Table of Contents
What were castle sieges?
What is a siege? A siege is when an enemy surrounds a town, castle or other building so no one can escape and no food can get in. It was very important for the people inside the castle to be prepared. They needed supplies of food and water to live on.
How did castles defend against siege towers?
In order to prevent an enemy getting over the wall the castle builders selected their site with great care so that the terrain would be difficult for a belfry to cross. They then made it more difficult by digging a ditch or moat around the curtain walls in order to prevent the towers getting close to the battlements.
How do you beat a medieval castle?
The main methods of attacking a Medieval Castle were:
- Fire.
- Battering Rams.
- Ladders.
- Catapults.
- Mining.
- Siege.
How did castle sieges work?
Invaders smashed the walls with battering rams and launched heavy stone projectiles and flaming projectiles at and over the walls. They used catapults, trebuchets (heavy sling weapons) and ballistae (large mounted crossbows). Another way to bring down castle walls was to mine under them.
How do battering rams work?
battering ram, ancient and medieval weapon consisting of a heavy timber, typically with a metal knob or point at the front. The ram itself, usually suspended by ropes from the roof of a movable shed, was swung back and forth by its operators against the besieged structure.
Who invented battle RAM?
ancient Assyrians
Pioneered by the ancient Assyrians, battering rams broke the restrictions of hoplite warfare dramatically, making formerly impregnable city walls vulnerable to attack.
How do you defend a castle in medieval warfare?
Medieval Sieges 1 Surround and starve. The invading army surrounded the castle and cut off its supplies of food and water with the hope of starving the defenders. 2 Scale the walls. The invaders would set huge scaling ladders against the castle’s outer curtain wall. 3 Ram the doors. 4 Bring down the walls.
How were sieges resolved in medieval times?
Most sieges were resolved by cutting off supplies to the castle so that inhabitants would eventually run out of food and water while in some cases they would starve to death if there was to be an attitude of “no surrender”. The inhabitants defending the castles would resort to eating anything to survive including cats or rats.
How long did castles sieges last?
Castle sieges were very long drawn out affairs that could last for months or even years as a siege was not a short simple procedure but a tactical strategic operation that took planning and determination.
How could an invading army break through a castle wall?
If an invading army could create a breach in a wall, they could enter the castle in a less defended place. Invaders smashed the walls with battering rams and launched heavy stone projectiles and flaming projectiles at and over the walls.