Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Castles (Strategies for Attack & Defense (To provide a base where men,…
Castles
Strategies for Attack & Defense
To provide a base where men, provisions and horses could be housed
To overawe and frighten indigenous people
To act as a fortified post from which an attack could be launched or a strong defence could be made
Use fire when attacking. Burn down guards and houses in the castle.
Defending a castle
William the Conquerer
Over 1000 motte and bailey castles were built in England when William ruled
It only took a few weeks to build a motte and bailey castle
When William invaded he brought a simple but effective castle - The motte and bailey castle
Defences in the castle
Archers were stationed up on the walls
Knights patrolled the castle on horses
There were booby traps
Guards protected gates
The portcullis was a metal gate that was difficult to open when dropped
Machicolations were holes in the castle where an archer could fire from but not be fired at
Where to build a good defensive castle
They often overlooked towns
They overlooked harbours and ports
They often adjoined rivers
They were built on the highest ground in the area
They made use of existing sites of Roman or Saxon forts and Burhs
Attacking a castle
How to take control over a motte and bailey castle
Storm the gate
Negotiate the defence systems and forces within the bailey
Negotiate the outer ditch and embankment
Climb or crawl up the embankment of the Motte - these were extremely steep and designed so that a horse could not climb - attack had to be on foot.
Constant attack from projectiles
Attack and take the gate of the motte
Storm and capture the Tower
Weapons used in the siege
Trebuchets were used to launch larger projectiles over the wall eg infected animals, incendiary bombs and boulders.
Battle rams were used to knock down the gates
Siege towers were used to get over the drawbridge and climb over the wall
Bows and arrows were used to fire projectiles over the walls
Ballistas were used to fire arrows
The problems the Saxons had when attacking the motte and bailey castle
They didn't have bows and arrows it was the normans who invented those
They had never seen something like this before
The saxons didn't have siege weapons (siege towers, battle rams etc).