28 Siege Machines in the Crusades

Siege Warfare during the Crusades

Introduction:

The Crusades were a series of military expeditions by European Christians to take over the Holy Lands from Muslim control. Technically the crusades also led Christians to attack Lithuanians, Latvians, and even some European nations, but this chapter will be focusing on the Holy Lands.  In total, eight crusades took place spanning from 1096 to 1291. Siege warfare played a major role on both sides as new strategies to defend against them arose. Science, technology, and society all played a crucial role in shaping the strategies and outcomes of the Crusades, as advancements of siege machines like the mangonel and defenses against them reflected the broader societal growth of knowledge and military innovation between the Christians and Muslims.

Castles and other fortifications were not just a defense mechanism, but rather a symbol of the political and economic states of the defending force. Having strong fortifications reflected the societal needs and its survival. This is why building siege machines was even more important, as towering over walls and breaking them down could be a symbolic way of straining the defender’s pride. Of course, however, walls were vital as they could help to main control of the city where Muslims were often outnumbered (Asbridge 2012).

During the crusades, siege warfare became the primary means of capturing fortified cities and castles. Some of the new battle machines included mangonels and trebuchets which catapulted large stones over or at walls (Lindberg 2023). Other advancements included battering rams and siege towers to either knock down or get over castle walls.  Due to the sheer size of these machines, large amounts of laborers and supplies were required to build them which also cost a lot, straining the economy (Raphael 2023). Since the machines were so large, they could not be moved the long distances. Therefore, innovation was required to use only the materials around the fortification they planned on attacking.

There are many missing voices to be found within the crusades. Several Muslim accounts of the sieges do detail the events from their perspectives, but many have not been translated for us to read. Additionally, accounts of siege warfare are often only from the heads of state, leaving out civilians, particularly women and children. We know women played pivotal roles in defending cities and labor, yet their experiences are almost entirely absent from the records (Hillenbrand 1999). This is likely due to leaders at the time wanting to fit a narrative that everything was fine, and no one was suffering at their own expense.

The mass casualties of the crusades could only be justified by one thing, religious beliefs. There is a consensus that religion was the primary catalysts for every one of the 12 crusades to the Holy Land. During battles, both sides prayed and believed that divine intervention would allow their side to win the day. Several accounts saw leaders, whether they be knights or religious figures, gathering soldiers to fight in the name of religion. These leaders promised a sure way to show devotion to their God by risking their life in his name. This is of course in addition to the promises of Papel authority, including spiritual benefits such as indulgences and pardons (Brown 1974).

Siege Warfare during the crusades was not just a military expedition, but rather a series of technological innovations brought on by societal conflicts.  The development of advanced weaponry and the construction of fortified cities allowed for both sides to continue fighting for nearly three centuries.

Questions:

1. What were some of the different types of siege machines? What did they do?
2. How were the crusades justified by the leaders of European nations?
3. Why were strong fortifications so important to the Islamic states?

AI Acknowledgement:

Microsoft CoPilot was used in the initial stages of this chapter to give me background information about the topic. This information allowed me to use specific information in my searches to find sources.

Sources:

Asbridge, T. (2012). The Crusades: The War for the Holy Land. United Kingdom: Simon & Schuster UK

Lindberg, Ian, “Engineering Analysis of Siege Engines in the First Crusade” (2023). Inquiry Journal. 7.

Raphael, K. (2010). Mighty Towers and Feeble Walls: Ayyubid and Mamluk Fortifications in the Late Twelfth and Early Thirteenth Centuries in the Light of the Decline of Crusader Siege Warfare. Crusades, 9(1), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/28327861.2010.12220250

Hillenbrand, C. (1999). The crusades: Islamic perspectives. Psychology Press.

Brown, B. (1974). Siege Warfare During The Crusades: A Thesis in History

Siege Warfare during the Crusades