Chemise (wall)

In medieval castles, the chemise (French: "shirt") was typically a low wall encircling the keep, protecting the base of the tower.

Numerous examples exist of highly varied form, including the heavily fortified chemise of Château de Vincennes, or the more modest example at Provins, both in France.

In later fortification, a chemise is a wall lined with a bastion, or any other bulwark of earth, for greater support and strength.

This is not accurate, since the German "Mantelmauer" was renowned for being particularly high rather than the English / French "chemise" which is described here as a "low wall".

An example is Alzenau Castle in Germany, where the "Mantelmauer" is 14 metres (approx.