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An '''advanced work''', '''advance-work''' or '''advanced outwork''' is a [[fortification]] or [[outwork]] in front of the main defensive building<ref>Curl, James Stevens (2006). ''Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture'', 2nd ed., OUP, Oxford and New York, p. 8. {{ISBN|978-0-19-860678-9}}.</ref> or [[castle]].<ref>[http://www.geoin.de/denk/seiten/historisches/fortguertel.html ''Der Fortgürtel der Festung Ingolstadt ist einmalig.''] retrieved 27 October 2015</ref>

In the [[Middle Ages]] in the [[Holy Roman Empire]], advanced works, known as '''''Vorwerke''''' (singular: ''Vorwerk''), were commonly found in smaller villages that were located in front of the main castle. Within these advanced works often lived relatives of the [[knight]]ly family whose ancestral seat was in the castle itself. As a result, the advanced works became [[manor house]]s and were known locally as ''[[schloss]]es''. They were suitable for defending against minor attacks and offered the village population a degree of protection. In the case of major attacks they also acted as an [[early warning system]] for the castle. Because the advanced works were supposed to function autonomously, a link with agricultural estates was possible, such estates then became granges or ''vorwerkenden Gutshöfen''. Later they also took over administrative tasks. Over the course of time these advanced works detached themselves from the castle and became independent estates.

==See also==
* [[Folwark]]
* [[List of established military terms]]

== References ==
<references />

{{Fortifications}}

[[Category:Castle architecture]]