Because of long distances and difficult communications, it was hard for the King to control his country. Therefore, he had castles erected in order to be able to govern his kingdom efficiently. At every Royal castle, there was a bailiff who maintained the order in the region. He made sure that the peasants paid their taxes and saw to it that no uprising was underway. The Bailiff could order his soldiers to keep rebels in check. In this way, the King could supervise his whole realm.
The castles were strongly fortified, and built as defences against enemy attacks. The knights and soldiers used it as a base from which they could go off to battle and retreat safely when necessary. The castles were constructed in a way that made it possible for a small number of soldiers to defend them as long as there was enough food and water. The arms and armours were inspected once a year by the Bailiff.
The castle was often built near a trade route or a town. The most important castles were those in the border districts, where there often were wars and battles.
The King travelled from castle to castle to make sure that all was well. At the same time, he did his duties as Supreme Judge, passing judgement where there were difficult conflicts or where severe crimes had been committed. He was accompanied by his court. When such a royal visit took place, the peasants had to pay extra taxes. They then had to bring food to the castles.