How did armies traditionally lay siege to a town?
Traditionally, armies laid siege to a town by surrounding it and cutting off all supply routes and communication lines to isolate the inhabitants. The purpose of a siege was to force the town's surrender by starving them into submission or physically overwhelming the defenses. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how armies traditionally laid siege to a town:
1. Encirclement: The first step was to surround the town, creating a blockade to prevent anyone from entering or leaving. This was achieved by positioning troops and erecting barricades, palisades, or trenches around the town's perimeter.
2. Cutting off supplies: The besieging army aimed to cut off all supply routes to the town, including roads, rivers, or bridges. This involved setting up blockades or capturing strategic positions to prevent the resupply of food, water, and other essentials.
3. Siege weapons: The besieging army would bring in siege engines such as trebuchets, catapults, and battering rams to breach the town's walls or gates. These weapons could launch projectiles or ram into obstacles to weaken the defenses.
4. Building siege works: The attackers constructed fortified positions called siege works, which included trenches, earthworks, and protective walls called breastworks. These structures provided cover for soldiers and allowed them to approach the town's walls while being shielded from defensive fire.
5. Undermining the walls: Soldiers would dig tunnels beneath the walls to weaken the foundations or plant explosives to create breaches. This technique, known as mining, aimed to create vulnerable points in the fortifications that could be exploited for an assault.
6. Assault: Once breaches were made or defenses weakened, the besieging army would launch an all-out assault on the town, storming the walls and gates. This involved close quarter combat, often resulting in intense fighting between attackers and defenders.
7. Surrender negotiations: If the attackers managed to breach the town's defenses, negotiations for surrender would usually follow. The terms of surrender could vary, depending on the strength and resources of the besieged town.
8. Starvation and attrition: If the town did not surrender after a breach or assault, the attackers would continue to blockade and starve the population, waiting for them to surrender due to lack of resources. This method aimed to force the town into submission through attrition.
Traditional sieges could last for weeks, months, or even years, depending on the fortifications and resources of both the besieging army and the town being attacked. The development of artillery and more advanced siege techniques later changed the dynamics of siege warfare.