“The successful conduct of a siege required a complex array of skills, including the ability to build and operate siege engines, to maintain the supply lines of the army, and to manage the morale of the troops.”
Michael Prestwich, Professor of History at Durham University, author of “Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience.”
Siege engines and weapons were critical to the success of a medieval siege. These included catapults, trebuchets, battering rams, and siege towers. Skilled workers such as carpenters and blacksmiths were needed to construct these weapons and keep them in working order throughout the siege.
Trenches and tunnels were used to undermine the walls of the castle or city being besieged. Workers would dig deep trenches around the perimeter of the castle, making it difficult for anyone inside to escape or receive reinforcements.
They would also dig tunnels under the walls, which could be collapsed to create breaches.
“The medieval siege was a carefully choreographed dance between attacker and defender, each seeking to outmaneuver the other.”
Kelly DeVries, Professor of History at Loyola University Maryland, author of “Medieval Military Technology.”
One of the most effective methods of a medieval siege was to blockade the castle or city and starve the inhabitants into submission. This required a team of soldiers to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the area being besieged.
This tactic was often used in combination with other methods to weaken the defenders and force them to surrender.
Siege towers and battering rams were used to breach the walls of the castle or city being besieged. These were large, mobile structures that could be pushed up against the walls, allowing attackers to climb over and enter the castle.
They were typically constructed by skilled workers such as carpenters and engineers.
Sometimes a siege would end in negotiation and surrender. This could occur if the attackers were unable to breach the walls or if the defenders were running low on supplies. Negotiators were often skilled diplomats who could find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Overall, the planning and execution of a medieval siege required a team of skilled professionals and tradesmen. Siege engines and weapons needed to be constructed and maintained, trenches and tunnels needed to be dug, and negotiations needed to be handled carefully.
The success of a siege often depended on the skill and expertise of these individuals.