Siege of Kenilworth - Siege

Siege

The feudal summons for the siege was pushed back from December of 1265, finally occurring on 24 May the next year. From that point on, the siege occurred in earnest. The castle’s garrison was large, over a thousand, usually estimated at twelve hundred men, and active in defending themselves. Outside of the castle was the feudal host of England as summoned by Henry III, along with his elder son, the Lord Edward, and Edmund, who had been attempting to contain the garrison since the prior autumn.

The attack on Kenilworth Castle began on 21 June. It was the largest siege to ever occur in England..

The royal forces tried all manners of devices. Numerous stone-throwing devices, presumably trebuchets, were brought to the siege, as well as "turres ligneas", or wooden towers. An "ursus" or "bear" was built, with separate compartments for archers.

Barges were sent from Chester to attempt an attack via the lake; this did not work. Time, however, was the only weapon left at their disposal, and the patient waiting finally paid off; with the garrison running out of food and suffering from disease, they finally surrendered on 13 December 1266. and accepted the terms of the Dictum of Kenilworth.