OPERATIONS AND PREPARATION IN TIMES OF SEIGE OR WAR

In times of a prolonged seige non-combatants may have been sent out and peasants that could fight were trained by knights.  To prepare for battle they brought food, weapons and fuel into the castle for storage.  They also prepared the castle for a seige. This means all fires were put out (except for one in the kitchen) and the draw bridge was raised. Watchmen were also put on stations.  This is how they operated and prepared for a siege or major battle.

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