Siege Warfare: The Brutal Fall of a City #historycomesalive #militaryhistory#knights #historyfacts

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]When it fell, it tore open the outer defenses and exposed the inner wall to direct assault.

[00:00:06]The defenders threw up improvised barricades in the rubble and fought hand-to-hand in the killing ground between the two walls.

[00:00:13]For more than two weeks, this grinding attritional combat continued.

[00:00:17]The Mamluks feeding fresh troops into [music] the breach, the garrison bleeding men it could never replace.

[00:00:24]Henry II sent envoys to negotiate.

[00:00:27]Khalil demanded unconditional surrender.

[00:00:29]Beaujeu, through his own intelligence channels, warned that the final assault would be overwhelming.

[00:00:35]Once again, >> [music] >> he was ignored.

[00:00:40]The final assault came at dawn on the 18th of May.

[00:00:43]300 camels carrying kettle drums advanced with the Mamluk lines, their riders beating a rhythm so loud it could be heard throughout the entire city.

[00:00:51]A wall of percussive thunder that announced the end.

[00:00:55]The attack struck the full length of the landward wall simultaneously, but the spearhead drove straight for the shattered northeastern corner, where mining had fatally weakened the inner wall around the accursed tower.

[00:01:07]William of Beaujeu led the Templar countercharge. He rode into the breach at the Saint Anthony Gate at the head of his knights, white surcoats steeped with six weeks of grime and blood, great helms dented, swords drawn.

[00:01:20]He was trying to stem the tide of Mamluk infantry pouring through the gaps.

[00:01:24]A javelin struck him beneath the armpit, finding the gap between his mail shirt and his shield arm.