In 1383, the Davensberg branch of the noble lords of Büren acquired a newly constructed castle from Archbishop Friedrich of Cologne as a fief. It was intended as an outpost in the Almetal and was to be jointly owned by the Davensberg and Cologne Archbishop.
In 1394, the Davensbergs pawned the castle to Johann von Scharfenberg, a branch of the Padberg family. Concurrently, the noble lords of Büren pawned their half of the castle and town of Alme to Hermann von Padberg. The redemption of the Ringelstein castle took place in 1399 by Berthold von Büren.
While often suggested to defend against the Padbergs, there is no evidence linking the pawning and redemption of Ringelstein and Alme castles for this purpose.
In 1458, the castle was granted as a fief to the Landgrave of Hesse. During the Thirty Years' War, Ringelstein became a venue for witch trials, with a judicial site and torture facilities. In 1631, 55 people were convicted and executed as witches within 30 days. After 1802, Ringelstein declined in significance and fell into ruin.
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.