Roman Castrum VS Medieval Castle Siege

[Romulus]

A castrum is a Roman term to describe building reserved for the army. The English word caslte come from this word.

Now as the title suggests, imagine, if you had a Medieval army besiege a Roman castrum and vise versa.

Romans lay siege to a Medieval castle.

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ROMAN CASTRA

MEDIEVAL CASTLE

[Romulus]

I'll go first.

First of all....

Let me start the Romans laying siege to a Medieval castle.

There is no civilization adept at siege than glorious Rome. No army powerful and sophisticated in the arts of pure warfare.

When the Romans lay siege it's normally on an epic scale beyond the scale of Medieval times. The Romans had no probelm whatsoever in investing 20 + years! in one siege. The logistic greatness of the Empire is one of many advantagous elements of the Roman legion(s) providing provisions and planning which are essential during times of war. Order.

The Romans did not have Trebuchets for long distance bombardment, but balistas and onagers.Roman balastas were massive compared to Medieval derivitives of such siege equipment and were devastating.

THe Medieval army inside a castle in my honest opinion is the worst situation if not sucicide against a Roman assualt for they are small compared to a Roman castrum and therefore could not last for years without starvation being the factor of defeat nor projectiles in defense.

Conclusion? Romans obliterate medieval fortifications.

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Lets look at how Romans defend their castra against a Medieval army.

This is probably very menacing in it's own right. Because first the trebuchets will totally level the building inside the fortified walls of the castra and arrows from longbowmen ignited with burning pitch will set ablaze the Roman building in a great fog of fire and smoke.

But will balistas inside, the Romans pound and shoot an advancing army towards the walls, Romans dug spikes and moats infront of their walls impedeing any army's approach and should an army of knights and men at arms get near the Romans hurl thousands of pilum blacking the skies totally halting the flanks of the enemy. Shouldsome manage to get past the dealy pilum the Romans shields and the sharp gladius blades punch and stab incomers like a war machine.

Conclusion?

The Medieval army will not have the capacity and funds and enough man power to totally engage in a long campaing for a siege against the Romans. And should they try and starve the Romans they will send word and bring in legions upon legions like bees out of a hive.

Heavy knights of horseback will try and charge the flanks of the Legions as they advance, but before the horses meet the Roman flank hand to hand, the pilum penetrates the horses and knight alike atleast wiping out hundreds or seriously wunding them in which case a retreat is highly likely.

[sanderd17]

Let me remind you that one of your previous "imagine that" topics derailed almost in a war. This topic here has no point, and I don't think many of us would like to spend time moderating such heated discussions.