Image courtesy of Andrew Spratt

What weapons are being used to attack the castle in this picture?

Were these weapons were commonly used to attack castles throughout the Middle Ages?

Image courtesy of Andrew Spratt

Attacking a castleAttacking a castle

Lesson Objectives

To find out what weapons were usedwhen attacking a castle in the MiddleAges

To come to a conclusion as to which weaponswould be best used when attacking differentcastles

If an enemy wanted to attack a Castles he had todecide what the castles‘ weak points were and which

siege weapons would be the most effective.

© Painting by Andrew Spratt

Highlight and discuss the types of weapons and siege engines being used to attack this castle.

© Painting by Andrew Spratt

A Battering Ram was used to try and smash

down the main gate

Longbowswere used to fire arrows at the

defenders and set fire to wooden structures

The Mangonel was a catapult which could hurl

objects at, or over, the castle walls

A Scaling Tower was used to reach the top of

the castle walls

Pictures courtesy of Folens Publishing

Click on the screen

Discuss how you would go about attacking the castle below.

Teacher’s choice of castle to be inserted here…

What weapons would you use and how would you use them?

Write a brief description explaining how you would go about attacking this castle.

What weapons would you use and how would you use them?

Conwy Castle is one of King Edward I’s castles.

Imagine that you were leading an army whowanted to capture an enemy castle and the

land around it. If that castle could not be taken using all the weapons that you have

now studied, what else could you do to make the enemy surrender?

© Painting by Andrew Spratt

Write your answer here…

Imagine that you were leading an army whowanted to capture an enemy castle and the

land around it. If that castle could not be taken using all the weapons that you have

now studied, what else could you do to make the enemy surrender?

© Painting by Andrew Spratt

Write your answer here…

Lay siege to the castle

HELPPrisoners were often taken when the siege ended and they were

then held for ransom.

The Roman Emperor, Henry VI, demanded 150, 000 marks (about £15 million in today’s

money) for the release of King Richard the Lionheart.

Attacking a castleAttacking a castle

Lesson Objectives

To find out what weapons were usedwhen attacking a castle in the MiddleAges

To come to a conclusion as to which weaponswould be best used when attacking differentcastles

Attacking a Castle

Images used with the kind permission of:

Andrew Spratt

(www.maybole.org/history/castles)

2004 Microsoft Corporation

Risto Hurmalainen

Folens Publishing

END