Stone Keep Castles
Stone keep castles were a type of medieval castle made primarily of stone and designed for defense. They were built to withstand sieges and attacks by enemy forces. The castle usually had a central keep, which was the highest and strongest part of the castle and the last line of defense. The walls were thick and the castle was often surrounded by a moat.
Siege Towers
Siege towers were tall, mobile structures that were used to allow attackers to reach the walls of a stone keep castle. They were typically made of wood and had several levels to allow soldiers to approach the top of the walls. The towers were maneuvered up to the walls and then the soldiers would attempt to storm the castle.
Battering Rams
Battering rams were used to break down the gates or walls of a stone keep castle. They were typically large, heavy objects that were swung back and forth by a group of soldiers until they could break through the walls.
Siege Engines
Siege engines were machines that were used to hurl projectiles at the castle walls. They were typically large, complex machines that required a lot of manpower to operate. The most common types of siege engines were the trebuchet, mangonel, ballistae, and catapults.
Trebuchets
Trebuchets were large machines that used a counterweight to hurl heavy objects at the castle walls. The counterweight was typically a large weight that was lifted up and then dropped, pulling the arm of the trebuchet forward and launching the projectile.
Mangonels
Mangonels were similar to trebuchets but used a different mechanism to launch projectiles. They used a tensioned rope to launch the projectiles, which were typically large stones or other heavy objects.
Ballistae
Ballistae were large crossbows that were used to launch large bolts or arrows at the castle walls. They were typically mounted on a wooden frame and required several soldiers to operate.
Catapults
Catapults were similar to trebuchets and mangonels but used a different mechanism to launch the projectiles. They typically used a twisted rope to launch the projectiles, which were typically stones or other heavy objects.
Scaling Ladders
Scaling ladders were used to allow soldiers to climb over the walls of a stone keep castle. They were typically made of wood and could be propped against the walls. Soldiers would then climb up the ladder and attempt to enter the castle.
Mining
Mining was a tactic used to dig tunnels under the walls of a stone keep castle. Once the tunnel was dug, the attackers would fill it with explosives and then detonate them, causing the walls to collapse.
Sapping
Sapping was a tactic used to dig a trench or tunnel towards the walls of a stone keep castle. Once the tunnel was dug, the attackers would then collapse the walls from below.
Conclusion: The Evolution of Siege Warfare
The methods used to attack stone keep castles evolved over time as new technologies and tactics were developed. While some of the methods used, such as siege towers and scaling ladders, were relatively simple, others, such as the trebuchet and catapult, required a great deal of skill and engineering expertise. Despite the challenges posed by these fortifications, attackers continued to devise new methods for breaking down the walls and storming the castle.
