Page 66 - All About History - Issue 56-17

Greatest Battles

Crusader 01 Street battle in the suburbs
Anglo-Norman knights and archers fight their
Army of way through the western suburbs on the afternoon of 1 July
to gain control of the base of the walls for mining purposes.
Northern Muslim archers and crossbowmen, supported by troops
on the roofs of the houses bombarding the Crusaders with
Europe rocks, hold the Crusaders back for six hours. Despite the
fierce resistance shown by the defenders in the steep and
narrow streets, the Crusaders secure the suburbs.
TROOPS 13,000
SHIPS 200

Engines
02 of war
After two weeks spent
collecting timber, the
Crusaders encamped on
both sides of the city
construct a variety of
siege machines, including 01
moveable siege towers,
trebuchets and wheeled
sheds and rams. The
KING AFONSO I Muslim garrison conducts
repeated sorties in which
OF PORTUGAL they torch the Crusaders’ 04
wooden siege weapons.
LEADER
The Portuguese king knew that a
naval blockade was essential to the
success of the siege to prevent men
and supplies from arriving by water.
Strengths A seasoned commander
with impressive diplomatic skills
who dealt fairly with the Crusaders.
Weakness Afonso left the bulk of
the fighting to the Crusaders, which
diminished his stature. Flying bridges 05
03destroyed 02
CRUSADER Ships attempt to lower flying bridges
onto the walls along the river so that
KNIGHTS troops can fight their way onto the
parapets. The defenders use stone-
KEY UNIT throwing machines to destroy them.
Leaders of men who 08
wore helmets and
mail and wielded
metre-long iron
swords.
Strengths High 07
morale as a result
of years of training
and experience.
Weakness 03
Crossbow bolts could
penetrate their mail.
Sign of
04 determination
The Crusaders beach the majority of
their vessels and stow the masts and
sails to signal to the garrison that they
intend to stay through the winter if
necessary to capture the city. The
garrison troops had hoped that the
Crusaders would become frustrated
TREBUCHET with their lack of success and depart
for the Holy Land. This lowers the
KEY WEAPON garrison’s morale. Devastating
Crew pulled ropes on the wide end 05bombardment
of the beam, which hurled a stone in A pair of Anglo-Norman trebuchets
a sling tied to the opposite end. batter the west wall near the Iron
Strengths Could fire around the Gate as the siege enters its final
clock with crews working in shifts. stage. They are able to fire an
average of eight stones per minute.
Weakness No guarantee of success
against tall and sturdy walls made of
hard rock.

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