Técnicas de ataque y defensa en los asedios del siglo XIII: ámbito catalano-aragonés y occitano

Abstract

In the last decades, the study of medieval sieges has met an important expansion, especially among French and Anglo-Saxon historians, whereby are know very details about wars elapsed in both cultural areas for an extensive chronological period. However, can not say the same neither respect to Catalan-Aragonese and Occitan space nor for the thirteen century specifically. This article offers some attacks and defense techniques for the sieges of this same time period and geographical area, through an analysis of fifteen sieges appeared in Catalan and Occitan sources. The study shows that in thirteen century there was a great variety of techniques to take by storm cities, and the relevance of crossbowmen and engineers in medieval war.