Did castles have catapults?

Did castles have catapults?

Castles in medieval times had a lot of things to protect them — high walls, moats with drawbridges, and lots of knights. They took a very basic idea — let’s throw stuff at the castle — and invented very effective ways to do it using an invention called the catapult (meaning “war machine for throwing” in Latin).

How were Motte and Bailey castles attacked?

Fire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle. Fire has little effect on a stone castle.

How do you breach a castle wall?

Invaders smashed the walls with battering rams and launched heavy stone projectiles and flaming projectiles at and over the walls. They used catapults, trebuchets (heavy sling weapons) and ballistae (large mounted crossbows). Another way to bring down castle walls was to mine under them.

When catapults were first used as weapons?

Catapults were invented by the ancient Greeks and in ancient India where they were used by the Magadhan Emperor Ajatshatru around the early to mid 5th century BC.

Why are stone castles better than Motte and Bailey?

The wooden defences of motte and bailey castles were replaced by walls and towers of stone. Stone is more durable and resistant than wood and so it became the preferred building materials for castles. Stone castles were built taller and gave better protection against attack, fire and cold rainy weather.

What are the defensive features of a Motte and Bailey castle?

It would have almost impossible to run up the sides of the motte, making it an excellence defence, A deep ditch was dug around the bottom of the motte for extra protection. Usually a keep and wall were built on top of the motte. Wood was the most commonly used material, but some keeps were also built from stone.

How did the motte and bailey castle get attacked?

The first motte and bailey castles were attacked by fire which would spread easily and destroy the entire castle very quickly. Invaders would start a fire on the perimeter of the castle or shoot balls of fire into the castle from bows. However, once stone castles came, fire had very little effect on them.

Which is better a ringwork castle or a motte and bailey castle?

Although motte-and-bailey castles are the best known castle design, they were not always the most numerous in any given area. A popular alternative was the ringwork castle, involving a palisade being built on top of a raised earth rampart, protected by a ditch.

How are castles attacked and defended in medieval times?

How were Castles attacked and defended The main things that were used to attack and defend Castles were: fire, battering rams, catapults, ladders, mining and siege. Fire: this was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood.

How did the nobles build the motte and bailey?

De Colmieu described how the nobles would build “a mound of earth as high as they can and dig a ditch about it as wide and deep as possible. The space on top of the mound is enclosed by a palisade of very strong hewn logs, strengthened at intervals by as many towers as their means can provide.