The improvements
to castles changed the dynamics of warfare in medieval
times. Stone castles with fortified walls, room for stores
and supplies, raised walls and towers created quite an
obstacle for attackers. To counteract the defenses of
the castle, attackers used a variety of different weapons
know as siege engines.
When attackers positioned themselves to lay siege to a
fortified castle, they had to make use of the materials
that could be found in the area where they were fighting
as it was virtually impossible to transport large devises
over great distances.
The battering ram was one of the most popular medieval
siege engines, though it was effective only at close ranges.
The concept behind the battering ram is simple –
momentum coupled with mass. In other words, take a heavy
ram and hurl it repeatedly at a stationary object with
the goal being to break through the stationary object.
Typically the soldiers would fell a large tree and remove
the branches in such a way that the remaining ones served
as handles or grips. A group of soldiers would lift the
tree trunk and, after a running start, ram the trunk into
the gate or door of a castle. Sometimes the tree trunk
was affixed to a support system, positioned in front of
a door and swung like a pendulum. The support system could
be covered to shield and protect the soldiers from attack
from above. The battering ram, while basic in function
and design, remains a popular weapon today seeing use
in military and police roles.
 Siege towers were used to maneuver soldiers to the castle
at a sufficient height to fight hand to hand on the castle
walls. To accomplish this, the attackers would build towers
on wheels that would be moved beside the castle walls.
The attackers could climb the walls while being protected
from attack.
One of the most effective siege engines was the trebuchet.
This devise, a combination of the catapult and a sling
shot was designed to hurl large projectiles, sometimes
weighing more than a hundred pounds, at speeds over 100
miles per hour toward the castles. The design of the trebuchet
allowed for deadly accuracy. Eventually, after continued
bombardment, towers or walls could be brought down by
use of this weapon.
The ballista was also a deadly weapon. This weapon was
a crossbow for infantry troops that shot huge spears or
large stone projectiles. A team of several soldiers would
operate this weapon and could inflict terrible damage,
though the operation of this weapon was slow.
In addition to these methods, sapping or mining was also
an effective siege maneuver. Tunnels would be dug under
castles to weaken the foundation with the goal being to
cause the collapse of the castle walls.
As weapons were improved, so were the castles; however,
the advent of gunpowder and its explosive force forever
changed warfare and the effectiveness of the castle’s
defensive nature.
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