Before delving into specific palaces, it is important to understand the general role royal palaces played in medieval Europe. A palace was the official residence of a monarch or noble and served multiple functions:

• Political and Administrative Center: Royal palaces were hubs where the king and his council governed the realm, issued decrees, and received foreign ambassadors.
   

• Military Headquarters: During wartime, palaces could serve as strategic command posts and fortified refuges.
   

• Cultural and Social Venue: Palaces were sites of court life, feasts, tournaments, and artistic patronage.
   

• Symbol of Royal Authority: Architecturally imposing palaces symbolized the majesty and legitimacy of the monarchy.
   

In the context of the Hundred Years’ War, these roles took on heightened importance. The fluctuating control over territories meant that palaces could shift between English and French hands, and their maintenance, expansion, or destruction mirrored the progress of the war. shutdown123