Articles liés à How to Attack a Castle and How to Defend It

How to Attack a Castle and How to Defend It - Couverture souple

Yorke, Trevor

 
9781846743665: How to Attack a Castle and How to Defend It

Synopsis

Decaying animals catapulted over battlements, flaming arrows raining from the sky and red-hot sand poured down ladders to repel advancing bloodthirsty hordes. Castle warfare was a grim and grisly business, and every aspect of it is brought to life in this fascinating book.

Through colourful illustrations and accounts of actual sieges in every chapter, you'll discover how armies from medieval times up to the English Civil War attacked and besieged British castles, and how changing weaponry shaped the defences we see the remains of today.

Author Trevor Yorke makes use of his own detailed line drawings and photographs to bring this subject vividly to life. Along the way you'll take a look at castle design through the ages - from motte & bailey castles to the great stone keeps, and concentric walled structures to coastal forts.

And of course, there's an in-depth look at the details of castle warfare, including weaponry and strategy.

For example:

  • Rain of fire: how attackers used flammable projectiles to destroy fortifications & terrorise their foes
  • Longbows vs crossbows: which was best?
  • Death, destruction & disease: how the trebuchet influenced castle warfare
  • The art of deception: how subterfuge & cunning could be more effective than firepower  
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Towards the end of the book there's a list of the best castles to visit - many of which feature in the book.  

If you've ever visited one of Britain's magnificent castles and found yourself imagining what a siege was really like, then this is the book for you. 

CONTENTS

  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1: MEDIEVAL SIEGE WARFARE Kings, Knights & Castles 
  • Chapter 2: MOTTE & BAILEY CASTLES Timber, Fire & Arrows
  • Chapter 3: THE GREAT STONE KEEPS Battlements, Mining & Mangonels
  • Chapter 4: CURTAIN WALLED CASTLES Towers, Moats & Trebuchets
  • Chapter 5: CONCENTRIC WALLED CASTLES Ballista & Machicolations
  • Chapter 6: TOWER HOUSES & COASTAL FORTS Gatehouses, Gunpowder & Cannon  
  • Chapter 7: THE CASTLE REFORTIFIED The English Civil War
  • Places to Visit
  • Glossary
  • Index 
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Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

À propos de l'auteur

Trevor Yorke is an experienced author and artist who specialises in period architecture. His many books include British Architectural Styles, Georgian & Regency Houses Explained, and The English Village Explained

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.