Lior & Slonik
Lior
I was just looking into the siege tactics of the 9th‑century Burgundian fortresses—quite a maze of traps and clever use of terrain. Ever come across any military strategy that actually made a difference without relying on sheer brute force?
Slonik
Sure thing. There are a handful of tactics that don’t rely on smashing gates. One classic is to cut off supplies—if a fortress can’t get food or water, the defenders will surrender long before any battering ram is swung. Another trick is deception: sending a small detachment to feign an attack while the real force slips past the walls by night. And sometimes a simple negotiation—offering terms or a safe passage—can end a siege faster than a wall‑breaching operation. In short, out‑wits the enemy, out‑last them, and keep your own troops intact.
Lior
That’s a neat distillation. It reminds me of the Siege of Acre in 1291 – the Crusaders starved the defenders into surrender, and then the Mongols used a ruse with a “friendly” sally that let them slip in undetected. The point is that logistics and psychology often beat a battering ram any day. Do you have a favorite historical siege that turned on clever strategy rather than firepower?
Slonik
The one I keep coming back to is the Siege of Yorktown. Washington and the French set up a tight naval blockade that cut off every resupply lane for Cornwallis. At the same time, the Continental Army closed in from the land side, blocking escape routes. No massive cannon barrage, just a smart use of logistics and coordination that forced the British to surrender without a single battering ram ever being swung. It’s a textbook example that shows you can win a siege by out‑maneuvering, not out‑blasting.
Lior
Yorktown’s brilliance really lies in the quiet coordination of two theatres. The navy’s blockade was like a well‑tuned lock that never let the British resupply, while Washington’s land forces cut off every possible escape. It’s a reminder that sometimes the strongest battering ram is a missing supply line. Funny how a few well‑placed cannons and a clever block can make a navy feel like it’s the only weapon in the arsenal.