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Siege of Smolensk, 1514 AD (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 months ago by PugJesus@lemmy.world to c/historyillustrations@lemmy.world

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[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Wooden fortifications? A little oil, some wood, some tinder and time and you just walk in.

This image doesn't sit well with me because the roofs are on fire, and nobody seemed to understand the potential and storming the walls at high cost is in progress. Distillation was known at this time, so ethanol could have been used as an accelerant, animal fat, pitch....

[–] Justas@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 months ago

Assuming that the locals will not set themselves on fire first.

Pilėnai (also Pillenen in German) was a hill fort in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Its location is unknown and is subject to academic debates, but it is well known in the history of Lithuania due to its heroic defense against the Teutonic Order in 1336. Attacked by a large Teutonic force, the fortress, commanded by Duke Margiris, tried in vain to organize a defense against the larger and stronger invader. Losing hope, the defenders decided to burn their property and commit mass suicide to deprive the Order of prisoners and loot (cf. scorched earth). This dramatic episode from the Lithuanian Crusade has caught the public imagination, inspired many works of fiction, and became a symbol of Lithuanian struggles and resistance.