 UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
 Castle Quest
 School Projects
 Attacking/Defending a castle
|
| next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: Attacking/Defending a castle |
|
idontknow888 Member |
posted 01-10-2000 03:04 PM
 
I'm 13 years old and I need to know as much as possible (in detail) that there is to know about attacking a castle and defending a castle. How were castles built (in the way of strategy)? |
|
wurdsmiff unregistered |
posted 01-10-2000 04:00 PM
Castles were specifically built with defence in mind. They were built to make things as difficult as possible for the attacker, hence the approaches were guarded by moats, diches, and crossing these was only permitted by the lowering of the drawbridge by the defenders. the gate itself would be closed by an iron gate known as a yett, or a larger portcullis. If the attackers managed to get to the bottom of the wall, an overhanging parapet with slots known as machicolations allowed objects to be dropped upon them through the parapet. It was often the aim of the attacking force to mine though, or under the wall. So the defence of it's base was very important, and explains one reason why the walls were so thick, even before the days of gunpowder and cannon, which made thick walls essential to last under bombardment. Thick walls also lasted longer when bombarded by large stone and the like fired by early machines like mangonels, really big catapults. The walls would also be perforated at strategic points by arrow slots or gunloops, all strategically placed to allow covering fire to protect the wall. Other than through or under the wall the only way in was over it. Large siege engines, like oversized ladders could be brought to the wall to provide a platform from which attackers could attack at an equal level the defenders on the parapet. Often several of these could be used at a time and so divide the defending force, who would be forced into hand to hand combat with those aboard, rather than keep them at a distance. Once a foothold was gained on the parapet, more men could push their way onto it and increase the fighting force available. Back to the ditches, and often there were a series of these. At Tantallon in the Lothians in Scotland, these were complemented by a sereis of embankments, all designed to keep the cannon of the enemy too far from the walls to do any harm. Tantallon did fall to cannon on one occasion, and the attackers did this by filling in one ditch at a time by night, to gradually ease the cannon within range. Of course if defence of the outer wall failed, the defenders would retire to the keep, and defend that. In the end many attacks had to resort to siege, isolating the castle from supplies of food and water in attempt to starve the defenders into submission. often this took weeks, and the best defense against this was to have a well within the castle which could not be polluted by the attack force, and to have a large store of supplies within the castle. in smaller tower houses and keeps, fire was a threat, and so the lower floors would have stone ceilings to prevent it spreading upwards. Many castles also had stone roofs to prevent attack by fire. Another way around this was to light large fires around the base of the tower, and use the prevailing wind to infiltrate the castle with smoke, and force the defenders to come out for air. A necessarily brief explanation of some aspects of your question. This is a subject that whole books are written about. No doubt further data will be supplied. Try going through some of the links at the bottom of the page to find appropriate websites. ------------------ Gordon. |
|
Philip Davis unregistered |
posted 01-11-2000 12:03 PM
Strategy really refers to the overall conduct of a campaign or war. The strategic role of castles was to draw parts of an invading force off and to slow their progess down. An invading army couldn't bypass a castle that controlled the access to its supplies (Food and replacement weapons and horses). So many castles were built where they controlled important roads, fords, bridges and mountain passes. In the time given by the delay in besieging a castle the home forces could be rallied, mercenaries recuited and supplies gathered so that the invading force could be repulsed. In the end many wars just became fights to get hold of these strategically important castles that controlled the supply routes. Actually there was a convention that if a besieged castle wasn't relieved in a certain time it would give in without a fight, since it would have done it's job of slowing the invaders down. A couple more things for you to consider. For a slightly different look at how castle were defenced try Eric Obershaws 'Guide to Japanese castles at http://www.digimad.com/obershaw/castle/index.html ------------------ |
|
wurdsmiff unregistered |
posted 01-11-2000 03:09 PM
The need not to leave occupied sites behind you is certainly a relevant point, and possibly one reason why for the most part the English and Scots resorted to simple raiding cross border, rather than the full scale invasions the English had instituted in the 14th century. However a contrary point should also be made, and that is that the capture of a castle intact, and left with a garrison leaves you with a secure rear and foothold incase the main thrust is repelled. It was to avoid this scenario being repeated that Robert the Bruce had all major strongholds not in the west highlands rendered indefensible, with the exception of the Royal Castles of Berwick and Dumbarton. In the case of Berwick this was to delay and provoke siege tactics as you say, whilst a relieving force could be brought south, and the case of Dumbarton remains a mystery. It could be conjectured that the latter was saved because The Bruce built his comfortable and unfortified manororium/retirement home at Cardross, a stones throw from the castle, and it made a secure bolt hole. But there are good arguments against this. It is more likely that it was saved simply to provide accomodation for the courtiers who attended him at Cardross. ------------------ Gordon. |
All times are PT (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
  |
|
Contact Us | Castles on the Web
Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Version 5.40
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 1999.
