This is an excellent approach to this subject, successfully placing the more famous sieges in the wider context of the period, giving us a much better idea of how the competing powers in the Middle East used and attacked fortifications.

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History of War

Reviewed by OLIVER CREIGHTON (University of Exeter)

Michael Fulton’s Siege Warfare during the Crusades will become an important source of reference for those studying or researching a conflict in which historiography has often over- looked the sieges of towns and castles at the expense of other aspects of war. A lavishly illustrated text full of original photographs of sites, many of which are inaccessible and hard to find images of, guides the reader through the strategies, tactics and weaponry of offence and defence in the Latin East, in doing so bringing out similarities and differences between Frankish and Muslim experiences. The extracts from primary sources included as boxed text might prove invaluable, while the select site-by-site bibliography is also handy, as is the list of sieges with key details of outcomes and techniques employed. Archaeological evidence doesn’t take a back seat: it naturally features heavily in the sections relating to fortification, but there are also glimpses of the sometimes ephemeral material evidence for the practice of siege warfare, including trebuchet munitions and mines.

The Society for Medieval Archaeology

Siege Warfare During the Crusades must be considered the complete authority on this subject for many years to come. It will take something special to displace it as my book of the year.

Fortress Study Group, April 2020 - reviewed by Gil Dowdall-Brown

A very interesting study that brings a fresh new insight when studying the Sieges during the Crusades.

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Miniaturas JM

The definitive guide to siege warfare during the Crusades. The set piece battles of the crusades may have been well-recounted by historians but not the significance of the many sieges. – Very Highly Recommended.

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Firetrench

Essential reading for anyone wanting to know about siege warfare during the time of the Crusades. You would expect the Europeans to have superior knowledge, but, surprisingly, the Muslims seem to have won the day despite having no such knowledge of how to conduct sieges, or of the equipment involved.

Books Monthly

The first thing I need to say is the first appendix about all the sieges during the crusades is unbelievable. There were hundreds of sieges, and there is a lot of detail in the book about what used such has siege towers, or battering rams, mining or artillery use. It truly is fascinating. Certainly going to help with my short story idea.

The second thing to say this is a hugely researched and detailed book. It covers the sieges of the period and goes in to details of both the defences deployed, as well as the attacking strategies too. It then goes on to cover the weapons used to attack fortifications as well as then the defence modifications need to counteract them... I really enjoyed this book. I can see this book being of huge use to wargamers of this period and re-enactors too.

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Medieval Sword School, Jason Hulott

Featured ON THE BOOK SHELF with Neil Smith

Wargames Illustrated, November 2019

This book is described on its fly leaf as ‘graphic, wide ranging and thought provoking’ and it certainly succeeds in every respect. It is a very detailed history but written in a style that does not overwhelm and is described in clear and well thought out sections that allow you to dip into the book and enjoy it properly. It is all that a first class reference book should be; clarity of narrative and direction well supported by exceptional photography, maps and sources. This is a book you will read once and continually return to not only as an invaluable reference but as a cracking good read. Cannot fault it.

Michael McCarthy. Battlefield Guide

Michael McCarthy