MedievalMedieval SiegeSiege TacticsTactics

By: Morgan MillerBy: Morgan Miller

Offensive Tactics Tactics is the art of commanding an army and are the most Tactics is the art of commanding an army and are the most

essential part of a battle:essential part of a battle: Blockade : surround the castle and cut off supplies.Blockade : surround the castle and cut off supplies. Escalade: direct attack employing Siege Engines and Artillery Escalade: direct attack employing Siege Engines and Artillery

Bombardment Bombardment Breaching the Walls: breaking down the castle wallsBreaching the Walls: breaking down the castle walls Mining: also used to breach castle wallsMining: also used to breach castle walls Trickery: deception to gain entryTrickery: deception to gain entry Retreat: used when the Retreat: used when the attackers were losingattackers were losing

BlockadesBlockades The first option of attack on a castle was a The first option of attack on a castle was a

Blockade.Blockade. This technique was the most widely used and This technique was the most widely used and

made it so the castle would starve.made it so the castle would starve. It was done by surrounding the castle and not It was done by surrounding the castle and not

letting any reinforcements or food supplies reach letting any reinforcements or food supplies reach the castle.the castle.

The castle would also fall if disease spread In the The castle would also fall if disease spread In the castle.castle.

To create disease the attackers would throw dead To create disease the attackers would throw dead animals or prisoners over the walls.animals or prisoners over the walls.

Escalade Escalade An escalade was a direct attack on the castle.An escalade was a direct attack on the castle. The attackers would use ladders to go over the walls The attackers would use ladders to go over the walls

but the defenders would try to push them off.but the defenders would try to push them off. They would also use Siege Engines to try to knock They would also use Siege Engines to try to knock

down the walls.down the walls. This was very dangerous because the defenders This was very dangerous because the defenders

would shoot arrows or throw boiling water on the would shoot arrows or throw boiling water on the attackers.attackers.

The attackers would also use giant catapults to try to The attackers would also use giant catapults to try to kill the defenders.kill the defenders.

They used battering rams to try to knock down the They used battering rams to try to knock down the castle wall.castle wall.

The attackers threw flaming things into the castle to The attackers threw flaming things into the castle to try to set fire to it.try to set fire to it.

Siege EnginesSiege Engines Siege engines were large pieces of machinery Siege engines were large pieces of machinery

used to destroy a castle.used to destroy a castle. These were very lethal weapons.These were very lethal weapons. They were very large and not easy to move.They were very large and not easy to move. They were usually built on site before a battle.They were usually built on site before a battle. A siege engine would throw large pieces of stone A siege engine would throw large pieces of stone

at the castle.at the castle. One engine would One engine would

take at least threetake at least three

men to fire.men to fire.

Artillery Bombardment Artillery Bombardment Artillery was used to break the castle walls.Artillery was used to break the castle walls. They were very big pieces of machinery.They were very big pieces of machinery. The most common was a trebuchet or catapult.The most common was a trebuchet or catapult. These flung large rocks at the castle.These flung large rocks at the castle. They also threw flaming pieces of wood to try to They also threw flaming pieces of wood to try to

start fires.start fires. Sometimes they even threw dead bodies over the Sometimes they even threw dead bodies over the

walls to try to spread disease.walls to try to spread disease.

Breaching the WallsBreaching the Walls To breach a wall the attackers would use an iron tipped To breach a wall the attackers would use an iron tipped

battering ram to knock away the masonry.battering ram to knock away the masonry. This was very dangerous.This was very dangerous. The defenders would throw rocks, arrows and other The defenders would throw rocks, arrows and other

things at the attackers.things at the attackers. They built thick wooden roofs to protect themselves.They built thick wooden roofs to protect themselves. The defenders would also throw flaming objects on them.The defenders would also throw flaming objects on them. The attackers stretched wet cow hides to protect from fires.The attackers stretched wet cow hides to protect from fires. The attackers would also pick away at the mortar to loosen The attackers would also pick away at the mortar to loosen

the stone so it would be the stone so it would be

easier to break away.easier to break away.

MiningMining Mining was used to collapse a wall.Mining was used to collapse a wall. The tunnel was dug from the besiegers lines to The tunnel was dug from the besiegers lines to

the enemies walls and then dug latterly.the enemies walls and then dug latterly. This took a long time but it was an easy way to This took a long time but it was an easy way to

break a wall.break a wall. After it was dug the tunnel was filled with After it was dug the tunnel was filled with

combustible materials .combustible materials . Since it was supported by wood, the tunnel would Since it was supported by wood, the tunnel would

collapse, taking the wall with it.collapse, taking the wall with it. This created the desired breach.This created the desired breach.

TrickeryTrickery This technique was often used to try and gain This technique was often used to try and gain

access to the castle without using brute force.access to the castle without using brute force. The attackers would often disguise themselves The attackers would often disguise themselves

as messengers or peasants.as messengers or peasants. Another way to gain the defender’s trust was to Another way to gain the defender’s trust was to

say you had information on the attackers plans.say you had information on the attackers plans. But this usually didn’t work because the castle But this usually didn’t work because the castle

would get too suspicious and probably end up would get too suspicious and probably end up killing them.killing them.

If it did work, when the castle opened the doors, If it did work, when the castle opened the doors, the attackers would rush in.the attackers would rush in.

RetreatRetreat This option was rarely used .This option was rarely used . This meant that the attacking force would back away This meant that the attacking force would back away

from the defending castle.from the defending castle. Retreat usually happened only when a reinforcement Retreat usually happened only when a reinforcement

group came to help the defending castle.group came to help the defending castle. The retreats usually happened quickly .The retreats usually happened quickly . The attackers left most of their heavy artillery behind The attackers left most of their heavy artillery behind

so they could move quicker.so they could move quicker. They would also retreat if They would also retreat if

disease spread through disease spread through

their campstheir camps

Defensive TacticsDefensive Tactics A castle was usually defended by A castle was usually defended by

throwing rocks, shooting arrows and throwing rocks, shooting arrows and pouring boiling water or tar on the pouring boiling water or tar on the attackers.attackers.

They would also stockpile large amounts They would also stockpile large amounts of food so they would not starve during a of food so they would not starve during a blockade.blockade.

There were also large moats and walls There were also large moats and walls surrounding the castle.surrounding the castle.

The castle was usually built very well The castle was usually built very well because it cost so much to build.because it cost so much to build.

Most of they time the castle did not fall to Most of they time the castle did not fall to the attackers.the attackers.

BibliographyBibliography World History, medieval and early modern time/ World History, medieval and early modern time/

McDougal little McDougal little Siege Warfare, The art of Offense and Defense, Siege Warfare, The art of Offense and Defense,

By Stephen Francis WylyeBy Stephen Francis Wylye The History of Castles: Fortifications Around the The History of Castles: Fortifications Around the

World, By Christopher GravattWorld, By Christopher Gravatt Castle ~ Christopher GravattCastle ~ Christopher Gravatt World History, Medieval and Early Modern Time, World History, Medieval and Early Modern Time,

By: McDougal LittellBy: McDougal Littell

Prepare for the Prepare for the Quiz Quiz

QuizQuiz

1.1. A blockade make it so a castle would starve or A blockade make it so a castle would starve or become disease infected.become disease infected.

2.2. It safe to try a direct assault on a castle.It safe to try a direct assault on a castle.

3.3. A battering ram had an iron tipped point.A battering ram had an iron tipped point.

4.4. Siege engines easy to move.Siege engines easy to move.

5.5. Was another name for a catapult a trebuchet?Was another name for a catapult a trebuchet?

6.6. It took a short time to mine under a castle wall.It took a short time to mine under a castle wall.

7.7. Trickery worked every time it was tried.Trickery worked every time it was tried.

8.8. The option of retreat was used often.The option of retreat was used often.

9.9. Most castles were built very poorly.Most castles were built very poorly.

10.10. The walls and moats around a castle were very big.The walls and moats around a castle were very big.

Quiz answersQuiz answers

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

3.3. TrueTrue

4.4. FalseFalse

5.5. TrueTrue

6.6. FalseFalse

7.7. FalseFalse

8.8. FalseFalse

9.9. FalseFalse

10.10. TrueTrue