In 1315, Scotland's King Robert the Bruce decided to lay siege to England's Carlisle Castle.
Robert expected a swift victory, but his men arrived to find a relentless downpour.
Struggling against muck and mud, they tried to fill the moat with corn husks, only for the husks to float away.
Then Robert ordered the construction of a massive siege tower, but the English responded with wooden scaffolds that heightened the castle walls.
Their final push to scale those walls ended with English arrows raining down on the sodden Scots.
At a time when sieges could last months or even years, Robert retreated after just 11 days.
This siege is a prime example of how medieval European castles could stand firm against enemy onslaughts.
But castles weren't just for passive defense; they were symbols of power, private residences, and hubs of governance intended to impress and intimidate.
In fact, they were just as likely to be used for offensive military tactics.
Castles regularly served as bases for launching attacks and as a way to control local populations with promises of shelter or threats of violence.
