Liber III, Pars III — Quot sunt genera bellorum, et quot modis devincenda sunt munitiones et urbanitas, et quo tempore melius est obsiderare civitates et castra. Cap. XVI.

Liber III, Pars III — Quot sunt genera bellorum, et quot modis devincenda sunt munitiones et urbanitas, et quo tempore melius est obsiderare civitates et castra. Cap. XVI.

All wars seem to be reduced to four types. These are namely: field battles, siege battles, defensive battles, and naval battles. A field battle is defined as any fight that takes place on land. In a battle where combatants fight each other without any fortifications in between, it is called a direct engagement. The more separated a battle is from fortifications, the more it resembles a field battle and the more dangerous it becomes. The second type of battle is called a siege battle, which occurs when the combatants are so powerful that they do not wait for the enemy to come out of their fortifications to fight in the field; instead, they invade and besiege the fortifications. This type of battle is commonly referred to as a siege. There is also a third type of battle, which can be called a defensive battle. For just as it happens that some fighters are in such a large number and have such power that they don't expect the enemy to come out to the field, but instead besiege and invade the fortifications themselves, so it also happens that some are so few and weak that they don't think they can resist the attackers. Therefore, they remain shut up in the fortifications, and it suffices for them that they can defend the fortifications if it happens that they are attacked by enemies. This type of battle, in which someone defends fortifications and camps, is called defensive. For although in every battle there is in some way an invasion and a defense, yet when someone besieges fortifications and camps, it is more often said that they invade others rather than defend themselves. In a siege battle, therefore, invasion is more prevalent than defense. In a battle, however, where someone defends themselves in fortifications and camps, defense is more prominent than invasion. Thus, this type of battle is rightly called defensive. The fourth mode of fighting is called naval: because just as it happens that there is a battle on land, so it happens that there is one on the waters. In fact, naval battles are more terrible and dangerous than land battles. Such battles that take place in water, regardless of the condition of the water, are called naval battles. Therefore, since there are four types of battles, after discussing the field battle, we must now talk about the siege and defensive battles. And naval battles. Sometimes kings and princes find themselves fighting in all these ways of warfare. For sometimes they engage in a field battle. However, sometimes they besiege fortifications and camps. It also happens that sometimes some invade their fortifications; for this reason, they must use defensive tactics. Moreover, in a principality and kingdom, there are ports and coastal lands situated near the sea; therefore, to prevent the ports from being destroyed and to avoid an entrance into the kingdom by enemies through them, and to protect the coastal lands from being attacked, it is advisable for kings and princes to sometimes organize naval battles. Having spoken about land warfare, we must now discuss the other types of warfare. Indeed, since we have discussed land battles in more detail and examined many precautions regarding warfare, and since the previously mentioned precautions can apply to any type of war, we should not linger on the other types of warfare any longer. First, however, we will speak about siege warfare. Therefore, having seen how many types of warfare there are, and having stated that after discussing land sieges we must first address siege warfare: since through such warfare it is possible to capture and conquer fortifications and cities, we must now discuss the various methods by which such conquests can be achieved. There are three main methods for capturing fortifications and camps. Namely, through thirst, hunger, and battle. For it sometimes happens that those besieged lack water; therefore, they must either perish from thirst or surrender their fortifications. Therefore, those who are besieging must carefully consider how they can obtain some supplies, whether through clever means or some industrious effort to get water from those under siege. For it often happens that water is derived from a distant source to the besieged fortifications; therefore, if the pipe or channel through which the water flows to the besieged is destroyed at that distant source, they will have to suffer from a lack of water. Moreover, sometimes the fortifications are high, and the water does not reach them; therefore, if it is far from the fortifications, those besieging must apply all diligence to find ways to prevent the besieged from getting water. The second method of attacking fortifications is through famine. For without food, we cannot endure; therefore, those besieging must diligently guard the paths, roads, and all places through which supplies could be brought to the besieged, so that such supplies are not delivered to them. In such sieges, hunger often afflicts more than the sword. Thus, it often happens that those besieging, eager to quickly overpower the fortifications, if they manage to capture some of the besieged, do not kill them. But by mutilating their limbs, they render them useless, and later send them back to the besieged fortifications, so that there, along with others, they may induce greater hunger and scarcity among those besieged. The third way to capture fortifications is through battle: when you approach the walls and engage in combat against those who are besieged. But how and in how many ways one can engage in battle will be shown in the next chapter. Having shown how many types of wars there are and how many ways the besieged fortifications can be overcome, it remains to show when it is better to besiege cities and camps. Therefore, it should be noted that during the summer, before the harvests, wines, and other supplies can be gathered, it is better to conduct a siege. For at that time, all the fruits of the previous year tend to run out. If the fortifications are to be taken due to thirst, it is better to conduct the siege in the summer, because then the waters dry up more, and even if the heavenly rains are abundant, they can still supply the besieged through cisterns. Again, if a castle or city is to be taken due to famine, it is better to conduct the siege in the summer, before the harvests and wines are gathered, because at that time the fruits of the past year tend to run out more quickly. Therefore, if the besieged cannot enjoy the fruits of the coming year, they will perish more quickly from want. Moreover, if fortifications are to be taken after war and battle, it's better to do this in the summer. For in winter, rains are abundant, and the ditches are filled with water. Therefore, the besieged are attacked more difficultly. Again, the difficulties of the seasons weigh more heavily on those besieging and those in the fields than on those besieged who remain in their homes. So, either the sieges should be undertaken in the summer, or if they must last for many seasons, at least they should begin in the summer, before the besieged can gather grain, wine, and other fruits of the earth.