20 Siege Warfare During the Crusades Crusades

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.

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. 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. 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. 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. During battles, both sides prayed and believed that divine intervention would allow their side to win the day.

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