Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: LouieN on 21 November 2021, 04:30:04 AM
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Having seen a great video on the Anarchy period of English history I had a question of what would be the typical siege equipment used during all those numerous sieges.
There were A LOT of sieges.
The crow got mentioned, but no towering towers like the siege of Jerusalem. Was it mostly blockade?
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For the castles of the period very few were stone and even then simple Aquitaine or Anjou rectangular pattern rectangular Donjon towers, with entry halfway up the donjon using a staircase being the most common, the remainder were timber simple timber towers with a hall attached or stand alone on a motte with an outer bailey.
Good examples of the Aquitane-Anjou stone pattern type are the tower of London, Hedingham in England in Maine (Mayenne) chateau Sainte Suzanne, Normandy chateau Chambois, Blois Château de Montrichard and Aquitaine chateau Montignac-Charente.
(https://cdt53.media.tourinsoft.eu/upload/226-C.-VERNIER-patrimoine-chateau-remparts-saintesuzanne.JPG?width=984&height=575&crop=1)
chateau saint suzanne, note the bands a common building trait of Anjou maine using bands of White washed stone and red brown natural stone.
(https://www.patrimoine-normand.com/images/d/don/donjon-de-chambois.jpg)
Château chambois
The typical siege could on a wooden chateau be as simple as an escalade with ladders, a battering ram, not necessarily covered, arrows and oil to fire the gates. A good example of a partial stone and wooden reproduction is in Mayenne France. Incidentally chateau was sieged during the troubles, in France along with it neighbour Saint Suzanne.
(https://cdn.radiofrance.fr/s3/cruiser-production/2020/06/e5d5bdb2-81ba-4d0b-afad-a5f0c1e2c0ab/870x489_fort.webp)
(https://pierrickauger.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/28301-le-xiie-siecle-saint-sylvain-d-anjou.jpg?w=845&h=563)
Wooden reproduction of a motte and bailey on original site at Saint Slyvian d'anjou
The larger stone chateau needed Mangonel, Traction Trebuchet (non counterweighted) , Ballista (springald) and the use of mines to undermine the foundations.
(https://medieval.gumlet.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Siege_of_Acre.jpg?compress=true&quality=80&w=750&dpr=1.0)
12th cent Mangonel
(https://medieval.gumlet.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Byzantine_Trebuchet_Skylintzes.jpg?compress=true&quality=80&w=900&dpr=1.0)
12th century traction trebuchet
hope that helps
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A very helpful reply. Thank you
Anyone know where to find this equipment in miniature form?
Scale 28mm and 15mm
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There are a few options
Old glory, mangonel crow and ladders
https://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/products.asp?cat=25mm+Siege+Equipment (https://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/products.asp?cat=25mm+Siege+Equipment)
Irregular do some rams etc
https://irregularminiatures.co.uk/indexes/25mmindex.htm (https://irregularminiatures.co.uk/indexes/25mmindex.htm)
Gripping beast
Battering ram
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Siege_Engines--category--162.html (https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Siege_Engines--category--162.html)
Rafm in 25mm but quite nice
http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RAF&Category_Code=SE&offset=0 (http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RAF&Category_Code=SE&offset=0)
Esssex miniatures
https://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/collections/25mm-weapons-equipment-packs-war-machines-guns-all-periods?page=3 (https://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/collections/25mm-weapons-equipment-packs-war-machines-guns-all-periods?page=3)
Iron gate scenery
https://irongatescenery.co.uk/product-category/collections/ (https://irongatescenery.co.uk/product-category/collections/)
Cheers
Matt