Southern England.

As their influence spread further and further it is said the Maeljin took notice and sought to destroy them. Whilst they were not able to do so successfully a Bale Hound infiltrator was able to sew discord and suspicion within Maiden Castle and within the higher reaches of the Eagle Warriors, so much so that when the Castle was besieged Naill Spear-of-the-Sun did not lead his force back to aid it and instead carried the spears to destroy a Wound and the foul Maeltinet within.

When they returned there was nothing living upon the Castle, and many of the kin were vanished.

Traditions

Sacred - To those who call themselves Eagle Warriors and believe in the Brotherhood Maiden Castle is an object lesson of suspicion and foulness. Many new initiates journey here to see the place which was the first stronghold of their brotherhood; some Cahalith have dreamt of its death after a night spent upon the Castle. To the Meninna of the Eagle Warriors it is often held to be especially sacred - more than one has dreamt of restablishing it for the Brotherhood of the Eagle.

Meetings - When the Eagle Warriors feel a need to meet to discuss affairs they often choose Maiden Castle to do so.

Families - The Napper family of Dorset have a remarkable number of Changed within their line, many of whom have followed the call of Fenris-Ur or Hikaon-Ur. Being raised on tall tales of great heroes and warriors of the Eagles many of them have chosen to become Eagle Warriors. If you would like your character to be related to or part of this family please contact storyteller@forsaken.camarilla.org.uk

ANST Desktop ~ Enemies ~ Events ~ Places ~ Resources ~ the Spirit Courts ~ Tales ~ Venue Style Sheets ~ Who's Who

Edit this page