What is the best way to attack a castle?

L/O:

To be able to examine the different type of weapons used to attack castles!

To use sources in order to answer questions

To able to evaluate these methods

What different types of weapons were used for hand to hand combat?

Which weapons would be the best for attacking a castle and why?

QUESTIONS

Fire was a popular choice of weapon. WHY?

I think fire was a popular choice because

Describe how stones and fire could be used as weapons when attacking or defending a castle.

I think stones could be used to defend a castle because . .

I think stone could be used to attack . .

I think fire could be used to attack a castle because . . .

I think fire could be used to defend a castle because . . .

                                    

         

SCALING LADDERS

Scaling ladders were used to climb over castle walls.

They had to be as high as the wall.

They had hooks to grip onto the battlements.

The idea was to climb the ladder before the enemy inside the castle could unhook it.

If lots of people scaled the walls at the same time they stood a good chance of not being knocked back down again.

However this could be very dangerous.

(In 1346 during the siege of Caen an English knight called Sir Edmund Springhouse slipped off a scaling ladder and fell into the ditch below. The French threw burning straw over him and roasted him alive.)

The besieging army were already prepared for battle. They raced forward from the camp and advanced against the city with scaling ladders. A most bitter hand to hand struggle took place on the wall. Weapons and bodies came into violent contact. Much blood was shed on either side. At length those who had proudly climbed the walls were thrust headlong down again.

An account of the Siege of Rouen in 1194 from the History of King Louis written in 1230.

In your own words describe :

How a scaling ladder would have been used when attacking a castle.

What were the problems with using a scaling ladder?

(Can you use the source to help you to answer these questions?)

The Siege TowerA belfry or siege tower could be used in more than one way.

Some were kept away from the walls and used to give a better shooting position into the castle.

Others on wheels, could be lowered on to the castle wall so that attackers would not have to climb scaling ladders.

A siege Tower

Siege towers or belfries were often placed on wheels so that they could be rolled up to the walls of the castle .

They were often covered in wet furs so that they could not be set alight and the soldiers would be protected from objects falling from above.

Write a paragraph explaining how a siege tower was used.

What were the advantages of using a siege tower?

If you were in a castle being attacked using a siege tower what would you do to defend yourself?

Overall how effective do you think it would have been?

A trebuchetThis weapon could be different sizes and could throw anything at a high angle, ranging from 40 to 150 kg.

The heavy items could be thrown against walls and break them down.

                                 

        

The trebuchet

The catapult, also known as the mangonel. When the spring was let go the arm would spring up into a vertical position and launch the item

                                                                    

    

The Mangonel

The catapult

The catapult at Caerphilly Castle

Name the two weapons which were used to fling projectiles at the castle walls.

T………………

M………………

What sorts of things could you use as projectiles?

What might be the problem with using these types of weapons?

The next medieval weapon picture is the ballista. This ancient weapon was actually just a giant crossbow capable of firing enormous arrows that could pass through several men at once. It was not very effective, nor used, against walls.

                                                             

     

The Ballista

Describe a ballista and what damage it could do. Was it an effective weapon?

Which weapon would you prefer to use

1.Trebuchet

2.Catapult

3.Ballista

Explain your choice.

How many different types of weapon can you see here? Label them!

Laying siege

If all other methods of attack had failed the attackers would lay siege to the castle.

This meant they would camp around the castle and stop any food from going in.

In the end those in the castle would starve and be forced to surrender.

However a siege took a long time. Most soldiers were only part-timers who had to get back to their jobs on the land.

The crops could not be left in the fields to rot.

If a siege was successful the result could be terrible for those inside the castle.

Meat and drink and other food

In the city began to fail……….

The bread was nearly gone,

And save for horsemeat had they none.

They ate up dogs they ate up cats.

They ate up mice, horses and rats……..

Then to die they did begin

All that rich city within.

They died so fast on every day

That men could not all them in the earth lay.

John Page’s account of the Siege of Rouen in 1418

Explain the term ‘Laying siege’ to a castle.

What effect would this have on the people inside the castle?

Do you think this was an effective way of attacking a castle? Why?

Use the source to help you answer the questions

Battering Ram

    A battering ram was usually built from a single tree trunk. Frequently one end was fitted with a metal head. For example, the Romans were known to use a bronze head in the shape of a ram's. The ram was hung by ropes and chains inside of a wooden frame on wheels. The roof of the frame was covered to protect against boiling oil and fire being thrown from the castle.    

Once ready, the besiegers wheeled the ram towards a gate in which they attempted to batter down.

The defender's best weapon against the ram was fire, but things could go wrong if the fire got out of control and destroyed the gate they were trying to protect.

A ram was usually employed early in a siege, because the defenders often put up further defences behind the gate to protect the castle.

In your own words describe a battering ram and how it was used.

What was the best form of defense against a battering ram?

Seige Mining

Another method of attack was known as siege mining.

The soldiers would dig a tunnel until they reached the castle wall, usually at a corner.

They would then dig a chamber and fill it with dry wood.

When they set light to the wood the chamber would collapse and bring down the wall.

Siege miners had considerable success. Gaillard Castle in France was thought to be the strongest castle in the world, yet most of it was captured by siege mining.

Draw a diagram showing siege mining and how it worked in your books.

Remember to label your diagram.

Castle project continued: HOMEWORKWeek 1: Due 22.1.14

Design your castle! Decide which castle you want to build and create your plan! Describe the best methods for defending your castle. Explain your answers (Try to use at least THREE methods of defending it)

Week 2 Due 29.1.14:

MAKE YOUR CASTLE! You should also add labels to show the defensive qualities your castle has!

Week 3 Due 05.2.14:

Evaluate: How good is your castle? How easy would it be to defend/attack? (consider both sides for level 6) Explain your answer!

A Good project will be 2 pages long and well organised!

An EXCELLENT project will be 3 pages long, organised and well explained!

Levels for castle project

Level 3: Design, build and describe your project

Level 4: Design, build, label and describe your castle in detail

Level 5: Design build, label and explain the reason your have given your castles the features you have

Level 6: Design, build, explain and evaluate the defences used on your castle by explaining how this would be against attack

Level 7: Carry out your own research and compare your castles with others and explain which would be stronger and why