Medieval Sieges & Siegecraft

Here Geoffrey Hindley serves us the history of military sieges from every angle, tracing the development of fortifications and equipment
(offensive and defensive), penning vivid portraits of the weapons involved, exploring the psychology of laying siege, and even describing the role played by women and camp followers in battle. He shows siege tactics in action through real-life case studies of famous sieges that changed the course of history in medieval Europe and the Holy Land. His stimulating and accessible study will be fascinating reading for medieval specialists and for anyone who is interested in the history of warfare.

A vivid reconstruction of siege warfare in the medieval world, with detailed descriptions of weapons and tactics.

Library Journal

For those interested in a fuller understanding of medieval warfare, covering the years 500 to 1500 C.E., this book should be square one. The siege was the basis of battle then, and British historian Hindley covers the subject from the development of the castle as strongpoint to the evolution of fortified towns and cities; logistics and supply; the machinery and weapons of war; and the parts women and camp followers played in battles, some taking a very active role in combat. All of this discussion is anchored in the author's depictions of the famous sieges of the period, as well as of the First through the Fifth Crusades. Broken down into digestible sections (e.g., "Machines of War" is divided into "Crossbow" and "Catapult"), the extremely readable results are recommended.

Geoffrey Hindley is a distinguished medieval historian who has written widely on many aspects of the period. He has made a special study of medieval warfare and of sieges in particular. He lives in the UK.