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
QUESTIONS
What different types of weapons were used for hand to
hand combat?
Which weapons would be the best for attacking a castle
and why?
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 Tower
A 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 trebuchet
This 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 Mangonel
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 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 Ballista
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.
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: HOMEWORK
Week 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