How Medieval Sieges Actually Worked

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In this Deconstructed video, we explore how medieval armies carried out sieges and the machines they used to overcome castle defenses. Starting with the most basic approaches, we work our way toward increasingly complex and powerful siege engines, explaining how each one functioned during an assault. From battering rams and scaling ladders to massive siege towers and trebuchets, we break down the engineering and mechanics behind these machines and how they were used to breach fortified walls.

We also created a detailed poster inspired by the video, illustrating the different siege methods and machines used throughout the assault.

👉 Get the poster here, every order helps support the channel so we can keep creating projects like this: https://crowdmade.com/collections/deconstructed/products/deconstructed-siege-weapons-poster

🎁 We are also giving one away. Just subscribe, like this video, and leave a comment below telling us: Which siege weapon surprised you the most?
We will announce the winner in our next upload. Details below.

This video focuses mainly on siege warfare in medieval Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries, before cannons were introduced. By this period, castles had evolved into heavily fortified stone strongholds, often built on elevated terrain and protected by features such as moats, gatehouses, and defensive towers. To overcome these defenses, attackers relied on a combination of strategy and specialized machines designed to suppress defenders on the battlements and breach gates or walls.
This video was created entirely by humans.

Chapters
0:00–0:37 Medieval Siege Weapons
0:37–2:18 Why Castles Were So Hard to Defeat
2:18–6:31 Beginning the Siege
6:31–7:44 Crossing the Moat
7:44–09:03 The Battering Ram
09:03–10:40 Siege Towers
10:40–11:52 Medieval Catapults
11:52–14:24 The Ballista
14:24–16:24 The Onager
16:24–20:09 The Trebuchet
20:09–21:11 Undermining
21:11–22:49 The First Cannons

Want to see more of how this all works?
We make extra breakdown videos showing exactly how specific parts work, along with behind the scenes content. Members can also influence future videos and even have their name included in the video as an Easter egg. A huge thank you to all our Patreon and YouTube Membership supporters.

Join here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/Deconstructed_Animations
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCje6-Yak9u1msy5l7sE9pBA/join

🎬Special thanks to our team:
-Hubert M. and Edin S.: 3D Modeling u0026 Animation
-Nicolás I. and Javiera M.: Sound Design
-Sydney O.: Script
-Ben S.: Narration
-Troy S.: Packaging
-Hamza: Research
-Lion u0026 Louis: Direction u0026 Editing

🎁 Giveaway Rules:
- No purchase necessary. Open worldwide.
- Enter by commenting on this video and answering the question: Which siege weapon surprised you the most?
- The winner will be selected based on our judgment of the best comment.
- The winner will be announced at the end of the next video and must contact us via email at [email protected] to claim their prize.
- If the winner is under the age of majority in their country, parental permission is required to receive the prize.
- This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by YouTube.
- Void where prohibited.

📚 Photo and Document Sources
Images used in this video are part of the public domain and sourced from: Wikimedia Commons.
https://commons.wikimedia.org

🧩 3D Assets
Third-party 3D assets used in this video have been purchased under royalty-free licenses.

🎵 Music and Sound
Music and sound design used in this video are licensed via royalty-free music libraries.

#siegewarfare #medievalcastle #castles