Attacking a Castle

Invading, attacking or taking over a castle were quite common in Middle Ages. The attackers used trebuchet and catapult from a distance, to fire stones, dead bodies of defenders and even rotting bodies of infected animals and people that spread pests. Another machine to throw things into the castle was a magonel, usually used to fire small rocks. If they were closer to the castle, they laid the siege tower and ladders to climb into the castle. Moreover, sappers were used by specialist soldiers to dig under a wall or tower and collapse it, while hiding under a weapon called a tortoise. If all of these methods didn’t work, laid siege to the castle until people ran out of supplies and became too weak to fight back or surrender. If the people were fully provided with foods and water, battering ram was used to smash into the castle. Once arrived inside the castle, the king was killed and the castle was taken over.