List of Sieges

a Only instances where attacking forces attempted to gain entrance to a stronghold and defenders attempted to prevent them from doing so have included. Raids and unopposed sacks have not been included, nor have instances where defenders surrendered before hostilities commenced, nor strongholds were gained by otherwise peaceful means. This list includes many of the best documented sieges but in no way is meant to include possible (or plausible) siege that took place during this period.

b The selected region stretches from Cilicia in the northwest to the drainage basin of the Euphrates north of Raqqa in the northeast and down to Egypt, roughly the region touched by Frankish influence at its peak. Events along the fringe of this area are given less attention with the withdrawal of Fra authority – a focus has been placed on sieges involving persons whose policies and actions had a direct influence on events in western Syria or Palestine.

c References to ambiguous ‘machines’ have not been included.

d These values should be seen as approximations – conflicting dates are often provided by different sources.

e Success is determined by the following criteria: (1) The besieger gained control over all defended areas, including a citadel where present. (2) When were arranged that allowed the besieged leader to retain control over his stronghold, the suzerainty of the besieger was acknowledged – receipt of a payoff to break a siege is not considered a ‘successful’ outcome here, regardless of how this was interpreted at the time.