J Duckworth. History PGCE 2006

How to attack a castle!

Lesson Aim: To understand what methods were used when attacking a castle.

Question: How would you attack a castle?

Destroy the walls?

• You could attempt to break down the walls?

• They were very thick (up to 4 metres) so you would need some very strong weaponry or a clever plan!

Trebuchet

• Would fling rocks at the walls.

• They were very powerful and could cause serious damage to a wall.

• They could be used to shoot things other than rocks!

Battering rams.

• This was mainly used to break down doors.

• It was made of a tree trunk with a metal tip.

• Sometimes they would be covered to protect themselves from the defenders of the castle.

Tunnels.

• Miners would dig under the corners of castle walls to attempt to collapse them.

Over the wall?

• Maybe you could send your attacking army over the walls of the castle .

• Maybe something other than your army could be sent over?

Siege towers.

• A huge tower full of soldiers.

• This was wheeled up to the wall and a drawbridge was let out on top of the castle wall.

• The soldiers would then be able to get inside the castle.

Siege ladders

• These were tall ladders used to climb over the castle wall.

• They would be placed against the wall of the castle and the attackers would rush up them.

• Defenders often pushed the ladders down.

Trebuchet.

• Dead animal and rotting meat would sometimes be fired over the wall to cause disease.

• Sometimes severed heads of soldiers were fired over the walls.

Wait them out.

• Attacking armies would blockade the castle.

• They would wait outside the castle and try to wait for the defenders to starve to death.

• Obviously the defenders would have large food supplies so this could take a very long time!

•What methods of attack are being used in this picture?

Task.

• Write a description of each of these methods of attacking a castle;

• Siege tower and siege ladders.• Trebuchet.• Battering rams.• Tunnels.• Blockade.

Plenary - Attack and Defence: multiple-choice questions