Traditionally, armies laid siege to a town through a series of methods designed to isolate, weaken, and ultimately breach its defenses. Here are some key tactics involved in the siege process:
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Surrounding the Town: The besieging army would surround the town to prevent supplies and reinforcements from getting in. This encirclement was often referred to as "investing" the town.
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Cutting Off Supplies: Armies would seek to cut off food, water, and other essential supplies to force the defenders to surrender due to starvation and lack of resources.
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Building Siege Works: The besiegers often constructed siege works such as trenches, ramparts, and fortifications to protect themselves from the defenders' attacks while preparing to breach the walls.
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Using Artillery: Cannons and siege engines like trebuchets or battering rams would be used to bombard the town's walls, creating breaches for soldiers to enter.
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Mining: In some cases, attackers would dig tunnels under the walls to collapse them or create a hidden entry point.
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Assaults and Diversions: Once weaknesses were found in the defenses, the besieging army would conduct assaults. They might also use feints or diversionary attacks to confuse and distract the defenders.
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Psychological Warfare: Besiegers often employed tactics to demoralize the defenders, such as displaying captured troops or using propaganda to create fear and uncertainty.
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Diplomacy and Negotiation: In some instances, besieging armies would attempt to negotiate terms of surrender in order to avoid prolonged conflict.
Sieges could last for weeks, months, or even years, depending on the strength of the defenses and the resources of the besieging force. The ultimate goal was to capture the town, either through direct assault or by forcing the defenders to surrender.