How did armies traditionally lay siege to a town?
Traditionally, armies would lay siege to a town by surrounding it and cutting off all supply routes, effectively trapping the inhabitants inside. The goal of a siege was to starve the town into submission, forcing them to surrender due to lack of resources.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how armies traditionally laid siege to a town:
1. Encirclement: The first step was to completely surround the town with troops, creating a ring of soldiers to prevent anyone from entering or leaving. This involved positioning soldiers, often in fortified positions, around the town to ensure no one could escape.
2. Blockade: To cut off the town's supply lines, the besieging army would establish a blockade. This meant stopping all shipments of food, water, and other essential resources from reaching the town. Blockades could be achieved through physical barriers like walls or gates, intercepting supply convoys, or setting up checkpoints to prevent trade and communication.
3. Constructing Offenses: The besieging army would then build various structures and defenses to fortify their position and provide cover for their soldiers. This involved constructing siege towers, battering rams, and other siege weapons to breach the town's walls or gates. Archers and artillery would also be positioned to provide cover fire.
4. Undermining: Another tactic employed by the besieging army was undermining. This involved digging tunnels underneath the town's walls and then either collapsing them or planting explosives to breach the fortifications. Alternatively, the goal could be to create instability within the walls, making them susceptible to a successful assault.
5. Artillery and Siege Weapons: The besieging army would employ artillery and siege weapons to weaken the town's defenses. This could include catapults, trebuchets, and ballistae to launch large projectiles at the walls, causing damage or creating breaches.
6. Assault: Once the town's defenses were significantly weakened or breached, the besieging army would launch an assault. Soldiers would storm the breached walls or gates, engaging in close combat with the defenders. This was often the bloodiest phase of a siege, as both sides fought fiercely to gain control.
7. Surrender or Starvation: The objective of the siege was to force the town's surrender. As the blockade prevented essential supplies from reaching the town, inhabitants would face starvation, disease, and general deprivation. Eventually, many towns would surrender rather than facing total destruction or loss of life.
It's important to note that the duration and tactics of a siege could vary significantly depending on the time period, technological advancements, and the resources available to the besieging army. Some sieges could last for weeks, months, or even years.